Yellowbelly Flounder belong to the Pleuronectidae family.

They have a dark olive green body above with yellow or white on the belly and dark spots.  The body is oval.  Yellowbelly Flounder are plumper, have smaller eyes and larger, dark-edged scales than Sand Flounder.

Yellowbelly Flounder Fishery

Yellowbelly Flounder are a shallow-water fish found at depths of up to 50 metres.  In New Zealand they are most abundant in harbours, estuaries, and muddy bays, particularly in the north.

Yellowbelly Flounder are caught year-round in the Firth of Thames and in Kaipara and Manukau harbours, most commonly in set nets.

New Zealand's Flatfish (FLA) fishery is managed by strict quotas, which allow only a set amount of Flatfish to be taken commercially each year, of which Yellowbelly Flounder is a component species. This Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) was set at 5,419 metric tonnes for the 2009/10 fishing year.

Yellowbelly Flounder Meat Quality

Yellowbelly Flounder have moist, delicate flesh with a low oil content.  Upper fillets are slightly darker than the underside but whiten on cooking.

For meal ideas using Yellowbelly Flounder, check out the recipes on the Greatest Meal on Earth website.