Family: Bothidae, Lefteye Flounders view all from this family
Description To 5' (1.5 m); 72 lbs (32.7 kg). Elongate, deep, highly compressed; eyes usually on left side, occasionally on right. Eyed side light to dark brown with lighter mottling, blind side lighter. Snout moderately sharp; mouth large; maxilla extends beyond rear edge of lower eye; numerous sharp teeth in jaws; preopercle visible. Dorsal fin origin over eye; caudal fin truncate or indented. Lateral line highly arched over pectoral fin.
Related Species Bigmouth Sole (Hippoglossina stomata) has maxilla almost reaching rear edge of eye; caudal fin rounded, occurs from Monterey Bay to Gulf of California. Fantail Sole (Xystreurys liolepis) has maxilla not reaching rear of lower eye; mouth small; pectoral fin longer than head; caudal fin rounded; occurs from Monterey Bay, California, to Gulf of California. Both in similar habitat.
Habitat Over soft bottoms to 100 fathoms.
Range From Quillayute River, Washington, to Bahia Magdalena, Baja California.
Discussion This is a very popular sport fish; the annual catch may exceed 300,000. It is also an important commercial species, with annual landings of 500 to 1,000 tons (454,000 to 908,000 kg).
