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.
The male pacific halibut is far smaller than his female counterpart. While the male may typically grow to about 55 inches and weigh in at forty pounds, the female can grow to weigh as much as 470 pounds. The female typically lives for about 45 years while the male lives only 25 which could account for the fact that there is a larger female population. Additionally, the female grows much faster than her male counterpart during normal growing phases.
Shrimp, crabs, squids and Turbot are favorites of the pacific halibut to meet their dietary needs. In addition, both the smaller pacific halibut and adults love to feast on crustaceans, meaning that they have very strong teeth. Pacific halibut hunting habits are a bit unique, they burrow into the sand at the bottom of the water, sit patiently waiting for their prey and when they spot them they literally explode out of the sand and grab them. There is little evidence of the prey afterwards; in fact, all you are likely to find is a cloud of sand in the aftermath.
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, van staal reels, and shimano spinning reel.
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September 12, 2010
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