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.
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.
