Flounder are one of the most rewarding fish to target on the Southeast coast — and they're reliably caught on jig heads with curly tail grubs. The setup is simple but effective, and when you understand how flounder feed, the approach makes complete sense.
How Flounder Feed
Flounder are ambush predators. They lie flat on the bottom, camouflaged against sand or mud, waiting for baitfish to pass close enough to strike. They're not going to swim up from 10 feet to chase something. You need to put your bait in front of them — near the bottom, moving slowly.
This is why the jig head and curly tail combination is so effective. The head keeps your bait near the bottom, and the tail's natural action mimics a small baitfish moving along the substrate. Flounder can't resist it.
Setup
- Rod: 6'6" to 7' medium spinning rod
- Line: 15 lb braid to a 20–25 lb fluorocarbon leader (2 to 3 feet)
- Jig head: 1/8 to 3/4 oz round or stand-up head, 3/0 to 4/0 hook
- Soft plastic: 3 to 4-inch curly tail grub in white, chartreuse, or pink. Natural colors like shrimp and root beer also produce well.
Where to Fish It
Flounder stage near structure — dock pilings, channel edges, inlet mouths, grass beds on tidal flats, and creek bends where current creates natural ambush points. In the Lowcountry, the best flounder fishing happens during the fall outmigration (September through November) when fish stack up at inlet mouths before moving offshore.
The Retrieve
Cast uptide of your target structure, let the bait sink to bottom, then drag it slowly along the substrate with occasional hops. The key is keeping bottom contact. A jig head bouncing off the bottom through a dock shadow, across a sandy channel edge, or along a grass line is exactly what a flounder expects to see.
When you feel a "thunk" or a tap, don't immediately rip the hook — many anglers miss flounder by setting too early. Let the fish take the bait, feel the weight of the fish, then drive the hook home with a firm sweep set.
Our Ebb N Flow Outdoors multipurpose jig heads are a go-to for this application — the built in belly weighted bait keeper and stand up keel designs both work well for flounder and keeping baits pinned all day, and the chemically sharpened hooks are essential for the short, sharp strike flounder often throw at a moving bait.
🎣 Shop the Gear
The jig heads for flounder fishing from Ebb N Flow Outdoors:
- ➤ The Upgrade – Multi-Purpose Jig Head — For bouncing curly tail grubs along the bottom for flounder. Available in 1/4 to 1/2 oz for most inshore applications.
- ➤ Upgrade A.T.V Weedless — Fish through grass beds and structure without hangups. Same great hook for flounder's short strikes.
- ➤ The Full Arsenal Kit — All three styles for inshore fishing versatility.
USA Mustad hooks. Built for inshore salt.