English sole can grow up to 22.5 inches in length. English sole generally spawn during January through April at depths of 50 - 70 M over soft mud bottoms. Females usually produce 150,000 to over 1 million pelagic or free-floating eggs. The fertilized eggs commonly hatch in about 1 week and the young English sole usually mature in 2 to 4 years. Adults are found in near-shore coastal waters and make only limited migrations.
English sole is found from Mexico to Alaska.
The most abundant flatfish in Puget Sound, Washington, the English sole is an important flatfish in many shallow-water and estuarine environments. The English sole is very susceptible to changes in its environment. Relying heavily on estuaries for rearing, the English sole is impacted by pollution and habitat alteration. Often the dumping grounds for industrial and municipal wastes, bay waters and sediments also collect contaminants running off our streets and farms. In Puget Sound, for example, the many toxins English sole is exposed to accumulate in its tissue, resulting in high levels of contaminants which can cause disease, tumors, and reduced reproductive success.