Flounder, Gulf (lat. Paralichthys albigutta)
flounder. Because of its size, the gulf flounder is of minor economic significance, and it is mixed in commercial and sport catches with summer flounder and southern flounder.
OTHER NAMES:
flounder;
Spanish: lenguado tres ojos.
The gulf flounder has the familiar olivebrown background of its relatives, the summer and the southern flounder, but it has three characteristic ocellated spots forming a triangle on its eye side. One spot is above the lateral line, one below, and one on the middle, although these spots can become obscure in larger fish. Numerous white spots are scattered over the body and the fins (albigutta means “white-spotted”), and the caudal fin is in the shape of a wedge, with the tip in the middle. This species has 53 to 63 anal rays, which is fewer than the 63 to 73 found on the southern flounder. Like other flatfish, the gulf flounder can change color dramatically to match the bottom.
The average fish is under 2 pounds and between 6 and 10 inches long, although it is capable of growing to 15 inches. It is believed to live for at least 3 years. The all-tackle world-record fish is a 5-pounder, caught in Florida.
Spawning season is in the winter offshore.
The gulf flounder feeds on crustaceans and small fish.
The gulf flounder generally occurs in the same range as the southern flounder; it is common from Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to Corpus Christi, Texas, including southern Florida and the Bahamas.
Gulf flounder inhabit sand, coral rubble, and seagrass areas near shore. They often range into tidal reefs and are occasionally found around nearshore rocky reefs. They commonly
favor depths of up to 60 feet.