dover sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mud-bottom flatfish of the North Pacific, reaching 76 cm and producing a lot of mucus. It is sold as fillets and also as feed for mink.
Also called: linguado-escorregadio, platija escurridiza, Dover sole
- maximum
- 76 cm
- record/max.
- 3.5 kg
- depth
- 10–1,370 m
who is the dover sole
The Dover sole is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae that lives on mud bottoms in the North Pacific, from the Bering Sea to the Aleutian Islands and San Cristóbal Bay, Baja California, Mexico. It occurs from 10 to 1,370 m deep and moves to deeper water in winter. It reaches 76 cm and 3.5 kg, and its common size is 40 cm. When caught in a net, it produces a lot of mucus that can cover other fish. It is caught commercially and sold as fillets.
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 dover sole; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It can live 56 years.
identification
Flatfish with a short, deep body, with the dorsal fin starting over the middle of the upper eye and an almost rounded tail. Unlike the petrale sole (Eopsetta jordani), which has a wide V-shaped tail, this species has an almost rounded tail. It lives on mud bottoms and moves into deeper water in winter.
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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, as far as San Cristóbal Bay, Baja California.
Habitat: Mud bottoms, from 10 to 1,370 m, moving into deeper water in winter.
rules for the dover sole
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.
Not dangerous. Because it produces a lot of mucus, the fish slips in your hand: hold it firmly and release it carefully.
in the kitchen
It is sold as fillets and also as mink feed.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00661, b = 3.07; 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: Microstomus pacificus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Microstomus pacificusNames by country and language.
