Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Also known as Sole, Slippery sole
Culinary Profile
Mild and sweet.
Dense and firm.
Dover sole is an excellent source of low-fat protein and calcium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Dover sole are flatfish, with both of their eyes located on the right side of their head. Their mouths are small relative to their size. Their drab coloring helps them camouflage themselves on the ocean floor. In some areas, Dover sole are referred to as “slippery sole” because they excrete mucous onto their skin/scales, making them incredibly slippery and hard to pick up.
Biology
Females grow faster and larger than males, up to 30 inches long, about 2 to 4 inches longer than males. Males can live up to 58 years, about 5 years longer than females. Dover sole spawn near the ocean floor in waters deeper than 1,440 feet. Spawning seasons vary by location: In the Gulf of Alaska from January to August. Off Oregon from November to April. In Puget Sound from January to March.
Where They Live
Range Dover sole is found in the Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea and western Aleutian Islands to southern Baja California. Habitat Dover sole live near the ocean floor and prefer soft bottom habitat in waters 7 to 4,500 feet deep. They travel to deeper water as they age. Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Dover sole fishery on the West Coast.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Alaska to California.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2023, commercial landings of Dover sole totaled 8.4 million pounds and were valued at $3.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most of the landings come from Oregon, California, and Washington State. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Bottom trawls are used to catch Dover sole. Trawls that are used to harvest Dover sole can contact the ocean floor and impact habitats, depending on the characteristics of the ocean bottom and the size of the gear. Bottom trawls cause minimal damage to habitat when targeting Dover sole over soft, sandy, or muddy ocean bottoms off the West Coast and Alaska.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Dover Sole ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Phosphorus | 252 mg | 16 / 111 | 86% |
| Vitamin D | 2.8 IU | 25 / 54 | 54% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 137 mg | 47 / 104 | 55% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 108 mg | 76 / 104 | 27% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.13 µg | 80 / 106 | 25% |
| Selenium | 26.6 µg | 95 / 106 | 10% |
| Iron | 0.18 mg | 98 / 111 | 12% |
| Protein | 12.41 g | 100 / 111 | 10% |
| Zinc | 0.32 mg | 102 / 111 | 8% |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Dover Sole.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
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.
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 Dover Sole, 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.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else is Dover Sole called?
Dover Sole is also marketed as Sole, Slippery sole.
How much choline does Dover Sole contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Dover Sole supplies 65 mg of choline, around 12% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
How does Dover Sole reproduce?
Females grow faster and larger than males, up to 30 inches long, about 2 to 4 inches longer than males. Males can live up to 58 years, about 5 years longer than females. Dover sole spawn near the ocean floor in waters deeper than 1,440 feet. Spawning seasons vary by location: In the Gulf of Alaska from January to August. Off Oregon from November to April. In Puget Sound from January to March.
How long do Dover Sole live?
Live up to 58 years, about 5 years.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Dover sole is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are three stocks of Dover sole: Pacific coast, one stock contained in the Gulf of Alaska Deepwater Flatfish Complex, and one stock contained in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Other Flatfish Complex. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Pacific coast stock is not overfished (2021 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
Population
The Pacific Coast stock and Gulf of Alaska Deepwater Flatfish Complex 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 Dover sole.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Dover sole fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan : Limits on the number of permits and fishermen allowed. Limits on the minimum size of fish that may be harvested. Limit on how much may be harvested in one fishing trip.
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.