Soleidae, is a flatfish that can be fished all year round, but especially in spring and summer. Succes has many fathers; the common sole is known by many also as gray sole or just sole. It is one of the most delicious flatfish.
The common sole is brown on the eyes, in shades from yellow to gray-brown. The pectoral fin of the eye side has a distinct black spot. It has overbite, and on the underside of the head there are numerous small beard strands. The elongated, oval body is relatively thick compared to other flatfish. It produces meaty fillets of very high quality. On the blind side it is white, the scales are on this side are stapled to the skin in a way that causes them to rise forward. This means that a common sole feels smooth when you stroke it from head to tail, but very rough when you stroke the opposite way. The fish’s small eyes are located close together on the right side of the body. This allows the fish to keep an eye out for any food while being half-buried by sand. The sole, like other flatfish, are “normal” fish at a young age with eyes on either side of the body before later turning into flatfish. The normal maximum size and weight of the sole is approx. 50 cm and 2.8 kg.
The common sole is found mainly in the eastern Atlantic, from southern Norway to Senegal, and in almost the entire Mediterranean. In winter, the fish seek warmer waters in the southern part of the North Sea. It is caught primarily with trawls and nets.
The common sole is an excellent and coveted fish, which is popular throughout Europe. It has a mild butter-sweet taste, and it is easy to make fish fillets from its meat.
The common tastes best if it “ripens” one day on ice.
Common Sole