Summer Flounder
Scientific Name: Paralichthys dentatus | Category: saltwater
The summer flounder, or fluke, is a master of disguise, a left-eyed flatfish with a physique built for ambush. Its body is a broad, diamond-shaped oval, typically reaching 15 to 25 inches and 2 to 8 pounds, with true trophies stretching past 30 inches and 15 pounds. The key visual giveaway is the eye placement: both eyes are on the left side of its dark, mottled-brown upper surface, a canvas of intricate patterns that shift to match sand, mud, or gravel. The underside is a stark, pearly white. In hand, you'll feel the sharp teeth—the source of its scientific name *dentatus*—and note the distinct, separated dorsal and anal fins running the length of the body, unlike the conjoined fin of a winter flounder.
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"id": "223209ff-4089-4299-b699-067837160161",
"commonName": "Summer Flounder",
"scientificName": "Paralichthys dentatus",
"slug": "summer-flounder",
"category": "saltwater",
"aliases": [
"Fluke",
"Left-eyed Flounder",
"Northern Fluke",
"Doormat",
"Chunky Dunk",
"Sand Flounder"
],
"description": "The summer flounder, or fluke, is a master of disguise, a left-eyed flatfish with a physique built for ambush. Its body is a broad, diamond-shaped oval, typically reaching 15 to 25 inches and 2 to 8 pounds, with true trophies stretching past 30 inches and 15 pounds. The key visual giveaway is the eye placement: both eyes are on the left side of its dark, mottled-brown upper surface, a canvas of intricate patterns that shift to match sand, mud, or gravel. The underside is a stark, pearly white. In hand, you'll feel the sharp teeth—the source of its scientific name *dentatus*—and note the distinct, separated dorsal and anal fins running the length of the body, unlike the conjoined fin of a winter flounder.",
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"caption": "The summer flounder, or fluke, is a master of disguise, a left-eyed flatfish with a physique built for ambush.",
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{
"id": "fd69bde8-19e3-42c6-a37e-2881551da918",
"name": "Adult",
"slug": "adult",
"description": "The adult summer flounder is a quintessential ambush predator, lying flat on the seabed and waiting for prey to wander within striking distance. Its life revolves around camouflage and sudden bursts of speed, making it a challenging and rewarding target for coastal anglers.",
"appearance": "Broad, diamond-shaped oval body, typically 15-25 inches in length (trophies >30 inches). The left side (upper surface) is dark with intricate, variable mottling—patterns of brown, olive, and tan with scattered spots and blotches that can mimic sand, mud, or gravel. The eyes are both on the left side of the head. The underside (right side) is a stark, smooth pearly white. Body is laterally flattened. Possesses sharp, prominent teeth. Dorsal and anal fins are long and run the length of the body but are distinctly separated, not conjoined.",
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"habitat": "Coastal Atlantic waters from the Carolinas to Massachusetts, over sandy, muddy, or gravelly bottoms in bays, channels, and nearshore ocean areas, typically at depths from shallow flats to about 100 feet.",
"anglersNote": "This is the primary phase anglers target—a prized gamefish for its fight and table fare, often caught by drifting bait or jigs over sandy bottoms.",
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],
"contentUpdatedAt": "2026-05-09T22:32:04.620Z"
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