california flounder
Paralichthys californicus
Large flounder of the Mexican Pacific, sought by sport and commercial fishing. Reaches 152 cm and can weigh up to 33 kg.
Also called: linguado-californiano, linguado, lenguado de California, California flounder
- maximum
- 152 cm
- record/max.
- 33.0 kg
- depth
- 0–60 m
who is the california flounder
The California halibut is a flatfish of the family Paralichthyidae that lives along the Pacific coast, from northern Washington, United States, to Baja California, Mexico. In Mexico it also occurs in the northern Gulf of California. Adults live on sand bottoms, usually at 0 to 60 m, and juveniles are common beyond the surf zone. They feed by day on fish and squid, often away from the bottom. It reaches 152 cm and 33 kg. It is an important species for sport and commercial fishing in the region.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the california flounder; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It can live 30 years.
- Adults migrate to shallow water to spawn.
identification
Flat-bodied flatfish with both eyes on the same side of the head, like other flatfish. It has very sharp teeth. On the same Mexican coast lives the speckled flounder (Paralichthys woolmani), which is much smaller, reaches 80 cm, and is found in estuaries and bottoms down to 22 m. The California halibut is larger and goes down to 183 m, which makes the two species easy to separate.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America, it occurs in Mexico, in Baja California and in the northern Gulf of California.
Habitat: Sand bottoms, near the coast and in estuaries, usually from 0 to 60 m.
rules for the california flounder
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It has very sharp teeth and bites if handled. Use a glove and pliers to remove the hook, and do not put your hand near its mouth.
in the kitchen
It is sold fresh, as fillets.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00646, b = 3.13; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Paralichthys californicus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Paralichthys californicusNames by country and language.
