The California Halibut (Paralichthys califonicus) is a member of the flatfish family found in the Western United States. The range of this popular sport fish extends from Baja California, Mexico, to British Columbia, with a separate population that can be found in the Gulf of California in Mexico. They are especially abundant in the San Francisco Bay Area and the numerous bay of the greater Los Angeles Area. They move into shallower water in late spring or summer to spawn.A member of the flounder family, California Halibut are colored dark brown to black on the eyed side and white on the blind side. They are distinctive for their small head and large mouth filled with a multitude of teeth. The fish has short fins on both sides of its compressed and oblong body. Although California Halibut are part of the left-eyed flounder family (meaning its eyes are to the left of the mouth), about 40 percent of the fish are right eyed.
In California waters, most of the fish caught by anglers average between 8 and 20 pounds. Any fishermen who can land a California Halibut over 30 pounds can consider it a real trophy. The IGFA (International Game Fish Association) endorsed record is a hefty 53 pounds, 4 ounces, caught off Santa Rosa Island, California, on July 7, 1988.
Fishing for the California Halibut requires an angler to find relatively shallow waters that have sandy or slightly rocky bottoms. Halibut live on a diet of other fish, squid, and octopus. Their bodies are designed to lay flat on the sand seafloor, with just their eyes exposed. This allows the fish to quickly strike its prey. California Halibut are also known to search for food in open water, although most spend the majority of their time on the ocean floor.
Anglers should keep these eating habits in mind by getting their bait down on a sandy bottom and keeping it moving. The most popular bait to use is live anchovies hooked through the nose. Using 10 to 12-pound test line, anglers should use weighted sinkers (lead weights used to sink baits to lower depths) to be sure the bait is kept on the ocean floor where the fish can be found. It is important to use a fishing rod that has a sensitive tip, as this will be the signal to anglers recognize when the halibut has taken the bait.
Anglers fish for the California Halibut from piers, beaches, and from boats. Drift fishing (without an anchor) is a popular boating method, allowing anglers to keep the bait moving and also cover a larger area. Some anglers who are after larger halibut prefer to anchor and fish gravel or rocky bottoms. Larger fish are less aggressive and gravitate towards these types of bottoms that are often near rock walls, wrecks, and other structures. Monster-sized halibut also require bigger bait such as a whole squid, a queenfish, or a 6-8 inch mackerel or similar fish.
Once a fish is caught, anglers will need a gaff (a large metal hook attached to a pole) in order to pull in the fish, along with a club designed for subduing the fish. California Halibut are caught to be eaten. The fish have a firm and flaky white flesh that is low in fat and can be easily cooked using a variety of methods.
