Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body oval-shaped, flattened laterally, left-eyed (eyes on left side of body); color brown, blotchy with 3 distinct spots (black spots surrounded by yellow); underside (right side) white; high arch in anterior lateral line just behind head; forehead with no notch; eyes far apart in larger fish; mouth oblique, large, extending to or past posterior part of eye. |
Similar Species |
Southern flounders have no distinct spots; ocellated flounders have four distinct spots; like the southern flounder, the Gulf flounder gets large enough to be recreationally and commercially important. |
Habitat |
Gulf and bay, prefers sandy or muddy bottoms |
Maximum Size |
71 cm (28 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. 71-85; A. 53-63 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
Popular in commercial and sport fisheries; More abundant on the southern Texas coast than the northern coast. |
State size/bag limits |
Minimum size is 14 in.; bag limit is 5 (includes all species), except in November and the 1st 2 weeks in December where the bag and possession limit is 2, pole and line only in November, any legal means in December.; Check for state record. |