A pattern of five eye-like spots identifies the summer flounder. Like the southern flounder, they can achieve weights above 10 pounds. Any fish above 5 pounds is considered trophy.

Gulf flounder occur at the sandy bottoms away from the inlets. However, they commingle with summer flounder, especially at artificial reefs in the more southern part of the state. They are identified by a pattern of three eye-like spots on their backs. They only comprise about 5 percent of the recreational catch.

These offshore flounder species are typically caught by anglers using live mullet and menhaden as bait. Bottom rigs are used to take the bait down from an anchored boat or from a boat that is drifting. Drifting is a good way to discover a concentration of flounder, or to find a ledge where they may be congregating.

A few anglers are experiencing good luck using scented artificial lures and strips in the deeper waters offshore, where the fishing occurs between 25 and 45 feet down. Strips on a two-hook pier rig work well. A heavy jighead with a scented shrimp, fluke or minnow imitation can also be effective.

Fishing with bottom rigs at artificial and natural reefs requires patience because it invites snags. The fish are located within a very few feet of the edge of the structure. A GPS unit and electronic depthfinder may not be necessary to fish the inshore waters, but are necessities for fishing the Atlantic Ocean for summer and Gulf flounder.

RED DRUM
Red drum are called many names, starting with the official State Saltwater Fish. Smaller juveniles are called puppy drum, rat reds, redfish and spottails. Adult red drum are sometimes called channel bass, or drum. While the vernacular can be confusing for the uninitiated, the angler who catches his first redfish knows what he has hooked and is usually hooked for life.

Red drum are very prolific fish, but were in severe decline until the late 1990s, when fishery management plans began to take effect. Now, red drum occur in all of the state's saltwater ecosystems, from far inland in coastal rivers and sounds to the deep waters of the offshore ledges.

Red drum are protected against harvest by anyone beyond three miles offshore. But surf-fishermen, flyfishermen, wade-fishermen and anglers fishing from piers and boats all get some fantastic red drum action.

Most redfish anglers simply dunk live minnows or cut baits, as well as shrimp, crabs or other shellfish, into deep holes or beside structure to entice red drum. A float rig or a bottom rig can work equally well, depending upon the mood of the fish and the water depth. Jetties, seawalls, sandbars and navigation channels concentrate baitfish and other prey creatures on which red drum feed, concentrating juvenile fish of up to 14 pounds or so.