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Overview

How to target

Turbot
Species ID: turbot

Turbot

Turbot are ambush predators that favour clean to lightly mixed sand with banks, gullies and seams next to rough ground on open surf beaches and channel mouths. Shore catches peak f...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: onshore 📅 Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Best tide

flood

Moon

spring

Season

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Wind

onshore

Max weight

12 kg

Day vs night

Day 70%
Night 50%
Turbot are ambush predators that favour clean to lightly mixed sand with banks, gullies and seams next to rough ground on open surf beaches and channel mouths. Shore catches peak from late spring through early autumn as sandeels and small baitfish push inshore. Look for moving water over sandbars on the flood, especially around spring tides, and place baits just beyond or on the down-tide face of banks rather than at extreme range. A running ledger or long flowing trace (3–5 ft) with a lightly gripping or plain lead helps the bait waft; periodically inch it back to search. Prime baits are live or fresh sandeel/launce, small whole fish (sprat, joey mackerel) or neat fish strips; keep presentations slim and lively. Daylight often scores in clear to lightly coloured water with a gentle onshore breeze and manageable surf, but dusk and first dark can also produce. Work the water methodically, relocating to fresh banks as the tide floods, and mind surf and fast tides on exposed beaches.

Temperature

8–17°C

Depth range

1–20 m

Baits

  • Sandeel 9.6/10
  • Launce 8.8/10
  • Soft Plastic (Sandeel) 7.6/10
  • Mackerel Strip 7.4/10
  • Bluey (Pacific Saury) 7/10

Rigs

  • Long & Low 9/10

    Ideal for surf beaches and clean sand. Long snood keeps sandeel/launce tight to the seabed yet mobile, enticing turbot lying in gutters and on banks. Casts well and fishes neatly in tide.

  • Up and Over 8.6/10

    Great when turbot are at range. Clip-down casting with a long snood, then the hook drops close to the lead to fish tight to the bottom. Presents a single large sandeel or strip naturally.

  • Pennel Clip Down 8.3/10

    Secures long sandeel/launce baits for distance work. Pennel hooks hold the bait straight and improve hook-ups on bigger turbot feeding along sandy bars and channel edges.

  • Flowing Trace 7.8/10

    A long flowing snood lets the bait waft just off the sand in tide runs. Use with a grip lead on open beaches or channel mouths to cover ground for roaming turbot.