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  • Sea Angler

    Q&A SHORE ANGLING

    Dec 13, 2021 4 minutes

    Q Flatfish can look very similar and I often struggle with identifying what species I’ve caught. What are the easiest ways to distinguish a founder from a plaice and a dab?

    THOMAS PARKER, THETFORD, NORFOLK

    JM says: Along with rays, flatfish are one of the most common fish to be mistakenly identified by anglers because they can all look so similar. However, there are three distinct differences which will help you correctly identify the difference between a flounder, plaice and dab.

    Starting with the dab, look out for a distinct C-curve lateral line above the pectoral fin which is near the head, which is very different from both the flounder and plaice.

    The easiest way to identify a flounder (below) is to feel for some

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