Fish in the Spotlight
California Halibut
The fun of fishing for me
has always been trying to target
different species of fish. It's one thing
to catch a fish, it's another to target a
fish and be successful. So the target
this time is the California Halibut.
COOL FACTS
California halibut hide by burying themselves up to their eyes in the sandy seafloor. Although they seem to be lazy fish, they're quite active. They have been observed swimming in anchovy schools and even leaping out of the water while chasing an anchovy.
SIZE
California halibut vary in size and weight, but can grow up to five feet long, and weigh up to 72 pounds. These fish are also very hardy and can live long lives. Males and females mature between two to five years, and can live to be 30 years of age.
RANGE
The California Halibut can be found on the Pacific coast of North America from San Francisco, California, to Baja California, Mexico. There are scattered records of its occurrence as far north as the State of Washington. It is usually found on sandy bottoms in depths of 10 to 20 fathoms or less, though it may occasionally be found as deep as 100 fathoms.
HABITAT
Habitat. California halibut are a benthic species that inhabits sandy bottoms to depths of 183 m. They congregate in the nearshore waters and embayments of California. (" California Halibut Identification", 2012; Haugen, 1990) Juveniles live in nursery bays and migrate to sandy areas along the coast as they grow.
DIET
Adult halibut feed primarily on Pacific sardines, northern anchovy, other small nearshore fish species that swim in the water column, and squid. Juveniles inhabiting bays and estuaries eat crustaceans including copepods and amphipods. California halibut are ambush predators.