Fishing For Puget Sound's Flounder & Sand Dabs

Overshadowed by salmon, Puget Sound’s flounder and sand dabs are the best fishery in the state that doesn’t receive any pressure. On the other hand, those that target these tasty fish see constant action, something priceless when keeping kids (and many adults) interested. Catching two at a time, dozens a day or 100 between all anglers on the boat is normal when using Chartreuse Fire Brine herring on a small hook which you'll see in this episode of Pautzke Outdoors.
Our success came on brined bait. The sand dabs and flounder aren’t too picky, but by brining baits they last longer and don’t break apart on you as quickly. Add the UV color of the Chartreuse Fire Brine and a squirt of Chartreuse Fire Dye and you won’t be able to keep the fish off your hook. We slid the brined herring and pieces of squid on to a size two octopus hook. Ainsworth used 15-20 pound leaders attached to 30-pound braid. We used a double hook on a drop-shot rig and lowered it to the bottom with two-ounce weight.
Editor’s Note: Anglers may keep a combination of 10 sand dabs and flounder daily (check for updated regulations). Mike Ainsworth operates First Light Guide Service. For more information on his Puget Sound kid-friendly sand dab and flounder trips please visit www.firstlightguideservice.com.
To Learn More About Pautzke Bait: www.pautzke.com
Like us on Facebook: / pautzkebait
Follow us on Instagram: / pautzke_bait

[@outlawfishbumz755]

Another great spring summer fall fishery i spent 25 years growing up and fishing shilshoal bay and carkeek park and west point i have also caught lots of perch and some unusual fish like a few pacific cod and black fish

[@joonlee354]

love the video

[@guyh.4553]

Very fun but what about your setup and rigging? Appreciated though! 🐟🐟🐟

[@shrekniggahestealsyogirl9742]

They are baby's !!!!!!!!!

[@TeamPautzke]

For sand dabs?

[@printisalive]

what is the specs on the spinner set up?

[@noahrovente3311]

What rod and reels are you guys using?

[@operationmoyda]

I think Ratfish look cool...... I've caught them trolling herring on the down rigger........ Definitely better than a Dogfish/ sand shark.

[@JBsteelie]

I've always been Leary about bringing a Sand Dab or Starry Flounder home for the dinner plate due to the amount of worms visible on the white underbelly. I know pretty much ALL bottom fish and most of all fish have worms and parasites in them but maybe just seeing them keeps me from bringing them home. It'd be nice to bring home a few of these since other fisheries such as Lingcod and Halibut are so limited (Halibut season is a joke BTW). Any insight for keepers/eaters on these or what to look for, keep ones with the fewest amount of parasites visible? I mainly fish off the San Juans/Area 7. Nice Video though!

[@tiffanywelton5116]

JBsteelie gotta go west in the strait past Sequim and even the Dungeness river mouth for the best Halibut fishing. The best fish are kept jsyk which is why there's so many worm ridden ones.

[@bobow1917]

Those sand dabs are huge compared to California's

[@TeamPautzke]

Mike Ainsworth is the sand dab king!

[@JohnVHRC]

what do you look for in location for these?

[@cerealaugher]

sand

[@gregoriobernstine421]

Careful with the puget sound sharks yall. The 6gill cannot be removed from the water. Tight lines everyone

[@talulasnow]

all of the sand dabs i get they all have worms i fish off hat island for em

[@tiffanywelton5116]

polar bear18 almost all the ones with little to no worms are kept which is why the worm and lice plagued ones are released.

[@karusokui]

Where was this? Location please.

[@TeamPautzke]

Puget Sound, near Seattle

[@wylekilliams]

i'm sorry but those aren't big. maybe by todays standards, with the puget sound being so overfished & overpolluted...

[@TeamPautzke]

These are today's standards. Thank you for watching.

[@mrplow3874]

Jeezus some people don’t know a damn thing about fishing. Sanddabs do not get my bigger.