Marine - Species


Southern Flounder - Click to enlarge photo

SC Species Regulations for Southern Flounder

Saltwater Fishing License required.

Finfish Regulations

SC Marine Gamefish Tagging

Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)

General Description
Dorsoventrally flattened body with both eyes on the left side. Pigmented side light to dark brown (controlled by chromatophores) with diffuse nonocellated dark spots and blotches; blind side of body is white or dusky.

Average Size
12 – 14 inches, 1 – 2 pounds;
South Carolina State Record: 17 pounds, 6 ounces (1974);
maximum age: approx. males – 5 years, females – 7 or 8 years; females are generally larger and outlive males.

Habitat

Adults: Inhabit estuaries, rivers, and shallow coastal water including front beach; most abundant in shallow, muddy bottom tidal creeks and at tidal creek mouths; also utilize flooded salt marshes at high tides and occasionally near estuarine inlets; overwinter offshore.

Juveniles: Reside in shallow, soft bottom tidal creeks at upper reaches of estuaries; may occasionally reach freshwater; may utilize submerged vegetation either as cover or for foraging purposes.

Reproductive Cycle

  • Both sexes mature at 2 – 3 years of age; approx. size at maturity: males: 11 – 13 inches, females: 14 – 16 inches.
  • Adults migrate to unknown locations offshore during late fall; spawning occurs in these areas throughout the winter; return to inshore habitats during spring.
  • Larvae undergo a 30 – 60-day pelagic phase then use ocean currents to enter estuaries during late winter and early spring. Metamorphosis is partially completed prior to settling inshore; once inside the estuary larvae finish metamorphosis and settle to the bottom in the flat juvenile body form. Juveniles remain in estuaries through winter and first migrate offshore just prior to spawning.

Foraging Habits

  • Predatory, ambushing prey, using camouflage to blend into surrounding habitat; foraging occurs in tidal creeks and flooded salt marsh or at marsh edges.
  • Adults: Feed primarily on fishes (striped mullet, spot, mummichog, white mullet, anchovy); also consume crustaceans, including grass shrimp, penaeid shrimp, and blue crabs.
  • Juveniles: Prey species vary with size of flounder: smaller juveniles feed primarily on zooplankton, mysids, and grass shrimp; larger juveniles (subadults) feed on small fish. Larvae consume zooplankton.

Availability/Vulnerability to Harvest

  • Most abundant flounder species in South Carolina waters. Distribution is primarily temperature regulated; offshore migration of older fish coincides with decreasing fall water temperatures.
  • Movement within estuaries is minimal and related to tidal stages, flounder move up estuary with rising tide and retreat as tides fall. Most fish return to the same estuaries in successive years, with some latitudinal movement to other estuaries.
  • Tolerate wide salinity range; generally occupy lower salinities than other Paralichthid flounder species in South Carolina; larvae may enter fresh water and larval development appears best in low salinity.
  • Conservation concerns: degradation and loss of tidal creek and estuary habitat; compromised water quality; potential for overfishing; lack of knowledge regarding spawning locations in South Carolina.

Literature Cited

Fischer W. 1978. FAO identification sheets for fisheries purposes: western central Atlantic (fishing area 31) volume 1 – 7. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

Gilbert CR. 1986. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South Florida) – southern, gulf, and summer flounders. U.S. Fish Wild Serv Biol Rep 32 (11.54). U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. 27pp. Accessed: September, 2009.

Moore CJ. 1996. A field guide to the identification of marine species regulated in South Carolina coastal waters. Office of Fisheries Management, Marine Resources Division, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Charleston, SC. 105 pp.

Moore CJ, M Barkley. 2005. South Carolina’s guide to saltwater fishes. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Special Publication. Columbia, SC. 132 pp.

Powell AB, FJ Schwartz. 1977. Distribution of Paralichthid flounders (Bothidae: Paralichthys) in North Carolina estuaries. Chesapeake Sci 18: 334-339.

Reagan RE, WM Wingo. 1985. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico) – southern flounder. U.S. Fish Wildl Serv Biol Rep 82(11.30). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers TR EL-82-4. 20 pp. Accessed: September, 2009.

Roumillat WA. 2005. Southern flounder. In: Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Columbia, SC. Available: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/cwcs/pdf/Southernflounder.pdf. Accessed: September, 2009.

Smith JW. 1981. A guide to flounder fishing in South Carolina. South Carolina SeaGrant Consortium Marine Advisory Publication 81-02, Charleston, SC. 16 pp.

Wenner CA, WA Roumillat, JE Moran Jr, MB Maddox, LB Daniel III, JW Smith. 1990. Investigations on the life history and population dynamics of marine recreational fishes in South Carolina: part 1. Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Charleston, SC. 177 pp.

Wenner C, J Archambault. 2005. Southern flounder: natural history and fishing techniques in South Carolina. Educational Report No. 20. Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Charleston, SC. 34pp.