Sand Flounder
Sand flounder — pātiki — are New Zealand's most abundant flatfish and a staple of inshore recreational fishing.
Found in harbours, estuaries, and sandy bays from Northland to Southland, they're a practical, accessible target for shore-based anglers using bait rigs, and a reliable feed on the table with their delicate white flesh.
Scientific Name: Rhombosolea plebeia
Also known as Pātiki, diamond flounder, square flounder, tinplate, dab
- Diamond-shaped body with a greenish-brown or grey upper side, sometimes faintly mottled; white on the underside where it lies against the bottom.
- Both eyes sit on the right side of the head — a right-eyed flounder. Protruding blue-green eyes are often the only giveaway when the fish is buried in sand.
- Skin contains special pigment cells that shift colour to match sand or mud, making camouflage nearly perfect at rest.
- Typical adults run 25–35 cm and 200–900 g; fish up to 45 cm are possible but uncommon.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to New Zealand and found nowhere else — distributed around both islands in inshore coastal waters, harbours, and estuaries.
- Most abundant around the South Island, particularly Canterbury Bight and Tasman/Golden Bay, but also common in the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty.
- Prefers sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow water, typically less than 50 m; juveniles spend their first couple of years in sheltered estuaries and sandflats.
- Adults move into deeper coastal water (18–50 m) during winter to spawn, then return to inshore shallows.
Key Locations
- Canterbury Bight and Tasman/Golden Bay — among the most productive South Island grounds for sand flounder.
- Hauraki Gulf, including the Firth of Thames — important recreational fishery with set and drag netting common.
- Bay of Plenty harbours and estuaries — consistent sand flounder habitat on the North Island's east coast.
- South Island harbours generally — sand flounder are the dominant flounder species in sandy South Island inshore waters.
Specific Spots
- Narrow tidal channels in estuaries and harbours concentrate flounder as the tide drops — fish hold in these gutters waiting for food to wash past.
- Sandy and muddy flats adjacent to deeper channels are prime feeding ground on a rising tide as flounder push up to hunt.
- Shallow bays with a sand or mixed sand-mud bottom, especially where weed edges or shell patches break up the flat — flounder use these as ambush cover.
- At night, flounder become far more active across open flats; after dark is often the most productive time to target them.
Sand Flounder FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Sand Flounder?
Worms (earthworms or marine worms) are the go-to bait, flounder find them reliably and they stay on the hook through a cast. Fish them on the bottom with minimal weight. Small strips of fresh fish, squid, or shellfish also work well, especially when worms aren't available. Fresh bait consistently outperforms frozen.
When is the best time to fish for Sand Flounder?
Summer and autumn (December–April), flounder are in shallow inshore waters and most accessible to shore-based anglers. Spring (September–November), fish return from offshore spawning grounds and begin moving back into harbours and estuaries.
How do you catch Sand Flounder?
Most recreational anglers target sand flounder from shore or a small boat, fishing bait rigs hard on the bottom in tidal channels and estuarine flats. Night fishing on a rising tide over sandy ground is particularly productive. In northern harbours, drag netting is a traditional and effective method where permitted.
What do Sand Flounder eat?
At night, sand flounder hunt mobile invertebrates, crustaceans, marine worms, and brittlestars, along the bottom. Small soft-bait rigs or worm-baited hooks fished on or near the bottom directly imitate this forage. Small fish and shrimp are also taken.
Where do Sand Flounder live?
Native to New Zealand and found nowhere else, distributed around both islands in inshore coastal waters, harbours, and estuaries. Most abundant around the South Island, particularly Canterbury Bight and Tasman/Golden Bay, but also common in the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty.
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