Where Does Southern Flounder Live?

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

Where to find Southern Flounder

Water type

brackish

Depth

Typically found in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, bays, and lagoons, from depths of a few feet to about 100 feet (30 meters).

Environment

Prefers soft bottoms of sand, mud, or shell hash, where it can burrow and ambush prey. Often found near structures like oyster reefs, jetties, and submerged vegetation.

Geographic range

Western Atlantic Ocean, from North Carolina south along the U.S. Atlantic coast, throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and south to northern Mexico. Less common north of North Carolina.

Explore Southern Flounder