Where Does Gulf Flounder Live?

Gulf Flounder lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Gulf Flounder

Water type

saltwater

Depth

Typically found in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, bays, and lagoons, from a few feet to depths of about 130 feet (40 meters). Spawns in deeper offshore waters.

Environment

Prefers sandy or muddy bottoms, seagrass beds, and areas around oyster reefs and other structures where it can ambush prey. Tolerates a wide range of salinities, from nearly fresh to full oceanic salinity.

Geographic range

Western Atlantic Ocean, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, and occasionally northward along the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States to North Carolina.

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