Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish - Macaw Pets store

Halibut, California
Paralichthys californicus
OTHER NAMES
flatty, flattie, fly swatter
(small), barn door (large),
alabato, Monterey halibut,
chicken halibut, southern
halibut, California flounder,
bastard halibut, portsider;
Spanish: lenguado de
California.
Distribution. This species
occurs from Magdalena Bay,
Baja California, Mexico, to
the Quillayute River, British
Columbia. A separate population
exists in the Gulf of
California in Mexico.
Habitat. Found mostly
over sandy bottoms, California
halibut appear beyond
the surf line and in bays
and estuaries. They range
from near shore to 600 feet
deep but are most commonly
caught in 60 to 120
feet of water. They are not
known to make extensive
migrations.
104 Halibut, California
The California halibut is a large flatfish and a member of the
Bothidae family, or left-eyed flounder. It is the largest and
most abundant flatfish within its range, although it is greatly
smaller than the more northerly Pacific halibut. It is an
important commercial quarry and sportfish, one that is often
deliberately sought by anglers and valued for its excellent
firm, white flesh.
Identification. The body of the California halibut is
oblong and compressed. The head is small and the mouth
large. Although a member of the left-eyed flounder family,
about 40 percent of California halibut have their eyes on the
right side. The color is dark brown to black on the eyed side
and white on the blind side. The gill rakers are slender and
numerous, totaling about 29 on the first arch. Its numerous
teeth, its very large mouth, and a high arch in the middle of
the “top” side above the pectoral fin make it easily distinguishable
from other flatfish.
Size. The largest California halibut recorded was 5 feet
long and weighed 72 pounds. The all-tackle rod-and-reel
record weighed 59 pounds, 9 ounces. Females grow larger,
live longer, and are more numerous than males. In California,
these fish average between 8 and 20 pounds; 20pounders
are considered large, and fish exceeding 30
pounds are trophies.
Spawning behavior. Males mature when 2 or 3 years old,
but females do not mature until age 4 or 5. A 5-year-old fish
may be anywhere from 11 to 17 inches long. Spawning
takes place in relatively shallow water from April through
July, and spawning fish feed actively.
Food and feeding habits. These halibut feed primarily on
anchovies and similar small fish, often well off the bottom
and during the day, although they also consume squid,
crustaceans, and mollusks.