California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) are the most famous of all flat fish sand. Everyone loves to catch and eat halibut. This is not the kind that grow to 300 pounds or more, Alaska (Pacific halibut), but a home grown, southern California alone, the species. They are as tasty as their larger cousins, without embargo. Halibut swim start their lives, much like other fish, vertically in the water with an eye on each side of the head. As youth move from this stage until adulthood, one eye migrates from its original position around the nose of the fish and ends at the other side. The blind side then turns white and the fish starts to swim horizontally on the bottom with the white side, blind down. Halibut are members of the left-eyed flatfish, however 40% of them are actually the right eye (the eye moves left to right side.)

California halibut can grow to five feet long and 60 pounds, but most are much smaller. In fact, during most of 1980 and 1990 was very rare to find a keeper halibut size (22 inches). You twenty steps back for every fish that measured up. Now, since conservation efforts and strong restrictions to which trammel nets (commercial networks used in flat fish) can be established, the population of Greenland is increasing and the size of sport caught halibut is also increasing. In 1997, nearly half of all black caught were breeding adults (22 inches) for the return of this sought-after game fish are well on your way.

Halibut Catch

Halibut are masters of the ambush. They sit partially buried at the bottom waiting for prey to wander by, then jump to grab unsuspecting forage fish. Halibut generally prefer live bait. Even the scientists used believe that they were more like boot sole or sand touches for food and everything that came from compaction, but now known to be aggressive predators. They eat sardines, anchovies, squid and smaller fish any other bait.

Range halibut coast beaches, harbors and river mouths, reaching water deep, deep. They live in over 1,000 feet of water. Deep-water fish are best to eat, but often the trophy fish are caught in 20 feet of water.

To catch halibut, drifting over sand bottom probably with a live anchovy, sardine, herring or other bait (large grunion work too!) installation with a reverse dropper loop – ie a ballast attached to a ribbon tied a foot or two above the bait. Keep it near the bottom and barely moves to cover more ground. Halibut wait for bait so if you keep your bait still, it could be literally inches from the tail of a big fish and you never know who was there. Use enough weight so the bait stays in the background. When Halibut success of the bait's mouth first so that the strike is more like a slight feeling marking on the line. At this stage have the patience, if you set the hook too soon, you throw the right hook for Greenland's mouth. Give the line and when you pretty sure I have the live bait, go ahead and set the hook.

Greenland also attracts the strike. Rubber swim baits seem to work better and are more effective when baited with a thin strip of cut squid. Halibut have been known even get to the bottom and salmon lures deep strike controlled. Preparation Halibut

On the boat, they headed and gutted halibut, ice down quickly. The meat is so delicate spoil easily. Once home peel four nice fillets off the fish. Do not bother trying to flesh fish such as Pacific halibut in the supermarket, the local variety are often too thin to that. Make sure you remove the outer strip of meat on the base of the fins. Makes excellent sashimi!

Eating halibut

Halibut are one of the fish most desirable in California waters and the wider use of people with different tastes. I've never heard anyone say that never taste fresh halibut fish. They are excellent as sashimi, baked, roasted, fried, sauteed, or even poached. The meat is light, delicate, tasty and smooth.

Jeff Spira is a fishermen and writer of fishing and seamanship books. His web site California Ocean Fishing offers further insights into this fun sport and has links to online sources for his books on the subject.

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