speckled flounder
Paralichthys woolmani
Flatfish of estuaries and shallow waters, from Mexico to Peru. It is sold fresh or frozen and is of commercial interest and of experimental aquaculture interest.
Also called: linguado-salpicado, lenguado huarache, lenguado dentón, speckled flounder
- maximum
- 80 cm
who is the speckled flounder
The speckled flounder is a fish of the family Paralichthyidae that lives in estuaries and shallow sand or mud bottoms, from Mexico to Peru, including the Galapagos. It usually stays down to 22 m deep, in waters ranging from brackish to marine, and is common in some areas. It feeds on fish. It reaches 80 cm in length, and its common size is 50 cm. It has commercial use and is sold fresh or frozen. It has also appeared in experimental aquaculture trials.
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 speckled flounder; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- There have been experimental aquaculture trials of the species.
identification
Flattened flatfish with both eyes on the same side of the head, like the other flatfish of the family. The name suggests a body speckled with dots. It lives in estuaries and on bottoms down to 22 m. It can be confused with the California halibut (Paralichthys californicus), which is much larger, reaching 152 cm, and lives down to 183 m deep.
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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 from Mexico to Peru, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and the Galapagos, in estuaries and shallow waters.
Habitat: Estuaries and shallow sand or mud bottoms, down to 22 m deep.
rules for the speckled 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 no spines or venom and is not dangerous. Hold the flatfish carefully by the head and release it without squeezing the body.
in the kitchen
It is marketed fresh or frozen.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00676, b = 3.16; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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 woolmani (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 woolmaniNames by country and language.
