Range and Identity
Platichthys stellatus ranges around the northern Pacific from eastern Asian shores through Arctic and Bering waters to California. This extensive range includes distinct seasonal and regional settings. A northern locality is not a substitute for knowing the depth and salinity of an observation.
Habitat and Behavior
Many fish use shallow inshore water and estuaries in summer, with deeper winter occurrence. Some also remain deep throughout the year. Young and adults have been reported well upriver, demonstrating that a saltwater-only description would omit part of their habitat use.
Food and Life History
Published upper references are ninety-one centimeters total length and 9.1 kilograms, not necessarily measurements of one fish. The diet includes crustaceans, worms, small mollusks, brittle stars and small fishes. Young settle over shallow silty or sandy bottom, often in estuaries.
Field Note
Keep season and salinity with a catch record. These details explain why fish from the same coast may occur in very different depths or river positions.
All Lakes With Starry Flounder
Browse all lakes and reservoirs with confirmed Starry Flounder records in our database, listed alphabetically.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.