Species Facts
Science Name:
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Eopsetta jordani
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Other Names:
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Jordan's founder, California sole
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Description
The body of the petrale sole is elongate, moderately slender and compressed. The
head is deep, and the mouth is large. The eyes are large and on the right side.
The color is uniform dark to light brown with dusky blotches on the dorsal and
anal fins on the eyed side and white on the blind side. Petrale sole are often
confused with California halibut because of their similar color and large
mouths. However, petrale sole have an even, brown coloration and do not have a
high arch in the lateral line.
Where to Find
Petrale sole occur from Cedros Island, Baja California, to the northern part of
the Gulf of Alaska.
Habitat
Deep sandy at depths of 60 to 1,500 feet.
Feeding Habits
The diet of the petrale sole includes crabs, shrimp, and fishes such as
anchovies, hake, small rockfish and other flatfish.
Largest Recorded
27.5 inches; no weight.
Tips for Fishing
Although this flatfish is not often sought by recreational anglers, its large
size and excellent eating qualities make it a good sportfish. Probably the
entire sport catch for this species is taken incidentally by anglers on rockfish
trips aboard commercial passenger fishing vessels. These anglers fishing in
waters from 100 to 300 feet deep catch petrale sole on the sand surrounding
rocky reefs.