Flounder in Lagoons

Hi,
I’m interested in targeting starry flounder in lagoons in Northern CA. Any suggestions on fishing tactics? Bait? Curly tails? Colors? Rigging? Etc...
Thanks! I’m new to targeting flounder/smaller flatfish.
-Max

Never seen a starry flounder in any of the "lagoons". Caught one from the bay when I was younger and we got 1 at the cove last year

Years ago, like almost 50, I was out with my uncle on the Napa River on an outgoing tide. We landed on a flat that was covered in flounder and had a heyday catching a bunch. That was the last time that ever happened and I have only caught a few starry's since then in the ocean.

I’ve never seen one in the lagoons though they probably exist.  I want to say I’ve heard of them in big lagoon but that may be a faulty memory.

They certainly do exist in the brackish sloughs and river mouths.  I’ve seen them in freshwater, Ryan, HBNWR, the Mad River downstream of the county park boat ramp, and also in the Rogue Bay.  I’ve never seen one in brackish water or fresh water that was big enough that I would consider targeting them though.

Otters are pretty good at catching them in stone lagoon.  I’ve seen a few pictures of them eating starry flounder on the snag

Also caught a small flattie in big lagoon many years ago dragging a Carolina rigged nightcrawler

Years ago, like almost 50, I was out with my uncle on the Napa River on an outgoing tide. We landed on a flat that was covered in flounder and had a heyday catching a bunch. That was the last time that ever happened and I have only caught a few starry's since then in the ocean.

Even as recent as twenty years ago, they were so plentiful in the Napa River that you had to weed through them while sturgeon fishing. Any shrimp baits that sat on the bottom for more than ten minutes were sure to be grabbed by a starry. All nice sized fish in the 12-14" range, too. I caught one while sturgeon fishing maybe ten years ago but haven't seen one since.

Caught one 100 yards off Linda Mar beach this summer... also Shelter Cove...

They seem to be a rare catch comparable to the likelihood of catching an octopus or wolf eel.

Catching one will likely be very much like catching a thresher - usually by-catch while targeting something else.

They seem to be a rare catch comparable to the likelihood of catching an octopus or wolf eel.

Catching one will likely be very much like catching a thresher - usually by-catch while targeting something else.

Is that from the day I was there??? Nice by-catch BTW...

Is that from the day I was there??? Nice by-catch BTW...

Maybe...  Here's one from 8/31.   

Is that from the day I was there??? Nice by-catch BTW...

Maybe...  Here's one from 8/31.   

Purdy 

I can't say much to answer any of those questions, but I know a guy whom works on outboards here in Redding - he was born and raised in Crescent City. He has told me stories about the flounder and Steelhead that would go into the lagoons after a hard storm and a sand bar would pop open. He said that he had success on both species, but I can't remember anything about how he caught the flounder. The Steelhead was a boat trip and hike to get back to where water was coming in to whichever lagoon blew open.

Years ago, like almost 50, I was out with my uncle on the Napa River on an outgoing tide. We landed on a flat that was covered in flounder and had a heyday catching a bunch. That was the last time that ever happened and I have only caught a few starry's since then in the ocean.

Yeah as a kid think 1960s they were plentiful, I once read an article on their decline but couldn't find it to post up. Bottom line I guess the population is stable enough that they don't need protection but the days of them being anything but a rare catch are over. What I remember of that article is that the population crashed, and never recovered to their historical numbers and aren't expected to at least in the SF bay system.

Grass shrimp or other natural baits on the bottom.  Interestingly, I believe it was the last one I ever caught. This little thing ate both my baits on a double dropper loop rig.  I saw a little activity on the rod tip but not enough to react to, then a couple minutes later some more activity, then nothing. Decided to check bait and there it was, about 10 inches with 2 big hooks in it's mouth.  Big hooks, not swallowed so it was an easy release.

Good luck.

As an undergrad at HSU, our Fisheries Techniques class did some beach seining in Big Lagoon in 2009 and we picked up a few hand-sized starry flounder right around the boat ramp. The little guys were/are also fairly abundant in the Mad River estuary. In 2005, I caught a 20 inch starry in Humboldt Bay while perch fishing off King Salmon. It was also pretty common to catch small sand sole off King Salmon starting late spring. Cast out a chunk of anchovy, drag it along the bottom, and you'd hook sand sole with some consistency.

If I were to target them in the lagoons, I'd paddle along and cast towards the sand bar on the west side of the lagoon. Don't be afraid to fish shallow: I've seen enough flounder in osprey talons to know they love scooting into shallow water. Cover ground and maybe you'll get lucky!

Edit: for lures in the lagoons, I agree with using a curlytail grub on a leadhead. Something like a 3" grub on a 1/4 or 3/8 oz head. Drag it along the bottom as if you were bass fishing, or maybe try hopping it. I don't think they'd be too picky about the retrieve.

Thanks all for the great information! I’ve been wanting to catch one for quite some time now. I’m going to give it a go this Saturday. I’ll let you all know what I find.
Cheers,
Max