Read the article with FishingTheSpot: the turbot fish
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See the fishing tripsThe Turbot Fish
January to May
30 cm
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The turbot fish belongs to the Scophthalmidae family. When mature, the average size of the turbot is 30 to 60 cm. In general, males are smaller (35 cm) than females (42 cm). Some individuals can reach a maximum height of 1 m. An adult turbot weighs an average of 6 kg. Exceptionally, some specimens can weigh up to 25 kg. This fish has a long lifespan, the male can live up to 20 years while the female, up to 25 years The breeding period is between February and April. The female can lay up to 3 million eggs. Turbot is caught from January to May.
The Turbot is a flatfish, left-handed or senestral, i.e. it rests on its right side (bottom side, blind) and has its left side facing upwards (top side). The origin of the dorsal fin is in front of the eye and its first rays are unbranched. The upper surface is covered with scattered bone tubers (transformed scales). This feature gives it its common name of studded. The eyes are relatively far apart (the distance between them is greater than the diameter of one eye). The lateral line is very curved at the pectoral fin. Like most flatfish, the livery is of variable color, in homochrome with the bottom. It can have many round white to black spots.
The Turbot Fish Lifestyle
The larvae feed on copepods, crustacean and shellfish larvae. Adult turbot is a voracious predator, the species consumed vary according to the geographical area; in the Channel, sprats, tackles, lively, sand-eels, gobies, young soles, herring and whiting can be on the turbot menu. Cephalopods and shrimps can occasionally supplement his diet.
In the Atlantic and North Sea, the male acquires his sexual maturity in his third or fourth year (around 25 cm), the female in her fifth or sixth year (around 33 to 41 cm). Egg laying takes place from February to April. Between 1.8 and 3 million eggs are released by each female between 25 and 80 m deep). Hatching would occur after 5 to 10 days of incubation (depending on water temperature).
The Turbot Fish Habitat
A benthic, diurnal and territorial fish, turbot lives on sandy or mixed bottoms (mud, gravel and rocks). It is found in shallow coastal waters from 10 to 140 m deep.
This species is found in the North-East Atlantic from Norway to Morocco, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
The Turbot Fish Angling
Surfcasting is a technique that can be effective in turbot fishing. However, it can also be fished with a soft lure. For this technique, the trick is to animate the bait in the bottom by making small shots. The baits suitable for turbot fishing are sand eels, sand eels and mackerel strips. In addition, the legal catch size for this fish is 30 cm. All smaller species must be released into the water for responsible fishing.
