Found in the Bering Sea between the U.S. and Russia, the Pacific Halibut is a migratory fish that tends to stick to the open ocean. These fish can be caught by bottom fishing, drift fishing, saltwater jigging, and still fishing. They respond best to live baits and noisy lures.
Habitat: Ocean,Coastal Waters
How to identify Pacific Halibut
The Pacific halibut’s body is dark brown or gray on the top and sides, and occasionally has small lighter-colored spots. On the bottom side, it is white and without spots. It has an elongated, diamond-shaped body. The female can grow up to nine feet long and weigh up to 600 pounds. The female life expectancy is as long as 35 to 45 years. The male is smaller and can grow to 55 inches long and averages no more than 40 pounds. The male life expectancy is 25 years.
Where to catch Pacific Halibut
The Pacific halibut migrates and travels long distances. It is the largest Pacific flatfish and looks similar to the Atlantic halibut. The Pacific halibut is found in the Bering Sea between the U.S. and Russia. It lives in shallow waters in the northern areas and in deeper waters in the southern areas. These fish generally stick to depths of 20-1000 fit, though they’ve been known to go as deep at 3,600 feet. They’re often found near continental shelves in colder waters.
The following are habitats where you can catch Pacific Halibut:
How to catch Pacific Halibut
The best place to catch a Pacific halibut is in midwater along the bottom. Anglers should come equipped with deep-water fishing gear. When fishing for them, add a 1-2 lb. weight to help the bait sink to the bottom. The preferred method for catching them is drift fishing with heavy tackle. Simply leave the rod in the rod holder and bounce it up and down occasionally, then wait for the fish to strike. Anglers can catch Pacific halibuts by fly fishing, though this method is much more difficult. Other effective methods include saltwater jigging and still fishing.
The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Pacific Halibut:
Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Pacific Halibut
The best baits to use for Pacific halibuts are squids, octopus, herring, and pink salmon. For lures, choose spoons or jigs that make noise – this will help attract them.
The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Pacific Halibut:
