Petrale Sole
Petrale sole is a Pacific flatfish found along British Columbia's coast, living on sandy and muddy seafloor from shallow inshore waters down to 500 metres.
It's primarily a commercial species in BC — directed recreational fishing is minimal — but it matters to anglers as part of the broader groundfish picture on the BC coast.
Scientific Name: Eopsetta jordani
Also known as Sole, Flounder, Round-nosed Sole, Petral, Brill
- Oval, flattened body with both eyes on the right side; light to medium brown on top, pale or white underneath — classic flatfish camouflage for a sandy or muddy bottom.
- A continuous dorsal fin runs from above the eye to the tail; fins are soft-rayed, distinguishing it from spiny-rayed species.
- Females grow larger than males — up to 55 cm and 3.7 kg — while males typically top out around 45 cm.
- Can be confused with other BC flatfish; the rounded snout and relatively large mouth help separate petrale from similar-looking soles and flounders.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the BC coast; found from Alaska to Mexico, with the BC population managed as a single stock across areas 3C–5D along the continental shelf.
- Lives on sand, silt, or mud bottom from the surface down to about 500 metres — a true groundfish that spends its life close to the seafloor.
- In summer, fish move north and inshore onto shallower parts of the continental shelf to feed; in winter, they migrate south and offshore into deeper water to spawn.
Key Locations
- BC continental shelf, Areas 3C–5D — the full managed range along British Columbia's coast from the southern border to Haida Gwaii.
- Offshore deeper water along the BC shelf edge in winter, where fish aggregate for spawning.
Specific Spots
- Sandy or muddy bottom on the continental shelf — petrale track the seafloor rather than structure, so depth and substrate matter more than hard features like rocks or timber.
- Shallower inshore shelf areas during summer feeding months; deeper offshore water (200–500 m) in winter when fish aggregate for spawning.
- Drop-offs and transitions between shallow feeding flats and deeper water are where fish concentrate during seasonal migrations.
Petrale Sole FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Petrale Sole?
Cut bait and whole small fish fished on or near the bottom are the standard approach for flatfish in BC; petrale are taken incidentally this way rather than as a directed target.
When is the best time to fish for Petrale Sole?
Summer: fish move inshore and north onto shallower shelf areas, making them more accessible to nearshore bottom fishing. Winter: fish migrate offshore and south into deep water (200–500 m) for spawning, largely out of reach of recreational gear.
How do you catch Petrale Sole?
Petrale sole in BC is not a directed recreational target, directed fishing is prohibited. Anglers fishing the BC coast for other groundfish species may encounter petrale as incidental catch while bottom fishing in appropriate depth ranges.
What do Petrale Sole eat?
Feeds on smaller fish, shrimp, and squid along the seafloor, a bottom-oriented predator that targets whatever prey is available at depth. For commercial and recreational bottom fishing, cut bait and whole small fish are the standard presentation.
Where do Petrale Sole live?
Native to the BC coast; found from Alaska to Mexico, with the BC population managed as a single stock across areas 3C–5D along the continental shelf. Lives on sand, silt, or mud bottom from the surface down to about 500 metres, a true groundfish that spends its life close to the seafloor.
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