Winter flounder are a New England institution, the flatfish generations of anglers cut their teeth on, anchored up in the harbor on a spring morning. Their numbers are a shadow of what they once were, so they are tightly protected now, but where you can catch them they remain a delicious, accessible target.
How to identify them
Winter flounder are a right-eyed flatfish (the opposite of fluke) with a small mouth and a dark, mottled top side (they are often called blackbacks). That small mouth and right-eyed orientation tell them apart from the toothy, left-eyed fluke instantly.
Where and when
Unlike fluke, winter flounder are a cold-water fish, best in spring (with a fall bite too) in the harbors, estuaries and bays over mud and sand. They root along the bottom for worms and small clams, so you fish for them at anchor, right on the bottom.
Tip Chum the bottom to bring them in. A weighted chum pot or a can of corn and crushed mussel near your baits draws winter flounder to the boat, and keeping a steady scent trail on the bottom keeps them there.
How to catch them
Fish small hooks on a spreader or high-low rig baited with sea worms (sandworms and bloodworms) or clam, right on the bottom at anchor. Bites are subtle taps, so fish a light rod and pay attention.