Sole
Pacific Sole is a delicate, flatfish species commonly found in the cold, deep waters off the coast of British Columbia. Known for its mild flavor and tender, flaky texture, Pacific sole is a popular choice among seafood lovers for its versatility and subtle taste. The fish has a light, pale flesh with a slightly sweet flavor profile, making it ideal for a wide range of culinary applications.
Harvest Method: Bottom Trawl and Mid-Water Trawl
Season: Pacific Sole are harvested year-round
Flavour profile: Mild and sweet taste, and deliacte texture
Sole is a delicate flatfish known for its mild, slightly sweet flavour, tender flaky texture, and ability to blend into the seafloor thanks to its asymmetrical, camouflaged body.
Sole is sustainably harvested from the rich waters of the BC continental shelf, using bottom trawling methods that minimize environmental impact. These fish are typically caught in depths ranging from 100 to 400 meters, where they reside in sandy or muddy bottom habitats.
Sole is typically available year-round, with catches monitored through individual quotas to manage and conserve the population. This careful management is imperative to protect marine ecosystems and ensure the fisheries sustainability for current and future generations.
This species is distinct for its asymmetrical body, with both eyes on one side, and its unique ability to blend into the seabed for protection. After being carefully harvested, Pacific sole is available in various forms including whole fresh or frozen fish and skinless fillets. Its delicate texture and mild taste make it a popular choice in restaurants, as well as an accessible option for home cooks looking to prepare a light, healthy seafood meal.
Sole Species
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Petrale Sole (Eopsetta jordani) is a flatfish found along the Pacific coast of North America, from California to Alaska. It has a light, mild flavor with a delicate, flaky texture. Petrale sole typically has a pale, reddish-brown top with white underbelly. These soles feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, and other benthic organisms found on the ocean floor. Petrale sole is typically found at depths of 100 to 300 meters on sandy or muddy substrates. It is a popular fish in restaurants and markets, often found as skinless fillets. Known for its tenderness, Petrale sole is widely sought after in fine dining for dishes such as sole meunière. Fun fact: Petrale sole is one of the largest species of flatfish in the Pacific, growing up to 3 feet long.
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Rock Sole
Rock Sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata) is a flatfish species found in the North Pacific Ocean, mainly off the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia. It is distinguishable by its rough, irregular skin texture and a two-tone coloration: dark brown or gray on the top with a lighter underside. Rock sole primarily feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish found along the seafloor. This species is typically found at depths of 30 to 300 meters along sandy or muddy seafloors. Rock sole has a firm texture and mild flavor, making it a versatile choice for various culinary preparations, especially in the frozen seafood market. In restaurants, it is often used in dishes like fish tacos or as an alternative to other flatfish. Fun fact: Despite its name, rock sole prefers sandy or muddy seabeds, not rocky ones. Rock sole are favoured by some of our harvesters as their preferred sole!
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English Sole
English Sole (Parophrys vetulus) is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, primarily along the coasts of British Columbia, Washington, and California. This flatfish has a distinct diamond shape with a pale brown or grayish top and a white underside. English sole feed on benthic organisms such as worms, small fish, and invertebrates. It is typically found at depths of 30 to 200 meters on sandy and muddy seafloors. Its mild, sweet flavor and flaky texture make it popular in seafood markets and restaurants, often sold as fillets or whole fish. English sole is particularly well-regarded for its versatility in cooking, frequently used in baking, grilling, or pan-frying. Fun fact: English sole is sometimes confused with other sole species but can be identified by its smaller size and unique body shape. It’s also known as lemon sole!
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Dover Sole
Pacific Dover Sole (Microstomus pacificus), found in the cold waters of British Columbia, is a flatfish that inhabits sandy or muddy seafloors at depths ranging from 90 to 1,200 meters. As bottom feeders, they primarily eat small invertebrates like crustaceans, mollusks, and polychaete worms, along with small fish and detritus. Commercially, they are often referred to as “Sole” or sometimes “Dover Sole,” prized for their mild flavor and firm, white flesh. These fish are excellent at camouflage, able to change their skin color to blend in with the seafloor, and they can live up to 50 years. Like other flatfish, they begin life with one eye on each side of their body, but as they mature, one eye migrates to the other side. They can be found served whole round at fine dining restaurants where they are de-boned tableside.
