Hippollossus Stenolepis – does this sound like a prehistoric large animal to you? In reality, this is the Pacific Halibut which resembles the Atlantic Halibut. In fact, this fish is very large and it known for habituating the Pacific Ocean. Other common names for this large, flat fish are the northern halibut, alabato and right halibut. In general, this fish is colored in tones ranging from gray brown to dark brown and may sport the occasional smattering of light colored spots. Since it is a flat fish, the Pacific Halibuts eyes are on the upward facing side of his body. The bottom of this fish tends to be lighter colored and has no eye.

Male Pacific halibuts are fairly small; they typically do not get much larger than 40 pounds though they may be as long as 55 inches. Female halibut on the other hand are significantly larger – they can weight more than 470 pounds. The life span of the male and female are significantly different as well, with the males living approximately 25 years while the female may live as many as 45. Because of this, the females tend to grow larger during growing stages and their longevity alone can explain the fact that there are more females than males.

Pacific halibut have an impressive set of very strong teeth. These are necessary since the smaller Pacific halibut tend to dine on smaller crustaceans while the larger Pacific halibut tend to make their diet out of larger crustaceans as well as turbot, shrimp, crabs, Pollock and crabs. The Pacific Halibut has a unique way of capturing their meal as well – because of their unique coloration they will burrow into the sandy bottom and they become literally invisible. As their unsuspecting prey go by, they literally explode out of their sandy cocoon and leave nothing in their wake save the cloud of sand they have displaced.

Pacific halibut prefer the colder waters of the North Pacific and they are often found from the Bering Sea and south to California. They may occasionally drift as far north as northern Japan. Migration is a journey for the Pacific halibut, they often travel more than 2,000 miles if they are looking for a place to spawn or a place to hunt. It is not unusual to find them swimming in shallow waters in colder bays in more 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 reel, van staal reel, and shimano saltwater spinning reel.

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