The choice of line and leader type for flounder comes down to the area you’re targeting them – whether it’s inshore on the oyster reefs, in the muddy channels, or within the inlets – and the sensitivity in the line required to feel the bite. Although the areas you will find flounder will be flat-surfaced, many abrasive materials such as rock, oyster, sand, and shell will be scattered along the bottom, and since flounder fishing involves slowly dragging your line across the seafloor, tough lines are appropriate for the job. In addition, higher sensitivity line is good to feel the bite of flounder. Most of the time while dragging, flounder will snatch the bait, which will only feel like a subtle tap. All flounders have a nice set of small, sharp teeth, so a leader is recommended as well.
Fishing Lines for Flounder Fishing
All line types have their pros and cons. When it comes to flounder, there are several important factors to consider in line and leader choice. In general, use a 12-to-14 pound line, either mono or braid, with a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader for flounder.
Monofilament Line for Flounder Fishing
Monofilament line is good for flounder fishing is because it is very resistant to abrasion. This is important because most of the areas targeting flounder will have scattered sand and shell that your line will pass over, which can do serious damage to your line over time. The downside to using mono is that it is not as sensitive to feeling bites as other line types.
Using Fluorocarbon for Flounder Fishing
Besides the obvious benefit of fluorocarbon, in that it’s virtually invisible under water, fluorocarbon line is excellent for flounder fishing for the same reasons as monofilament – it is very resistant to abrasion. Another benefit of using fluorocarbon is its greater sensitivity over monofilament. Lastly, fluorocarbon has a faster sink rate than both monofilament and braided line. This allows you to use less weight on your sinkers compared to monofilament or braided line, leading to less weary fish and more strikes.
Using Braided Line for Flounder Fishing
Braided line is not recommended for flounder fishing,but then again, mono isn't as forgiving either because of the abrasive nature of the fishing techniques. While the line drags along the sand, shell, and rocks, small nicks in the line will appear over time, leading to unnecessary break-offs. The one benefit of braided line however, is the better hook-setting abilities due to its lack of stretch.
The main challenge for your line and leader to overcome is the sharp or abrasive structures on the seafloor. Monofilament and fluorocarbon make excellent choices, but if nothing else the recommended leader material on a reel spooled with braided line.
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