Although
there are 18 species of left eyed flounder found in the
northern Gulf of Mexico, the Southern Flounder, Paralichthys
lethosigma, which literally means “parallel fish
that forgot its spots,” is the one that most people
on the Gulf coast think of when speaking of flounders. This
fish is highly sought after by both commercial and recreational
fishermen. Flounder are prized for their mild flavor and
white, flakey flesh. A traditional Louisiana recipe is baked
flounder stuffed with crabmeat dressing.
For
most of the year, harvest is incidental as fish are scattered
throughout the estuary system, from totally fresh water
in the upper reaches of river systems to the lower areas
of the most salty bays. However, flounders do congregate
in large schools just before and during migration offshore
for spawning. The Southern Flounder migration in coastal
Louisiana waters is close at hand. The nearest thing Louisiana
has to a synchronized, en masse fish migration will begin
in mid October and last only for a few weeks. The flounder
migration out of the coastal estuaries is one consisting
almost entirely of females. They move offshore to join male
fish and spawn in December and January. By late February
to early March, the females return to the estuaries, where
they remain until the following fall. Male flounders stay
in offshore waters year-round.
Male
flounders are small, seldom growing larger than 10 to 12
inches, but the females grow larger and travel longer distances.
Females may reach 23 inches long or more, and spend most
of the year in inshore waters, only migrating offshore to
spawn. Excellent catches of flounder can be made during
this period.
Female
Southern Flounder spawn several times during their short
annual spawning period, producing about 100,000 eggs each
spawn. Spawning seems to be triggered by water temperatures
of about 56 F and usually occurs between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m.
After
hatching, larval southern flounders grow rapidly in highly
saline waters. Young flounders begin to appear in Louisiana
inshore estuaries between January and April, and range from
1/4 inch to 2 inches in length. Like other fish, flounders
hatch with one eye on each side of the head. Movement of
the right eye to the left side of the head begins when the
fish is 1/3 to 1/2 inch long and is complete when the fish
is 3/4 inch to 1 inch long. At this same time, the left
side develops its dark color and the right side turns white.
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