pacific sanddab
Citharichthys sordidus
Sand-bottom flounder of the Pacific, ranging from the shallow zone down to 549 m. It appears in sport and commercial fishing, and in Mexico it occurs in Baja California.
Also called: linguado-de-areia-do-pacífico, lenguado moteado, pacific sanddab
- maximum
- 41 cm
- depth
- 0–549 m
who is the pacific sanddab
Flatfish of the family Cyclopsettidae, with a flat, oval body, reaching 41 cm. The upper side is brown or beige, irregularly speckled with dark, and the underside is white to light brown. It lives on sand bottoms in the eastern Pacific, from Alaska to Baja California, from 0 to 549 m deep. Juveniles can be found in less than 9 m. It has a rounded caudal fin and large, pointed pectoral fins. It is caught commercially and with rod, and it is used as a sport fish.
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 pacific sanddab; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Flat, oval body, with the upper side brown or beige, irregularly speckled with dark, and the underside white to light brown. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are black. Freshly caught males have dull orange spots and dots. Juveniles are olive green on the upper side, with brown, black and orange dots, mainly on the fins. Among eastern Pacific flounders, the rounded caudal fin and the large, pointed pectoral fins help identify it.
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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, only in Mexico, in Baja California, on Pacific sand bottoms; the species ranges from Alaska to Cabo San Lucas.
Habitat: Sand bottom, from shallow water down to 549 m; juveniles stay near the coast, in less than 9 m.
rules for the pacific sanddab
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.
No danger to anglers is recorded. Hold the fish by the body, without squeezing, and release it carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00977, b = 3.07; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). 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: Citharichthys sordidus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Citharichthys sordidusNames by country and language.
