Facts About Pacific Halibut

Hoppoglossus Steolepsis is the tongue twisting scientific name for the Pacific Halibut. Their size and stature fits their scientific name well, as these are the largest flatfish to populate the Pacific Ocean. They are also known as Northern Halibut, Alabato and Right Halibut. These fish sport a brown coloration which can range from a gray-brown to a dark brown and they also have lightly colored spots. Since the pacific halibut swims on one side down all the time, that side not only does not have an eye, but it is also lighter in color. This flatfish has two eyes that are always turned upwards.

The male Pacific Halibut grows to about 55 inches long and typically weighs in around 40 pounds and is dwarfed by his female counterpart who can be as large as 470 pounds. While the male lives about 20 years, the female lives upwards of 45 years resulting in a larger population of the female Pacific Halibut. It comes as no surprise that given the larger size of the female that they go through far more changes in growth during their life stages.

Young Pacific halibut use their strong teeth to feed on small crustaceans. Full grown Pacific Halibut are not only powerful swimmers but they have a diverse diet that includes larger crustaceans, squid, crabs, shrimp, Pollock and turbot. These fish often surprise their prey by hiding out in a sandy spot along the bottom of the body of water. Because of their color, this allows them to blend in and remain largely unseen. As prey go by, the Pacific halibut erupts from the bottom, grams their meal and leaves nothing but a cloud of sand in its wake.

Pacific halibut prefer colder water and because of this they tend to be located in the waters of the North Pacific in the area between California and north to the Bering Sea. It is not uncommon to find a Pacific Halibut as far away as Northern Japan however, and let’s not overlook this powerful fishes migrating habits. It is not at all unusual for them to travel upwards of 2,000 miles for hunting and spawning purposes – and it’s also not unheard of to find them in shallow bays that have cold water in the far northern areas.

British Columbia is one of the largest commercial fishing areas that depend on halibut. Because of the potential for over-fishing, they have had to cut back on their operations. Pacific coast areas often depend on both halibut and salmon for subsistence. However, there is closely controlled number of halibut that may be harvested on an annual basis. Anglers will have to be aware of these restrictions if they are interested in fishing for halibut. If you are fortunate enough to find a time when you can fish for halibut you will need sturdy gear, a strong line and make sure your knots are well formed. Your bait options include squid, herring and mackerel and the recommended method is drift fishing. If you are able to keep your bait floating slightly above, the halibut will think that the prey is travelling – this will allow you to get him on the hook. One thing to keep in mind, while halibut are not particularly aggressive fighters, they will struggle to stay on the bottom.

When you are getting prepared for a saltwater fishing adventure, having the proper equipment is essential. Some of the most popular products on the market include okuma fishing reel and van staal fishing reels.