Colour variable according to environment but often dark green, blind side yellowish and often with dark spots. Distinguished from sand flounder by colour, oval shape and smaller eyes. Less easy to distinguish from greenback which occurs off south-east New Zealand down to 100m but which is only a very small and local resource. The black Flounder, distinguishable by its colour (grayish with red spots) is also only a very small and localized estuarine resource. Yellowbelly occurs throughout New Zealand coastal waters down to about 50m. Caught mainly by set net in harbors and bays. Available all year. Small resource.