Species Facts
Science Name:
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Citharichthys xanthostigma
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Other Names:
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Catalina sanddab
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Description
The body of the longfin sanddab is oblong and compressed. The head is deep; the
eyes are large and on the left side. The mouth is large. The color is uniform
dark brown with rust orange or white speckles, and the pectoral fin is black on
the eyed side; the blind side is white. The longfin sanddab can best be
distinguished from the Pacific sanddab by the length of the pectoral fin on the
eyed side. It is always shorter than the head on the Pacific sanddab and longer
than the head on the longfin. Sanddabs are always left "handed" and can be
distinguished from all other left "handed" flatfish by having a mid-line that is
nearly straight for its entire length.
Where to Find
West Coast states.
Habitat
These flatfish are usually on sandy, muddy type sea bottoms from 8 to 660 feet.
Feeding Habits
Longfin sanddabs eat a wide variety of food. In addition to such items as small
fishes, squid, and octopus, they eat an assortment of eggs, luminescent sea
squirts, shrimp, crabs, and marine worms.
Tips for Fishing
If the depth is correct and the bottom type is right, it is extremely difficult
to keep sanddabs off the hook. Sportfishing entails the use of small hooks,
usually more than one on each line. A variation from the typical rig involves
use of an iron ring or hoop around which are dangled several dozen baited hooks
of small size. This contraption is lowered on a stout line to a position just
off the bottom and allowed to remain a sufficient period to fill all the hooks.
Normally this does not require as much time as is needed to rebait the rig after
removing the catch. Small pieces of squid or octopus are best because they are
tough and stay on the hook best, but fish works equally well as a bait.