Pacific Halibut

	Scientific Name	Hippoglossus Stenolepis
	Other Names	Giant Halibut, Barndoor, Hali
	World Record	459 lb - 0 oz

Description

Pacific halibut are right-eyed flatfish. This fish is recognized by its elongate, slender, compressed body. The mouth is large and has well developed teeth on both sides of the jaws. The halibut is dark brown on its eyed side and irregularly blotched with a lighter white on its blind side. Unlike other flatfish, its tail is crescent-shaped.

Habitat

Pacific Halibut are found on or near the bottom over mud, sand, or gravel banks. While halibut have been recorded at depths of 3,600 feet, most are caught at depths of 90 to 900 feet. Halibut generally are in deeper wasters during the winter where they spawn at depths of 600 to 1,500 feet during the period from November through March. Following spawning, halibut begin to migrate to shallower coastal summer feeding areas.

Feeding Habits

The main food consists of fish, crabs, clams, squids and other invertebrates also whatever bait fish are available at the time.

Age and Growth

During their first year of life, they feed on plankton. Young halibut 1to 3 years old feed on small shrimp organisms and small fish. As halibut increase in size, large halibut also eat octopus, herring, crabs, clams, and smaller halibut. Males will not grow as large as females of the same age. Pacific halibut is the largest flatfish known, with females living 40 years or more and reaching 2.5 m and 300 kg.

Tackle and Methods

Halibut can range in weight from a few pounds up to several 100 pounds, stout tackle is required. Tackle should include a 5-7 foot rod with a level wind reel capable of holding up to 300 yards of 30-80 pound test line.

Related Species

Listed below are similar related species that customers have searched.

	Cod		Halibut California
	Halibut Atlantic		Pollock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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