English Sole

Also Known As: N/A

English Sole (Parophrys vetulus) Description

A dextral flatfish, the English Sole has its eye on its right side. Like most flatfish, the English Sole has a diamond-shaped body and a small head. Its fins protrude outward which allows it to propel itself over the seafloor rather than it swimming upright. It has a white to yellow underbelly with a brown top. The English Sole however may not always be plain brown and sometimes has dark speckles covering its body.

As a flatfish, it has two major fins that help with its movement: the dorsal and the ventral fin. Both of these fins are dark brown in color. The English Sole also has a lateral line that curves towards its pectoral fin.

Diet and Size

Like most flatfish, the English Sole has a preference for plankton. They will however feast on some marine worms such as Horseshoe Worms, and Flatworms. English Soles also love their mollusks such as clams and maybe a sea snail or two. They also eat crustaceans such as small shrimps and crabs.

English Soles on average 20-24 inches in length. However, the average size of a female English Sole is around 14 inches. As for their weight, they can vary from 1 pound to a maximum of 3.3 pounds.

Interesting Facts

English Soles may not be preferred by some especially those who are aware of what they eat. They are known to eat parasitic worms. Despite the worms being parasitic to fish, they are not parasitic to humans.
These fish are known for their soft, white meat. Usually, a common sole and sometimes even an English Sole is used in fast foods since they’re a cheaper fish to procure in comparison to other white meat fish.
English Soles can live up to 22 years.
Female English Soles live 4 years longer than male English Soles.
Female English Soles are bigger than males.
After spawning, English Sole eggs are known to sink to the bottom of the water.

Fishing Techniques: How to Fish for an English Sole

When catching an English Sole, you’ll have to take note of the season. During spawning season, They are also commonly found with other soles such as Starry Flounders and Sand Soles. Their peak season for spawning is around February to March.

Although English Soles are around 1-2 lbs in weight, sometimes you'll need heavier ge