I need advice on Starry Flounder

[Tinman]

Does anybody know how and where to catch Starry Flounder? I'm primarily interested in Netarts Bay, Tillamook Bay and the beaches in those areas. I have an ocean-capable boat with sounder and GPS, but would also enjoy surf fishing.
Where should I fish, and on what tides? What sort of bottom (sand, mud, gravel, rocks?) do flounder prefer? What sort of underwater structure (channels, flats, holes?) should I look for? What are the best times of year? Should the bait be left stationary on the bottom or kept moving? Is the flounder fishery healthy enough to warrant a few exploratory trips?
Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Deleted User]

I can't really speak for the whole North Coast but I do know that the once excellent Starry Flounder fishery in the Nestucca Bay completly disappeared following the Marine Mammal Protection Act being implemented.
I did catch a small flounder in Tillamook Bay a few years ago but it was ruined by a seal bite. I spend a lot of time with a sand shrimp on the bottom of Tillamook Bay and thats the only one I have seen caught.
I sure hope someone else has better news than that.

[Salmonator]

I caught one in front of Astoria whilst sturgeon fishing last summer. Saw another one floating dead there. Another a few weeks later trolling herring at the Siletz mouth.

[buzzerbaby]

definitely not a sure thing but, I've actually caught quite a few (at least I think they are starry's, they're definitely flounder of some sort) near Kalama and Woodland while fishing for squawfish. And no they will never be "pikeminnows" to me.

[davpot]

Heck: Back in the 60s and 70s, we used to catch a whole lot of em in Yaquina Bay on worms and red yarn! Big ones! I think something is TERRIBLY WRONG with the fishery. They have been in a depressed mode for 20 years or so. Could be the seals or pollution, or commercials in close. ODFW sure as hell doesnt know! I agree, these are spectacular fish and fight very well. But I dont know what can be done. Maybe Dubya will have an answer!

[Tinman]

Many thanks to those that responded. For what it's worth, I drifted sand shrimp all over lower Tillamook bay the day before yesterday, with nary a flounder to show for. I tried the main channel seaward of the Coast Guard Station, as well as the flats south of the channel. Crabs paved the bottom, and soon stripped the bait.
I would still appreciate any further advice. Thanks again.

[Tanner]

Back in late October I called Trucke's in seaside to see if there were still any chinook in the Necanicum tidewater. The guy told me that no one was getting chinook but down by the High School guys were catching some very large Starry Flounder. He said they were getting a few of them in the 6 and 7 lb range.

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Work is for people who have an expensive fishing habit to support.

[dawhunt]

I used to do real good at sandlake,ore.I would drive down to the beach and take a right and go clear up to the scout boundary and fish just this side of it in the surf useing sandshrimp slack tide was good so was the start of the incomeing never fished the outgoing.we use to do really good there.But its been a few years still might be worth a try.
Bob

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Bob Dawson

[Trick]

I second the seaside choice. It's been about 10 years or so but we used to catch quite a few in the necanicum tidewater area and I've caught a few in the Columbia estuary. As far as I know they migrate in and out of saltwater and freshwater like sturgeon can. I've seen small ones fishing in tidal areas of streams along the Columbia where it is probally 99.9% freshwater on an outgoing tide.

[Crusty]

Two years ago my wife and I watched a couple catch several from the end of the upper state park dock on Government Island.

Crusty

[Jennie@ifish]

I have fished extensively for flounder at the estuary in Seaside behind the high school.
I used to use about 1/2 to and ounce of weight, one of those cheapo line connectors, so that the kids and I could change hooks easily, those cheap snelled hooks, and some light wire or elastic to hold the shrimp on.
We would cast out, sit on our bucket, and slowly..... and I mean very slowly reel in. The draggin on the sand seems to wake these sleepy fish up.
I'll never forget, we would fill our buckets with water, and then with fish. When we sat on the buckets, we would get splashed alot by all the fish we got! Some wouldn't fit in the buckets though, they were so huge!
haven't done it in 5 years though.
My big problem is that I can't clean them. When you filet them, air escapes and it sounds all the devil like a poor fish screaming to me, and flounder are such docile creatures... I hated it! I simply can't do it! They cry! I know it is just air... but somehow I still can't do it!
Flounder fishing is a blast!
We used to do it starting in late March.
Jen

[Trick]

If my boys here about the "cryin' fish" it may ruin them for life. Jennie, what are you doin'??? I'd have to rate that up there with the Bambi movies for juvenile damage to the young future hunters. Just kiddin'.

I never mess with panfish and sole anymore. Alot of work for very little. Still love to catch and release them.