The turbot can really only be confused with the brill. Both are somewhat diamond shaped, though the brill does have a slightly more elongated body as an adult. A turbot’s back is scaleless but is irregularly covered with bony tubercles that are raised off the back, this is quick means of identification. Also check the dorsal fin and this travels only just past the right eye. On the brill the tubercles are missing and the back has definite scales, plus the dorsal fin travels well past the eye almost to the edge of the mouth. Also the first rays of the dorsal fin are free of the membrane for up to half their length. In addition look at the pectoral fin of the turbot, this is thin and elongated, on the brill it is much broader.

A turbot’s colouration will match the ground it lives on well as it is a master of camouflage. Typically sandy brown with darker blotches over sand, but over gravel it will be mottled light to dark grey. Over marl turbot can be almost green on the back.

Turbot can be found throughout the British Isles and Ireland, plus range as far as north as the middle coast of Norway, and south down the European coast to and including the Mediterranean. Turbot are commonest along the south and western coasts of the UK and Ireland and can often be caught as juvenile fish on surf beaches.

Turbot spawn over a long period, typically from mid March through to July, the female producing up to 10 million eggs. The eggs and larvae are pelagic for between 4 and 6 months, and the post larvae has a distinct swim bladder, though this is lost when the fish starts to live on the seabed. At this time they will be just one-inch long. The long pelagic period assists the spawning of that year to migrate as far as possible and over as wide an area as possible.



Turbot are full blow predators. They lay half covered on the seabed, well camouflaged, and dart forward to intercept passing prey. The mouth is able to extend forwards and open extra wide. They eat sandeels, mackerel, herring, poor cod, pouting, dragonets, whiting, codling and other small flatfish.

Turbot can grow to well over 40lbs, this proven by commercial captures, but due to commercial fishing pressures any turbot over 20lbs is now considered a big fish, with most offshore turbot now weighing under 10lbs.

WHEN AND WHERE TO FISH
Offshore turbot can be caught all year round. Generally speaking the season peaks between August and November, though some very big turbot are caught on the offshore wrecks in the early year period if anglers target them.

When fishing inshore again fish can be taken all year, but the March to June period is excellent, with another showing of bigger fish from late August to November.

Turbot like to live on sandbanks, especially the steep inclines facing in to the tide. Here food is washed down to them and their dart forward and grab approach suits this type of food presentation. They will also move over the sandbanks top at slack water to change direction to keep facing the tide. They can also be found on gravel banks, again on the inclines facing the tide.



The biggest fish are usually caught from scoured out depressions around wrecks and occasionally on sandy banks adjacent to major reefs. Turbot will lay in very close proximity to the wreck or reef when big and will again let passing tides wash hapless prey in to their paths. Sometimes wrecks produce scoured out holes well down from the wreck itself due to how the tide passes over the wreck. These are another favourite place to find big turbot that will sit on the edge of the incline inside the hole where it meets the base.

TACKLE
For inshore fishing over sandbanks up to 100-feet deep, a 12/20lb class boat rod with a low profile reel such as the ABU Revo Toro 60 series loaded with 20 to 30lb braid is ideal being lightweight and sporting. Alternatively use a reel such as the Penn 515 or equivalent Shimano or Daiwa loaded with the same line. In deep water over 100-feet a 20/30lb rod and a reel such as a Penn TRQ100 or Shimano TLD20 loaded with 30lb braid is perfect.

Lead weights will vary with the tide pull, but flat watch shaped leads are still highly effective as they kick up sand and create visual disturbance which the turbot will investigate. Carry sizes up to 8ozs and use these when possible. If fishing over mixed ground use a weak link, such as a wire tie, to the lead for easy release.

The spoon rig works best when the tide is running and should be released to the seabed slowly to keep the spoon and boom extended to avoid tangles. Let out enough line to keep the chosen lead weight in contact with the seabed at all times and hold the thumb on the spool of the reel with the reel in free spool. When a fish is felt to rattle at the bait, release a few feet of line to give the turbot time to take the bait in, then put the reel in gear and let the line tighten to set the hook in the fish.

HOW TO BUILD A BOAT TURBOT SPOON RIG

BOAT TURBOT BAITS
A great bait is whole live sandeel, though dead ones are just as effective. These are best fished with the rig above but minus the spoon. Just use a long 8 to 12-foot length of 40lb line straight to the hook.

With a spoon rig two half fillets of fresh mackerel cut lengthways to create a long thin strips is excellent fished side by side on the same hook, as is a whole small 6 to 8-inch joey mackerel cut as a flapper. Also try long thin strips of squid alongside a strip of mackerel but remove the squid’s skin to leave the pure white flesh. Fillets of whiting also prove a consistent bait for turbot, especially when fishing around wrecks.



TOP TIP 1
When drift fishing, occasionally lift the rod tip upwards to the vertical for a few seconds and then drop it back down again. Turbot often see the bait lift up in front of them and will take as it flutters back down again. This is especially effective in slower tide runs.

TOP TIP 2
The Rauto spoon comes in a pack of two, one spoon being all chrome, the other with painted bars of green and an orange edge. Use the chrome in clear shallow water up to 70-feet over the sides and tops off sandbanks, but switch to the coloured copper backed spoon in slightly coloured water or water over 80-feet deep.



TOP TIP 3
If the water is a little coloured after a storm, above the hook replace the pearly beads with four or five 8mm luminous yellow ones. This can make a big difference on the day and can often produce fish when other tackle adjustments prove fruitless.

TOP TIP 4
Try adding a double rattling Booby Bead above the Rauto Spoon. Again turbot are inquisitive and are drawn to noise. The little ball-bearings in the Booby Bead will rattle and the double bead causes vibration in the water as it spins which will attract the turbot in towards the bait. You’ll also pick up bonus plaice rigged like this.

TOP TIP 5
When drifting over sandbanks, periodically let a few feet of line out to allow the bait to sit static on the seabed, then after a few seconds, put your thumb back on the reel to make the bait move again. This sudden darting forward of the bait can trigger an otherwise reluctant turbot to feed and works well in fast tide flows.