Summer Flounderby Geoffrey English
Summer Flounder, also known as a Fluke, are known for having a large mouth that extends past the eyes. The scientific name is Paralichthys dentatus, and they are members of the flatfish family. This means that both eyes are located on one side of the body. They lay on the ocean floor, keeping both eyes up to avoid predation, as well as hunt. These fish have the ability to change skin color and blend into the ocean floor, hiding their whereabouts from unsuspecting prey. As a small fish passes over their motionless bodies, the Summer Flounder can ambush its prey.
Summer Flounder: a.k.a. Fluke
Summer Flounder are usually found in the coastal parts of the Gulf of Maine all the way south to Florida. They live in waters with depths ranging from six inches to ten fathoms. This all depends on the size and location of the fish. The Summer Flounder reproduce in water temperatures usually between 55 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit. They do this in waters anywhere from 60 to over 160 feet in depth.
Summer Flounder can weigh up to 26 pounds and can grow to around 35 to 37 inches long. Most female Summer Flounder rarely get older than 20 years or so, and they usually stay below 20 pounds. Males, on the other hand, usually don’t exceed 7 years, and don’t grow heavier than three to five pounds.
During the fall, female Flounder produce large numbers of eggs, and the quantity is directly related to the females weight. The more the fish weighs, the more eggs she will produce. During the summer months, they move to the protection of grass beds, using the grass to hide themselves from potential predators. They usually nest in areas of protection.
The shoreline is the perfect place to find Summer Flounder because they like to bury themselves into the mud. As Fall sets in, the Summer Flounder tend to move from the shoreline into the open water. They will venture into waters 500 feet in depth, depending on food supplies and water temperatures.
Jigs and spinners combined with cut bait makes a deadly combo.
The best time to fish for Summer Flounder is between May and September. Most anglers employ drift fishing tactics to catch them, but other methods are effective. Drift fishing is the most effective because it covers more of the bottom floor and keeps the bait in constant motion. This makes the bait more attractive and entices the flounder to ambush.
Small strips of fish, squid or sandworms are the most common baits used for Summer Flounder. Some lures can be affective, but they respond better to live bait or a combination of the two. If a lure is necessary, the best ones are small spoons, spinners, and feathered jigs. As long as the angler maintains his patience, the aggressive nature of the Summer Flounder should take over.
"Jeffrey ""Flounder"" wa Kiingereza, pia anajulikana kama Fluke, ni maarufu kwa kuwa na kinywa kikubwa ambacho huenea zaidi ya macho." Jina la kisayansi ni Paralichthys dentatus, na wao ni washiriki wa familia ya samaki wa gorofa. Hilo lamaanisha kwamba macho yote mawili yako upande mmoja wa mwili. Wao hulala chini ya bahari, wakifuatilia macho yao mawili ili kuepuka kuwindwa, na pia kuwinda. Samaki hao wana uwezo wa kubadilisha rangi ya ngozi yao na kujipatanisha na maji ya bahari, wakificha mahali walipo kutoka kwa windo lisilo na shaka. Samaki mdogo anapopita juu ya miili yao isiyoweza kusonga, Mnyama huyo anaweza kumkamata mnyama wake. Summer Flounder: a.k.a. Kwa kawaida, ndege hao hupatikana kwenye pwani ya Ghuba ya Maine hadi kusini mwa Florida. Wao huishi katika maji yenye kina cha sentimeta sita hadi sentimeta kumi. Yote hayo hutegemea ukubwa na mahali ambapo samaki huyo yuko. Kwa kawaida, ndege hao huzaana katika maji yenye joto la kati ya digrii 55 na 66 Fahrenheit. Hii ni kwa sababu ya kuwa katika maji ya kina cha mita 60 hadi zaidi ya 50. Kwa mfano, mnyama anayeitwa Summer Flounder anaweza kupima hadi kilo 26 na kukua kwa urefu wa inchi 35 hadi 37. Kwa kawaida, wanawake wa aina ya Summer Flounder hawapiti umri wa miaka 20 au zaidi, na kwa kawaida wanabaki chini ya kilo 20. Kwa upande mwingine, wanaume kwa kawaida hawazidi miaka saba, na hawazidi uzito wa pauni tatu hadi tano. Wakati wa vuli, ndege wa kike wa jamii ya Flounder hutoa mayai mengi, na idadi hiyo inahusiana moja kwa moja na uzito wa ndege huyo. Samaki anapoongeza uzito, atazalisha mayai mengi zaidi. Katika miezi ya kiangazi, wao huhamia kwenye nyasi ili kujikinga na wawindaji. Kwa kawaida wao hufanya viota vyao katika maeneo yaliyohifadhiwa. Pwani ni mahali pazuri pa kupata Summer Flounder kwa sababu wao kama kuzikwa wenyewe katika matope. Wakati wa vuli inapokuja, samaki hao huelekea kutoka pwani na kuingia majini. Wanyama hao wanaweza kuingia ndani ya maji yenye kina cha mita 150 kulingana na chakula wanachoweza kupata na joto la maji. Vipuli na vipuli vinavyoshirikiwa pamoja na mtego uliokatwa hufanya mchanganyiko wenye kuua. Wakati mzuri wa kuvua samaki aina ya Summer Flounder ni kati ya Mei na Septemba. Wavuvi wengi hutumia mbinu za uvuvi wa kuelea ili kuwavuta, lakini mbinu nyingine zina matokeo. Uvuvi wa kuelea ni wenye matokeo zaidi kwa sababu hufunika sehemu kubwa ya sakafu ya chini na hufanya nyambo iwe katika mwendo wa daima. Hilo hufanya mtego huo uwe wenye kuvutia zaidi na kumshawishi mnyama huyo wa baharini atoe mtego. Vipande vidogo vya samaki, kalamu au minyoo wa mchanga ni visingizio vya kawaida vinavyotumiwa kwa ajili ya Flounder ya Majira ya joto. Baadhi ya vishawishi vinaweza kuwa vya kihisia-moyo, lakini vinaitikia vizuri zaidi vishawishi vilivyo hai au mchanganyiko wa vishawishi hivyo viwili. Ikiwa mtego ni wa lazima, bora zaidi ni vijiko vidogo, vipaza-moto, na vijiti vyenye manyoya. Maadamu mwogeleaji huendelea kuwa mstahimilivu, tabia ya uhasama ya Mnyama-Mwitu wa Majira ya joto inapaswa kuchukua mahali pake.