Saltwater · Spring peak March-May (bom dodari season); present year-round

Ridged-eye Flounder

Pleuronichthys cornutus

The spring flounder of the south and east coasts — bom dodari ('spring flounder') is a calendar word in Korea, and the season is celebrated with dodari-ssukguk, mugwort soup with flounder. Boats drift worm and shrimp baits over sand and mud while the fish gather in shallow bays. Smaller and more delicate than the olive flounder, and a pure bait fish: its small mouth will not take lures.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Ridged-eye Flounder — Photo: Syrio, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Eyes on the right side, set far apart with a bony ridge between them
Brown-olive eyed side with darker marbling
Small mouth — a worm and shrimp eater, not a predator of fish
Rounded diamond-shaped body under 12 in (30 cm)
The twisted bony base of the first dorsal rays gives the species name 'cornutus'

Habits

Burrows into sand with only the eyes showing and waits
Feeds on worms, small crabs and peanut worms
Most active in shallow bays in spring
Mainly a daytime feeder — unlike many night-feeding flatfish
Loose groups rather than true schools

Distribution

Regional coverage expanding

Where to find them

Tongyeong spring grounds, south coast
Geoje sand bays in March-April
Namhae (South Sea) shallows, Gyeongsangnam-do

Where they live

Sand and mud bottoms of the south and east coasts in 20-100 ftSpring aggregations over shallow bays off Tongyeong and GeojeSand patches beside reefs where it buries itself

How to catch them

Spring boat drifting over sand Boat

Rig: Light bottom rig with worm or shrimp on a small hook, drifted slowly over sand-mud in 20-60 ft

Bait/lure: Sandworm or shrimp

Key tip: Drift slowly and keep the bait on the bottom; spring flounder bite tentatively, so give them time.

Anchored bay fishing in early spring Boat

Rig: Anchored boat over a sand bay with two light rigs baited with shrimp fished behind the boat

Bait/lure: Shrimp pieces or sandworm

Key tip: Fish the flooding tide across the bay; the fish move in with the water.

Best baits & lures

Sandworm (lugworm)Shrimp piecesMarine worm

Techniques for Ridged-eye Flounder →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light 6.5-7.5 ft boat or spinning rod
Line: 8-12 lb monofilament or light braid
Terminal: 8-15 g sinkers, small hooks size 4-6, flowing traces

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 8-10 in (20-25 cm); large fish to 12 in (30 cm)

On the table

Delicate and sweet; the spring classic for Korea's mugwort soup, dodari-ssukguk.

Similar species

Marbled SoleMarbled sole is the year-round harbour flounder with bold marbling and a bigger mouth; ridged-eye is a spring fish with widely-spaced eyes on a bony ridge

Stone FlounderStone flounder is a rough, bony Pacific flatfish of colder, deeper ground; ridged-eye is smooth and soft-bodied

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

Plan a trip for Ridged-eye Flounder

Build today's plan