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The Pursuit of Halibut

California halibut (Paralichthys Californicus) can reach five feet in length and weigh in at 72 pounds. The females are oviparous, spawning throughout the year, with February through June being the peak months. When the young flat fish emerges from its floating egg, it acts like any other larval fish, swimming around with its body in a normal position. Within a few days, however, one eye starts migrating to the opposite side of the head. Within an amazingly short time the larval fish has two eyes on one side! The dorsal fin begins to grow forward on the head, the pectoral fins become unequal in size, and the mouth becomes twisted as it develops into a bottom dweller, a flat fish. The eyes can be on either side, and the underneath of the fish is usually white and the top brownish (occasionally, an all white or all brown fish will be seen).

The smooth scales on the upper side have the ability to change color to blend in with the surroundings, the mouth is large with sharp teeth, and the jawbone extends past the eye. This large mouth and jaw are distinctive characteristics, as is the high arch in the lateral line along its sides. They can be found in depths up to 600 feet or as shallow as five feet, with most fish aggregating in less than 200 feet. They can live for 30 years or more, with females growing faster and much larger than males.

Halibut congregate in shallow water in search of food and to spawn. You may see an occasional fish anytime, but spring and summer are the best bets. Halibut love anchovy. They follow them around. If you see anchovy, grunion, and squid, that means the flat fish will be nearby. Halibut almost always lie on a sandy or mud bottom. Rarely will you see them lying on rocks. They can be hard to spot and much of the time they are almost completely buried under the sand or mud (they cover themselves by using their fins), usually only with the mouth and eyes exposed. They do, however, like to lie down right next to rocks and reefs and are frequently seen amongst the sand dollar beds. Like many fish they are curious. Sometimes you'll find them lying next to the boat anchor. This is because when the anchor was dropped it made a disturbance and the fish came to investigate. Also, I've seen them lying in the shadow cast by a large boat on a sunny day.

You can have lots of fun looking for these fish by "free diving" in shallow water. Usually you see the head first, and then the outline of the fish becomes apparent. Some divers prefer to use a heavy pole spear, while others like a medium-size banded gun, equipped with a heavy shaft and slip-tip, plus a reel. The technique is to glide (not swim) over the fish. Once speared, be sure to pin it on the bottom until you can get control of it. Larger fish can be a real handful. Aim for the spine. If you hit them in the head, chances are you'll have problems trying to string them. The best way to subdue a "hot fish" is to immediately remove the gills. This will usually prevent the chance of losing your catch. Many a diver has been caught unaware thinking the fish was under control, until its head came out of the water and the fish went crazy!

Captain Roger Wood ("Woody") has spent much of his professional life working on some of California's finest dive charter boats. His articles have appeared in previous issues of California Diving News.