Diamond Turbot from the Shelter Island Pier in San Diego Bay

Order Pleuronectiformes — Righteye Flounders—Family Pleuronectidae

Species: Hypsopsetta guttulata (Girard 1856); from the Greek word hypsopsetta  (deep flounder, referring to the oval shape) and the Latin word guttulata  (with small spots).

Alternate Names: Turbot or diamond flounder. Called platija diamante in Mexico.

Identification: Diamond turbot are (surprise) diamond shaped and a right-eyed member of the flatfish family. They have a small mouth with the dorsal branch of the lateral line extending more than half the distance to the caudal fin. Their coloring is dark gray, brown or green with bright blue round spots on the pigmented side; there is a yellow rim near the mouth on the blind side.

Hashem Nahid and a diamond turbot from the Cabrillo Beach Pier

Size: To 18 inches; most caught off piers are under 12 inches.

Range: Cabo San Lucas, southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to Cape Mendocino.

Habitat: Primarily found in bays, over sand and mud.

Piers: Most common at SoCal piers located in bays but occasionally reported from CenCal piers. Best bets: Bayside Park Pier, Ferry Landing Pier, Shelter Island Pier, Oceanside Small Craft Harbor Pier, Dana Point Harbor Pier, Seal Beach Pier, and the Morro Bay T-Piers.

Diamond turbot from the Cabrillo Beach Pier

Shoreline: A common catch in southern California, especially if fishing in bays.

Boats: Occasionally taken by boaters fishing in southern California bays, Morro Bay, and San Francisco Bay.

Bait and Tackle: Diamond turbot are small flatfish, which prefer a small hook and live bait. Bloodworm, lugworms, and small ghost shrimp are the best baits. However, many are also caught on cut anchovy, strips of squid, and pieces of shrimp or clam. Hooks should not be larger than size 4. Although more commonly taken from piers in bays, they can also be caught at oceanfront piers, generally just out past the surf area.

Diamond turbot caught at the Marin Rod & Gun Club Pier in San Francisco Bay

Food Value:  Excellent although this is another fish which may be unsafe to eat in areas with heavy pollution. Best fried or baked.

Comments: An attractive and good tasting little fish.