Species guide
How to catch Pacific halibut
Hippoglossus stenolepis
Pacific halibut is a large flatfish known for its impressive size and value as a game fish. Juveniles stay nearshore while adults migrate between deep winter waters and shallow summer coastal zones. They are powerful predators feeding on a variety of fish and invertebrates.
Where they live
Pacific halibut inhabit North Pacific saltwaters, commonly found from nearshore shallow waters to depths up to 1200 meters. They migrate seasonally between deep continental shelf edges in winter and shallower coastal waters in summer.
Typical size
Up to about 258 cm
What they eat
- fish
- squid
- crabs
- clams
- cephalopods
- other invertebrates
Best baits
- squid
- herring
- salmon belly
- clams
- crab
Best lures
- large jigs
- soft plastic swimbaits
- bucktail jigs
- deep diving plugs
How to fish for them
- bottom fishing
- drift fishing
- trolling with weighted lures
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