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Halibut - Alaska's Deep Ocean Dwellers
By E. Klages

Alaska's huge halibut bring visitors from all over the globe, and it's no wonder. Halibut are the largest Pacific flatfish and in Alaska, it isn't uncommon for anglers to catch halibut that weigh 100 pounds or more.

Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) has long been used as a food source and derives it's common name from the Old English "haly-butte" which means fish that is eaten on holy days. Halibut are an excellent source of protein and are low in saturated fat. Also, it only takes one large halibut to produce a large amount of meat for consumption. For example, an 100 pound halibut will yield about 75 pounds of meat.

To determine the best places to find halibut and which bait to use, it's good to be familiar with the life cycle of Alaskan halibut. Knowing the migration and feeding patterns of halibut will give you a better chance at catching one of these mammoth fish.

Alaska Halibut Life Cycle

Halibut spawn during the winter in very deep water. Female halibut lay millions of eggs a few times each year. Once the eggs are fertilized, they need around 15 weeks to hatch. The eggs float freely on the surface of the ocean and go with the currents, sometimes moving over a hundred miles away from their original nesting place.

The sea currents eventually bring the juvenile halibut into more shallow water where the halibut move from the surface of the water down to their home on the ocean floor. They spend roughly 5 to 7 years in shallow waters while they continue to grow in size. Males of the species are mature at 7 to 8 years old and females become mature at 8 to 12 years. When the halibut reach maturity, they begin moving to deeper waters.

When halibut are younger, they migrate frequently. The migratory pattern typically moves clockwise through the Gulf of Alaska. Once halibut reach around 10 years old, they continue to migrate, but in much smaller ranges of distance.

The migration of halibut greatly influences the areas

where you can find these fish. Halibut is generally focused on a few key areas. Roughly 65% of halibut sport takes place in Southeast Alaska, Kodiak, Kachemak Bay and the Lower Cook Inlet.

Halibut can live for a long time and grow very large. They can weigh up to 700 pounds. The largest recorded Alaskan halibut was around 490 pounds. Chief predators of halibut include marine mammals, sharks and of course, humans.

Alaskan halibut have a varied diet. They feed on many types of fish and also a few invertebrates like crabs and clams. Occasionally, halibut are known to leave the ocean floor in order to feed on fish like herring and sand lance. What this means for a sport fishermen is that there are several choices of bait when for halibut. Some of the best baits to use are cod, salmon, herring, squid and octopus. Using a combination of herring and octopus is both sturdy and very effective.

For fishermen, halibut in Alaska is about as good as it gets. In Alaska, you can spend the day out on the ocean viewing the scenic coast, drop a line and then bring in a fish with enough meat to feed your family for a month. Now that you know more about Alaska's deep ocean dwellers, you're ready to bring in one of your own. Happy Fishing!

E. Klages provides Alaska fishing information and advice online for anglers visiting the Frontier State. The website, "Alaska Fishing 411" covers a wide range of topics from Alaskan fish species and top fishing spots to tips on choosing an Alaska fishing guide.

We strive to provide only quality articles, so if there is a specific topic related to fishing you would like to be covered, please contact us at any time.

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