fringed flounder
Etropus crossotus
A flounder of estuaries and shallow sand and mud bottoms, from Brazil to Peru and Mexico. It is of more interest to small-scale commercial fishing than to sport fishing.
Also called: linguado-franjado, linguado, lenguado ribete, lenguado boca chica, fringed flounder
- maximum
- 22 cm
- record/max.
- 0.1 kg
- depth
- 0–30 m
who is the fringed flounder
A flounder of the family Cyclopsettidae, with a flattened body and both eyes on the same side. It reaches 22 cm, and the common size is about 15 cm. It lives on sand and mud bottoms, in estuaries and shallow parts of the coast, generally down to 30 m, but it can reach 100 m. It eats large bottom invertebrates and small fish. It occurs on both coasts of the Americas, in the Atlantic and the eastern Pacific, and is caught on a small scale by the commercial fleet.
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 fringed flounder; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It spawns several times, over a long spawning period.
identification
A flattened flounder with both eyes on the same side and long dorsal and anal fins made only of soft rays, which give its outline the fringed look its name suggests. It lives more in estuaries and shallow water, 0 to 30 m, than Cyclopsetta fimbriata, which lives at 20 to 230 m. Citharichthys spilopterus also enters estuaries, but goes down to 75 m.
Loading the next 7 days…
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 countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador and Peru, in estuaries and shallow sand and mud bottoms, in both oceans.
Habitat: Estuaries and shallow sand and mud bottoms, 0 to 30 m.
coast
rules for the fringed 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.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
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 poses no danger to anglers. It is flat and a bottom dweller, so handle it carefully and release it quickly.
in the kitchen
It is usually taken fresh, on a small scale in commercial fishing.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00851, b = 3.08; 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
—
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: Etropus crossotus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Etropus crossotusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
