hi there, ive been flounder spearing or 'gigging' in the pauatahanui inlet by the mana bridge a couple of times now and always get there about an hour and a half before high tide. theres no shortage of flounder where i look, its just the size thats the problem! (all of the fish i see would be 1-10cm)

i was just wondering if there are nursery areas as such to avoid in inlets, and in which case what are they? i hear that flounder spawn during the winter, was also thinking that this place may be a nursery area where the eggs have been laid or something and the little ones are getting bigger there and then moving elsewhere?

i remember doing this with my dad before he passed in harbours up north and it was waaay better floundering with most fish being legal to large in size and plenty of them.

a big thanks to anyone that can shed any light on this topic its much appreciated

regards
 
Geoff

GoingHard wrote: , flounder spawnat sea but the spawn travel back to  shallow "nurseries" and while still 8-10mm in size are swimming like normal fish,then one eye travels right around their head to join the other eye and they then start to swim like a flounder. if theres little ones there will be bigger ones as well.Most ahrbours or estuarys will hold them.Always large numbers at the mouths of rivers as well. Try from 1-2 hours after low tide as they start coming in then to actively feed in the shallows.they will even be gobbling down the little flounder as well.

Goinghard is right the do swim upright at the start

GoingHard wrote: They only swim upright like normal fish until 8-10 mm  ie LESS than a cm long.Thats a hell of a small flounder to notice as they are also slightly transparent at this time and making their way from the open ocean to a shallow nursery. http://njscuba.net/zzz_biology/flounder_development.gif   the presence of small flounder means there is also larger ones in the same waters.just have to search further afield. (But those little Flounder up to 15cm long dont half make choice snapper baits...so i hear...)

 

could be something to do with overfishing in that area, the bigger ones have all been plucked off, or that the bigger ones are more reluctant to come out. a number of things could be at play...

theres a good chance your fishing a nursery try another spot

Iv'e always gone just after low, never persevered longer than a couple of hours of incoming. I haven't done a lot of it but haven't had a problem with size. Never really kicked ass either. Find myself going home after saying  'sweat as - breakfast!!' 

Get outta bed earlier bro

Gurnard candy at that size