Sand Sole

Home

Species Profiles

Top Food Species

Top Ornamental Species

Additional Information

References

Contacts

Sand Sole

Psettichthys melanostictus

Photo contributed by:
Bill Barss
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Aquaculture Potential

The sand sole is considered a minor commercial fishery. However, there has been recent interest in culturing flatfish. This species would probably not be developed before a more popular and researched flatfish (e.g. halibut, Dover sole or English sole), but it may have a place in the ornamental market. The species could be cultured simultaneously for the food and ornamental market.

In-depth Information Regarding this Species

U.S. Range in the Pacific Ocean Bering Sea to Southern California (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Habitat Inshore species (Love 1996)
Common (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Substrate Sand (Love 1996)

Depth range (meters) Nearshore to 183 (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Behavior Bottom-dwelling (Burgess et al. 1990)

Average Maximum Overall Length (cm) 63 (Love 1996, Eschmeyer and Herald 1983, Burgess et al. 1990)

Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) 30.5/5 (Love 1996)

Overall Maximum Age (years) 10 (Stickney et al. 1995)

Male Age at Maturity (years) 2 (Love 1996)

Female Age at Maturity (years) 2–3 (Love 1996)

Time of Year of Spawning January–July (Love 1996)
March through April (peak) (Stickney et al. 1995)

Days to Hatch 5 (Stickney et al. 1995)

Larval Food Preference Yolk sac absorbed in 10–12 days (Stickney et al. 1995)

Habitat where Juveniles are found Settle out in estuaries (Love 1996)

Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm) 2.5 (Love 1996)

Juvenile Food Preference Fish, Shrimp, Worms, Clam (Love 1996)

Commercial Fishery Minor (Love 1996)

Ornamental Market In aquarium guide (Burgess et al. 1990)

Additional Remarks Good community fish (Burgess et al. 1990)

Recent Wild Harvest Data for Oregon
Data from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Year Total Catch
(Pounds) Ex-vessel Value
( U.S. Dollars)

1989
487,093

363,872

1990
467,730

347,112

1991
634,274

473,235

1992
388,724

278,892

1993
465,958

328,726

1994
411,275

303,179

1995
175,611

132,801

1996
160,370

119,361

1997
191,305

140,399

1998
106,239

78,262

Home Species Profiles Top Food Species Top Ornamental Species Additional Information References Contacts

U.S. Range in the Pacific Ocean	Bering Sea to Southern California (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Habitat	Inshore species (Love 1996) Common (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Substrate	Sand (Love 1996)
Depth range (meters)	Nearshore to 183 (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Behavior	Bottom-dwelling (Burgess et al. 1990)
Average Maximum Overall Length (cm)	63 (Love 1996, Eschmeyer and Herald 1983, Burgess et al. 1990)
Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	30.5/5 (Love 1996)
Overall Maximum Age (years)	10 (Stickney et al. 1995)
Male Age at Maturity (years)	2 (Love 1996)
Female Age at Maturity (years)	2–3 (Love 1996)
Time of Year of Spawning	January–July (Love 1996) March through April (peak) (Stickney et al. 1995)
Days to Hatch	5 (Stickney et al. 1995)
Larval Food Preference	Yolk sac absorbed in 10–12 days (Stickney et al. 1995)
Habitat where Juveniles are found	Settle out in estuaries (Love 1996)
Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm)	2.5 (Love 1996)
Juvenile Food Preference	Fish, Shrimp, Worms, Clam (Love 1996)
Commercial Fishery	Minor (Love 1996)
Ornamental Market	In aquarium guide (Burgess et al. 1990)
Additional Remarks	Good community fish (Burgess et al. 1990)

Year	Total Catch (Pounds)	Ex-vessel Value ( U.S. Dollars)
1989	487,093	363,872
1990	467,730	347,112
1991	634,274	473,235
1992	388,724	278,892
1993	465,958	328,726
1994	411,275	303,179
1995	175,611	132,801
1996	160,370	119,361
1997	191,305	140,399
1998	106,239	78,262