🌊 Saltwater

Summer Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

The summer flounder — known to anglers as "fluke" — is a master of disguise. This flatfish can change its color and pattern almost instantaneously to match virtually any background, from fine sand to coarse gravel. Found along the Atlantic coast, it is an aggressive predator that ambushes prey from the seafloor. Summer flounder is also one of the most popular table fish on the East Coast.

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Typical Size
12–25 inches (30–64 cm) typical
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Weight
1–5 lbs (0.45–2.3 kg) typical; record over 22 lbs (10 kg)
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Lifespan
12–14 years
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Water Type
Saltwater

🗺️ Habitat

Atlantic coast of North America from Nova Scotia to Florida. Inshore bays, estuaries, and nearshore ocean; migrates offshore in winter.

🔍 How to Identify Summer Flounder

  • 1Flat body with both eyes on the LEFT side (unlike winter flounder, which has both on the right)
  • 2Background color mimics bottom — can be sandy brown, speckled, or patterned
  • 3Large mouth with sharp teeth (more aggressive looking than most flatfish)
  • 4Ocellated spots (eye-like markings) along the body
  • 5Blind side (underside) is white

🍽️ Diet

Squid, shrimp, sand lance, weakfish, and other small fish and invertebrates

💡 Fun Facts About Summer Flounder

  • ★Summer flounder can change their coloration in less than a second to match any substrate
  • ★They use their lateral line to detect vibrations from prey hiding in the sand
  • ★Fluke (flounder) are popular targets for "back bay" drift fishing along the Atlantic Coast
  • ★They undergo a remarkable metamorphosis as larvae: one eye migrates to the opposite side of the head
  • ★Summer flounder are voracious predators and will readily take artificial lures fished near the bottom

🛡️ Conservation Status

Least Concern — managed through size and bag limits

🔗 Related Species

Pacific HalibutAtlantic Cod

Identify Summer Flounder Instantly with AI

Not sure if you found a Summer Flounder? Snap a photo with our Fish Identifier app for an instant AI-powered identification.

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Learn more:

How to Identify Fish: A Beginner's GuideMost Common Freshwater Fish in North America← Back to All Fish Species