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.

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 may occasionally be found in small bays where the waters are very cool, especially in northern areas. Since they do prefer colder water, they can be found in areas stretching from the Bering Sea south to California. For hunting and spawning, the Pacific Halibut can travel upwards of 2000 miles to find their favorite areas. They will always be found in rather cool bodies of water regardless of where they travel.

British Columbia has recently had to cut down on production facilities that use halibut due to the potential of over-fishing. Additionally, areas of the pacific coast that depend on both salmon and halibut for their subsistence have been forced to place strict annual harvesting restrictions. Overfishing is dangerous to long term survival of the Pacific Halibut forcing these extreme measures. For fishermen who are lucky enough to find that they are in an area that has not reached its annual cap on Pacific Halibut they will likely find that they will need strong tackle and a stout rod to land these fish. While they are not an aggressive fighter, they remain strongly determined to remain as close to the bottom as possible. The best way to fish for halibut is to use the drifting method and float squid, mackerel or herring slightly above them giving the impression that the bait is actually travelling across the water.

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 fishing reels, and shimano saltwater spinning reels.