Southern Flounder
Paralichthys orbignyanus — known in Brazil as linguado — is the native flatfish of the southern coast and the Patos Lagoon estuary.
It draws serious attention from anglers in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, both for its table quality and the challenge of reading estuarine structure to find it.
This is a bottom-oriented fish that rewards anglers who understand tidal movement and soft-bottom habitat.
Scientific Name: Paralichthys orbignyanus
Also known as linguado, linguado-sul-brasileiro
- Flat, oval body with both eyes on the left (pigmented) side — the right side is white; the eye migration is the species' most distinctive feature.
- Pigmented side is brown to olive-brown with diffuse dark blotches and spots that shift with the substrate; no ringed or ocellated markings.
- Strong canine-like teeth visible at the jaw — useful ID point when the fish is in hand.
- Typical catches run 30–50 cm; larger females can exceed 60 cm and several kilograms, and females consistently outgrow males.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the southwestern Atlantic; in Brazil it is concentrated along the southern coast, particularly in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.
- The Patos Lagoon (Lagoa dos Patos) estuary in Rio Grande do Sul is the most studied and fished habitat — a vast shallow system where salinity shifts seasonally and drives fish movement.
- Lives in estuaries, brackish bays, tidal creeks, and shallow coastal waters; tolerates a wide salinity range, from nearly fresh to full marine.
- Adults use soft muddy and sandy bottoms; juveniles concentrate in the upper reaches of estuaries where submerged vegetation provides cover.
Key Locations
- Lagoa dos Patos estuary, Rio Grande do Sul — the primary range in Brazil; extensively studied and the most consistent fishery for this species.
- Coastal estuaries and bays of Santa Catarina — the northern edge of the species' core Brazilian range, with similar shallow-water estuarine habitat.
Specific Spots
- Tidal creek mouths and drain outflows on falling tides — baitfish and shrimp funnel through these pinch points and linguado stack to intercept them.
- Shallow muddy flats adjacent to marsh edges, where the fish lie camouflaged just under the surface film of sediment waiting for prey to pass overhead.
- Channel edges and drop-offs inside the Patos Lagoon estuary, especially where current slows and soft bottom accumulates — fish hold here during slack water.
- Flooded marsh grass at high tide; as water recedes, fish move back to adjacent deeper edges, making the transition zone productive.
Southern Flounder FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Southern Flounder?
Soft-plastic paddle-tail swimbaits and grub-style lures on a 1/4–3/8 oz jig head, worked with a slow drag-and-pause along the bottom, are the most versatile option across estuarine structure.
When is the best time to fish for Southern Flounder?
Spring and summer (September–February), fish are active in estuarine feeding grounds as water warms; the most productive window for inshore fishing. Autumn (March–May), fish begin moving toward coastal and offshore waters as temperatures drop; fishing slows in the upper estuary but channel edges can still produce.
How do you catch Southern Flounder?
Most anglers in southern Brazil target linguado from small boats or on foot along estuarine margins, working soft-plastic lures or live shrimp slowly across muddy flats and through tidal creek mouths. Timing casts to coincide with tidal movement, particularly the outgoing tide, consistently puts more fish in reach.
What do Southern Flounder eat?
Adults eat smaller fish, mullet, anchovies, and other estuarine baitfish, as well as shrimp and crabs; match this with soft-plastic shrimp or paddle-tail swimbaits worked slowly along the bottom.
Where do Southern Flounder live?
Native to the southwestern Atlantic; in Brazil it is concentrated along the southern coast, particularly in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.
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