All species
UK shore species
Turbot
Scophthalmus maximus
ledger
Habitat
Tide races over sand, the edges of banks, some steep beaches.
Season
Peak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Also possible: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
A left-eyed, bony-tubercles predator of tide races over sand. From the shore they are a specialist, not a fluke on a three-hook flapper.
- Left-eyed (both eyes on the left side)
- A wide, almost circular disc
- Bony tubercles on the eyed side
- No orange plaice spots; a mottled sandy-brown
A shore turbot is a result at any size. They grow large.
- Colour
- Mottled sand, bony lumps, left-eyed.
- Fins
- Broad disc.
- Mouth
- Large for a flatfish — they eat fish.
Ranked for this species, not as a universal law. Local crab runs and what is actually fresh matter more.
- SandeelHead-hooked so it swims, or a Pennel through the head and the middle. Bind if you are casting far.Strong target
- MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.Good target
- Fish stripsThin for whiting; thicker for a dogfish. Hook once so it flutters.Good target
- SquidA strip on a flapper; a whole small squid or a wrap over fish on a Pennel.Possible target
- Pennel rigTwo hooks on one bait — one in the head, one in the body. The way to fish a crab, a squid wrap or a big worm.Intermediate
- Single-hook clipped-downThe bait is held against the leader with a bait clip so it flies as one and releases in the water. The way to punch a bait into a headwind.Advanced
- Long snood rigA single bait on a long flowing trace so it moves in the tide. Turbot, brill, a fussy bass.Intermediate
Hooks: 2/0–4/0