by Holle Abee

Created on: January 19, 2009

Fishing for flounder from a pier is my absolute favorite type of fishing! I've tried deep sea fishing, surf fishing, trolling from a boat, and fly fishing, but I always come back to the pier for flatfish. I've found it to be the most relaxing type of angling available, and it's fun and easy.

Flounder are delicious, with mild, flaky white flesh that can be successfully prepared a number of ways. From each fish, you'll get four fillets: two thick ones from the top, and two thinner ones from the underside. For smaller flouner, my husband likes them fried whole, with just the head and entrails removed.

A pier is a great place to hook flounder because the fish love structure. They don't swim around a lot in search of prey like most gamefish. Instead, they bury themselves in the sand and lie in wait to ambush passing minnows and shrimp. Once they catch their food, they sometimes "mouth" it before actually eating it, or they might take it to another location to enjoy their meal undisturbed. Understanding their feeding habits is key to bagging the flounder.

What you'll need: You need a medium-action rod. I use a Zebco 808 and am often teased by other fishermen who use more expensive rods. Ironically, I ususally outfish these guys! Your reel should be loaded with 20-25 pound line, with several feet of wire leader. Flounder have sharp teeth; hence the leader.

Use a 4/0 circle hook. These hooks are great! When the fish takes your bait, the hook migrates to the corner of the fish's mouth, so the fish actually sets the hook himself.

Use a trolling sinker. Its long, slender shape allows you to bump it across the bottom without kicking up a lot of sand. The weight you need will depend on how strong the current is, but you want to use as little weight as possible.

For bait, I've found that live finger mullet work best. If you can't find mullet, use mudminnows. Hook the baitfish through the lips. Another good option is live shrimp, hooked through the horn. Artificial baits like leadhead jigs with white or pink grub tails are often deadly, too.

Method #1: Work you bait slowly around the pilings of the pier. Cast under the pier, let your bait sink, and slowly retrieve it. Also, try dropping your bait down next to the pier and dragging it while you walk. Walk all the way to the shallows. I've seen flounder in just a few inches of water, so don't just concentrate on deep water.

Method #2: Toss your line under the pier or next to a piling. Set your drag, set your rod down, and tie it to

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