Sand sole (Psettichthys melanostictus)

Category: Fish
Related species groups: Flatfish

Occasionally caught off the Washington coast by commercial harvesters using otter-trawls. They are occasionally caught by recreational harvesters within Puget Sound.

Description and Range

Physical description

A right-eyed flatfish with an elongate to oval body shape. The skin on the eyed side feels like fine sandpaper and is light green or gray to brown with fine, dark brown to black speckles. Both dorsal and anal fins often have dull yellow on the edges. The blind side is white. Sand sole have a rounded caudal fin and a lateral line with a slight curve over the pectoral fin. The accessory dorsal branch is short to moderate in length. This species has a large mouth with large teeth and a maxillary that extends below the middle of the lower eye. Eyes of the sand sole are small with a flat, wide space between them. The anal spine is strong. A distinguishing characteristic of this species is that the first few dorsal fin rays are elongate and mostly free of the membrane.

Geographic range

Sand sole range from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands to Redondo Beach, southern California. They are found on sandy bottoms less than 70 m (229 ft) deep. The sand sole is a shallow water species.

State record

WeightAnglerLocationDate Caught
2.59 lbs Shannon Reiss San Juan Islands, San Juan County March 31, 2019

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