Summer flounder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Summer flounder (fluke) |
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Pleuronectes dentatus Linnaeus, 1766 |
The summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) is a type of ocean flatfish. You can find it in the Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast of the United States and Canada. It is very common in waters from North Carolina to Massachusetts. People often call it a fluke.
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About the Summer Flounder
The summer flounder is part of the large-tooth flounder family, called Paralichthyidae. It usually has 5 to 14 eye-like spots on its body. These spots look a bit like eyes.
Like many flatfish, the summer flounder can change its color and pattern. It does this to blend in with the sand or mud on the ocean floor. It can also quickly bury itself into the bottom. This helps it hide from predators and sneak up on prey.
Its teeth are very sharp and strong, found on both its upper and lower jaws.
Size and Life Cycle
Most summer flounders become adults when they are about 2 years old. They usually weigh between 1 and 3 pounds and are 15 to 20 inches long. However, some can grow much larger. The biggest ones can weigh up to 26 pounds!
Summer flounders can live for a long time. Females can live up to 17 years, and males up to 15 years. The largest and oldest flounders are usually females.
What They Eat
Adult summer flounders are skilled hunters. They mostly eat other fish. They often lie hidden on the ocean floor with only their head showing. This way, they can surprise other animals that swim by.
Their diet includes small fish like sand lance, menhaden, and atlantic silverside. They also eat squid, shrimp, and crabs. Even though they are bottom fish, they can swim very fast for short bursts. They can even chase prey up to the surface of the water!
Where They Live
The summer flounder lives in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its home ranges from Nova Scotia in Canada all the way down to Florida in the U.S. Sometimes, it might be found even further south. It can be confused with a similar fish, the southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma). But the southern flounder does not have the eye-like spots that the summer flounder does.
Summer flounders are most common near the coast and on the continental shelf off the northeast U.S. In the spring, these fish leave the deep ocean waters where they lay their eggs. They move closer to shore into places like beaches, inlets, bays, estuaries, and creeks. They stay in these shallow waters until autumn or early winter.
Fishing for Summer Flounder
The summer flounder is a popular fish for both commercial fishing and recreational fishing.
Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishermen usually catch summer flounder using large nets called trawls. These nets are pulled behind boats to scoop up fish from the ocean floor.
Recreational Fishing
Many people enjoy fishing for summer flounder as a hobby. They often fish from a boat that is drifting, or by casting a line from the shore. Fishermen use different baits, like live or cut fish, or artificial lures. They might also use weighted jigs with strips of bait.
As Food
Summer flounder is considered a very good fish to eat. Its meat is firm, white, and has a mild taste.
Protecting Summer Flounder
The summer flounder is a very important fish along the Atlantic coast. It supports both the commercial fishing industry and is a favorite for recreational fishing in the northeast United States. Many businesses depend on a healthy summer flounder population. These include fishing charter boats, bait and tackle shops, and other businesses related to boating and angling.
Because the summer flounder is so important, there has been a lot of discussion about its populations. People worry about overfishing and how many fish can be caught. Different states have their own rules about the size of fish you can keep and how many you can catch.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council helps manage the summer flounder. They work with other groups like the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This is important because summer flounders move between federal and state waters.
