Jigs for small flatfish

[omc-bob]

Does anybody have any recommendations for  lures for small flatfish ? There are quite a few rock sole ,flounders etc. in the area I like to fish but I've yet to find a lure they will hit consistently .It might be the tides I'm fishing or the water clarity but for some reason it is always a pretty much hit and miss situation .These are not big fish ,a huge one would be 18" so I've been trying a variety of 1/2 to 1 oz jig heads with as many colours of curly worms as are in my box. The hot pink /glitter seems to be the best so far but I think I 'm still missing something ,any ideas?

[Partycrasher]

I'm by no means a flounder expert....   But I've caught enough in Florida, both coasts.  Unless you need that weight for some reason, that seems heavy.  I'm generally using 1/4 to 3/8 ounce Sparkie heads with a small plastic tail or a 2" or 3" Gulp Shrimp.  I'm generally hopping it along the bottom.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Our Southern Flounder have large mouths but I've seen pics of other Flatfish that are common to other regions having very small mouths.  For our large-mouthed Southerns, a Stingray Grub, 4" Finesse Worm, 4" Curltail, 3"-4" Swim, hopped along Bottom in ALL Suspect Areas.  For a jighead, I like some 1/16 oz., use mostly 1/8 oz. for this job though...1/4 oz. or more would be used strictly out of necessity...all 'heads with 3/0 and 4/0 hooks.

Now, for those Flatties with smaller mouths, I would be throwing Panfish or near-Panfish-sized plastics.  Something skinny, narrow...vary color by Water Clarity.  Those fish know what might fit in their mouth...and they're not always there and willing.  I would do these things, keep colors simple, and marinate in a Scent Oil that "are aimed at" their Common Forage/Local Fare (to help them commit as they sneak up behind the bait, or hold on long enough to tell You they're there).

Shoot a transluscent Natural color, a more opaque/Dark Natural color, a Dark/Black color, a Purple color, and a bright color that might be Pink or Chartreuse or other loud color You've learned to be productive.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

And You might be targeting smart Fish in clear water...in that case, shoot colors/baits that imitate their Local Forage and marinate in Corresponding Scents...Match the Hatch.

[ruck]

I used to do a ton of fluke fishing on light tackle in shallow water. It is important to use the lightest lure that you can keep on the bottom considering the tide, water depth, and speed of drift. I always did best on pearl or silver colors. I have no clue whether the fish you are after are similar to fluke, so my advice may be useless, but with jigs on all fish I always do best with the lightest weight possible.
 Bouncing a spoon like a Hopkins or Kastmaster worked well too. Since you are on a tackle craft site, check out the Do It spoon molds like the Casting spoon or the Flutter lure. Bet they'd work great.

[mrex]

Stingray grub works - Motoroil (red flake) with Chartuse tail.  If bite is really slow or you are hunting, tip it with a small bit of shrimp.

[Bucho]

Small mouthed flatties are  are a complete different ballgame than piscavourous virginia flounder, turbot etc.
Mod a 1/4 or 3/8 wobble jig mold up side down so the lip looks down and stirs the bottom while the hook rides up and activates the tipping or tying material. My #1 best selling jig. Phenomenal effect on small mouthed flatties. Flounder, dab, plaice, even turbot and large cod take it for a feeding small flounder and go for it.

For tipping with sandworm, chose no bigger hook than 1/0 or they will steal every single bait. With more resilient gulp, a zonker strip or plastics you can get away with larger hooks but I don`t recommend it. Gulp grubs work much better than sandworm imitations, floppy action is key.   

I have only two colors, chartreuse as standard and glow for pitch black darkness. 



They ALWAYS charge the front end, trying to steal the bait from what they think is a a fellow small flattie so yoy must not fear short strikes regardless the bait size.