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| Courtesy of California Dept. of Fish and Game |
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Common name: Halibut
(Other common names: Flatty, fly swatter (small), barn door (large), alabato,
Monterey halibut, chicken halibut, southern halibut, portsider, bastard halibut
Scientific name: Paralichthys californicus: Bothidae (Left-eyed flounders)
Description: California halibut are flat, compressed, and oblong and their heads are relatively small compared to its body. They have large squarish mouths with its upper jaw extending past its eyes and have canine like teeth. Their topsides are usually a brownish black or a dark olive green with lighter colored spots all over.
When California halibut are young they’re born with eyes on either sides of their bodies and are able to swim vertically. Then, after about 13 day, one eye starts to shift to join the other eye on that side. Although, California halibut are part of the left-eyed flounders, about 40% have their eyes on the right side.
California halibut can be easily distinguished from other flatfish by a high arch in the middle of the topside above the pectoral fin. They can also be identified by their caudal fin, which is arched in the middle with the outer edges that are square-cut or slightly indented.
On average, California halibut can weigh 8-20 lbs. and the largest recorded halibut is 5 ft. and 72 lbs.
Halibut do not have swim bladders.
Habitat: California halibut are found in Magdalena Bay, Baja California to the Quillayute River, British Columbia. A separate population can be found in the upper Gulf of California. They swim over or lay under sandy bottoms of open waters or bays away from the surf line. Halibut are said to be able to match its skin coloration with whatever sandy or pebble bottom it rests on.
Reproduction: Male halibut mature during their second or third year, while female halibut mature later during their forth or fifth year. They are known to migrate to shallow waters to spawn in the Spring and Fall.
Mature females can produce hundreds of thousands of eggs and larger females can produce millions of eggs during spawning seasons.
When halibut hatch, they are the size of plankton and are nourished by a yolk sack. Then after 2 or 3 days, or when their jaws become functional they begin feeding on their own.
Eating habit: California halibut are ambush feeders; they hide underneath the sand with only their eyes sticking out. And when the time is right they strike at small fish, crabs and other crustaceans. Halibut also chase anchovies or sardines close to the surface and have been seen jumping out of the water the catch their prey.
Fishing methods, tips, and best lures and baits: Drifting for halibut is the most successful fishing method with anglers.
Best times of the year for targeting this species: Halibut are usually fished for year round.
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