Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Also known as Flounder, Arrowtooth halibut, Turbot, Paltus
Culinary Profile
Mild, sweet flavor.
Delicate.
Flounder is a good, low-fat source of B vitamins and niacin.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Arrowtooth flounder are a relatively large, brownish colored flatfish with a large mouth. They’re members of the family Pleuronectidae , the right-eyed flounders, which have both eyes on the right side and lie on the ocean floor on their left side.
Biology
Arrowtooth flounder grow slowly and can live up to 27 years. Males can reach 2 feet in length, and females grow a bit larger, up to almost 3 feet. Males sexually mature when they reach 3 to 7 years old, and females are able to reproduce when they reach 4 to 8 years old. Spawning season varies by location: Off the West Coast from late fall through early spring. In the Gulf of Alaska during spring and summer.
Where They Live
Range Arrowtooth flounder are found from Northern California through the Bering Sea. Habitat Juvenile and adult arrowtooth flounder live on the ocean floor. They’re most commonly found on sand or sandy gravel habitat and occasionally over low-relief rock-sponge bottoms. During the summer, arrowtooth flounder feed in shallow water on the continental shelf.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Alaska to California.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2024, commercial landings of arrowtooth flounder totaled 58 million pounds and were valued at $7.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Although arrowtooth flounder are a low-value fish, fishermen have been retaining more of the arrowtooth they catch—up to about 80 percent in Alaska. Catches have been higher because arrowtooth flounder are more abundant, resulting in higher incidental catch in other fisheries, in addition to increased marketing efforts for arrowtooth fish meal and surimi. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Bottom trawl gear is used to catch arrowtooth flounder. In general, arrowtooth flounder live on sandy or sand/gravel habitats.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Arrowtooth Flounder ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selenium | 45.6 µg | 14 / 106 | 87% |
| Vitamin D | 4.7 IU | 20 / 54 | 63% |
| Phosphorus | 236 mg | 26 / 111 | 77% |
| Protein | 18.56 g | 53 / 111 | 52% |
| Choline | 61.8 mg | 58 / 65 | 11% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 128 mg | 68 / 104 | 35% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 66 mg | 72 / 104 | 31% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.1 µg | 88 / 106 | 17% |
| Zinc | 0.36 mg | 96 / 111 | 14% |
| Iron | 0.16 mg | 110 / 111 | 1% |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Arrowtooth Flounder.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Pacific cod is a mild-tasting fish.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Arrowtooth Flounder, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Arrowtooth Flounder live?
Live up to 27 years.
Who manages the Arrowtooth Flounder fishery?
NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the arrowtooth flounder fishery in Alaska. Managed under the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish Fishery Management Plans: Arrowtooth flounder are included in these fishery management plans because of their importance to the ecosystem (it’s a very abundant flatfish and an important part of the food chain a…
What does Arrowtooth Flounder eat?
Arrowtooth flounder grow slowly and can live up to 27 years. Males can reach 2 feet in length, and females grow a bit larger, up to almost 3 feet. Males sexually mature when they reach 3 to 7 years old, and females are able to reproduce when they reach 4 to 8 years old. Spawning season varies by location: Off the West Coast from late fall through early spring.
How much choline does Arrowtooth Flounder contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Arrowtooth Flounder supplies 61.8 mg of choline, around 11% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
How does Arrowtooth Flounder reproduce?
Arrowtooth flounder grow slowly and can live up to 27 years. Males can reach 2 feet in length, and females grow a bit larger, up to almost 3 feet. Males sexually mature when they reach 3 to 7 years old, and females are able to reproduce when they reach 4 to 8 years old. Spawning season varies by location: Off the West Coast from late fall through early spring.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught arrowtooth flounder is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are three stocks of arrowtooth flounder: Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, and Pacific coast. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands stock is not overfished (2022 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2024 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitats affected by some types of fishing gear used to harvest arrowtooth flounder.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the arrowtooth flounder fishery in Alaska. Managed under the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish Fishery Management Plans: Arrowtooth flounder are included in these fishery management plans because of their importance to the ecosystem (it’s a very abundant flatfish and an important part…
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 22 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.