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Pleuronectidae
Diamond Turbot
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Field guide · §4.21

Diamond Turbot

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Pleuronichthys guttulatus
Pleuronectidae (right-eyed flounders)
Water
56-66°F
Best time
Daytime
Tide
Slack
Robert's pick

How to catch a diamond turbot

Bait
Bloodworm, mud shrimp, small piece of squid, Gulp! sandworm
Rig
Light hi-low with two #6 baitholder hooks, 1/2–1 oz sinker, 8 lb mono
Technique
Walk the eelgrass edges of a bay at low tide and identify fish-shaped depressions. Cast just past, drag bait through slowly. Light tap-tap bite — set on the second pull.
When to target

Seasonality

Year-round; cool months (Dec–April) are best when they move into shallowest flats to spawn.

When they bite
Tide preference
Slack-high through outgoing — they cruise the flats then settle as water drops
Time of day
Daytime feeders; some dawn/dusk activity
Pressure
Stable
Sources
  • · CDFW Diamond Turbot species page
  • · Allen et al. (2006)
  • · Love (2011)
Full citations in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.21.
← All species·§4.21 in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md

Diamond Turbot

◇
Pleuronichthys guttulatus
Pleuronectidae (right-eyed flounders)Prefers 56–66°F
Habitat & range

Where they live

CA range
Magdalena Bay, Baja → Cape Mendocino, CA
Habitat types
Bay shallowsInner harborEelgrass bedsSoft bottom 5–50 ft
Water temp
56–66°F preferred
Life history

Biology

Lifespan~8 years
Size at maturity~9" / ~3 years
SpawningJanuary–June, bay shallows
SchoolingSolitary; multiple fish per spot but not schooling
DietPolychaete worms, small clams, tube-dwelling crustaceans, brittle stars
PredatorsHalibut, bay sharks, cormorants
Behavior

When they bite

Tide preferenceSlack-high through outgoing — they cruise the flats then settle as water drops
Time of dayDaytime feeders; some dawn/dusk activity
Pressure biasStable
Field ID

How to identify

Distinctly diamond-shaped (taller than wide), both eyes on RIGHT side (vs halibut's left), small mouth, blue-spotted dark side, pale belly. Often half-buried in mud.

Look-alikes

C-O sole (similar shape, different mouth profile); hornyhead turbot (smaller, more elongate); juvenile California halibut (left-eyed, big mouth)

Robert's pick

How to catch

Best baitBloodworm, mud shrimp, small piece of squid, Gulp! sandworm
Best rigLight hi-low with two #6 baitholder hooks, 1/2–1 oz sinker, 8 lb mono
TechniqueWalk the eelgrass edges of a bay at low tide and identify fish-shaped depressions. Cast just past, drag bait through slowly. Light tap-tap bite — set on the second pull.
California regulations
No size minimum, 5 bag limit on combined flatfish other than halibut. License required ages 16+.

Always verify current regulations on the CDFW site.

Where to fish for Diamond Turbot

SoCal hotspots

Top spots from the doc: Mission Bay · Newport Bay · Anaheim Bay (eelgrass) · Bolsa Chica wetlands edge · San Diego Bay shoreline
All spots in the TideRead catalog that target Diamond Turbot (0):
No catalog spots currently list this species — audit pending.
Seasonality

When to target

Year-round; cool months (Dec–April) are best when they move into shallowest flats to spawn.

Table fare

If you keep it

Excellent — delicate sweet flesh, similar to sand dab but slightly firmer. Pan-fry whole.

⚠ Safety & handling

Before you grab it

Easy handling, no spines of concern.

Common mistakes

What anglers get wrong

Sometimes mistaken for juvenile halibut and released. Diamond turbot are RIGHT-EYED and have a tiny mouth — easy ID once you check.

Did you know

Diamond turbot are the most colorful flatfish in SoCal — the blue spots are unique and stay vibrant even after handling. Subtle iridescent purple highlights show up in good light.

Sources
  • · CDFW Diamond Turbot species page
  • · Allen et al. (2006)
  • · Love (2011)
Full citations + cross-references in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.21.