Paralichthys adspersus
The flounder of the coast of Peru and Chile, a relative of Brazilian flounders. It ambushes prey on shallow sand and is one of the most prized fish in Peruvian cooking; in Peru it has a minimum size of 38 cm.
Also called: linguado-do-pacífico, linguado-fino
The Pacific flounder is a paralichthyid, the family of left-eyed flounders, from Ecuador to Chile. It lives on soft sand and mud bottoms of the shallow shelf, from 1 to 35 m, and ambushes small fish and crustaceans while buried and camouflaged. It reaches 70 cm. In Peru it is one of the most expensive and sought-after fish, the basis of classic ceviche, and it is caught with nets, lines and spearfishing. Amateur anglers find it in beach and boat fishing, using live bait and artificials worked on the bottom.
Flattened fish with both eyes on the left side, which faces up: brown, with light and dark blotches that change with the bottom; underside white. Large mouth with strong teeth. Short pectoral fins (about half the head length on the eyed side) and a double-truncate tail. Long dorsal fin with 72 to 77 rays. It is the flounder found on the coast of Peru and Chile; Brazilian flounders are other species of the same genus.
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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.
Does not occur in Brazil. Southeastern Pacific, from Ecuador to Chile.
Habitat: Sand and mud bottoms of the shallow shelf, beaches, bays and channels between sandbanks.
On the coast of Peru and central Chile, beach fishing usually produces more in the warmer months, from spring to late summer.
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Ambushes prey during the day, with more activity at dawn and late afternoon.
Strong cold upwelling water reduces activity in the shallows.
Rough sea hurts beach and boat fishing.
Little effect.
It hardly ever rains on the Peruvian coast; in Chile, muddy river water hurts the fishing.
Not applicable at sea.
Moderate in shallow, clear water.
Calm to moderate sea is ideal for working bottom baits.
The rising tide on beaches and channels brings the flounder into the shallows.
1 to 15 m for beach and boat fishing.
lures
natural baits
accessories
With live bait, wait: the flounder grabs the bait and swallows it slowly. Set the hook only when the line runs tight.
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Old global assessment. Peru has a minimum size. For Chile, we have not confirmed a minimum size in force for recreational fishing.
In Peru the minimum catch size for flounder is 38 cm total length, with a 25% juvenile tolerance. It is prohibited to extract, transport and sell below the size; amateur anglers must release the smaller ones.
Source: Resolución Ministerial nº 00328-2022-PRODUCE (Peru), which amends Annex I of R.M. nº 209-2001-PE
Hold it supporting the whole body, without squeezing the belly, remove the hook with pliers and release it belly down, letting it sink on its own.
White, firm and delicate flesh, among the most prized in Peru: ceviche, tiradito, fried and grilled.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00631, b = 3.15; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana com dados da espécie e do gênero, comprimento total); peso máximo calculado por esta relação). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
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