Alaska Halibut Fishing

Halibut fishing in Alaska can be a very rewarding adventure. The halibut is the most sought after saltwater sport fish species in the State of Alaska. The State of Alaska sport fish record for the Alaska halibut is 440 pounds. It would'nt take long to pack your freezer with catches like that. This excellent tasting flatfish is highly prized for sport fishing as well as eating. Halibut are more elongated than most flatfishes, the width being about one-third the length. They have small scales imbedded in the skin. Halibut have both eyes on their dark or upper side. The color on the dark side varies, but tends to assume the coloration of the ocean bottom. The underside is lighter, appearing more like the sky from below. This color adaptation allows halibut to avoid detection by both prey and predator.

Halibut spawn during the winter months with the peak of activity occurring from December through February. Most spawning takes place in deep waters of 200 to 300 fathoms (1200 to 1800 feet). Male halibut become sexually mature at 7 or 8 years of age, and females attain sexual maturity at 8 to 12 years. Females lay two to three million eggs annually, depending on the size of the fish.Halibut are the largest of all flatfish. The largest ever recorded for an Alaska halibut was a 495-pound fish caught near Petersburg, Alaska.

Fertilized eggs hatch after about fifteen days. The young halibut float for up to six months. They are transported up to several hundred miles by currents of the North Pacific. Many changes take place in the young halibut, which rise to the surface and are carried to shallower waters by prevailing currents. In the shallower waters, young halibut then begin life as bottom dwellers. Most young halibut ultimately spend from five to seven years in rich, shallow nursery grounds as in the Gulf of Alaska and Cook Inlet.

Younger halibut, up to 10 years of age, are highly migratory and generally migrate in a clockwise direction east and south throughout the Gulf of Alaska. Older halibut tend to be much less migratory. Older fish often use both shallow and deep waters over the annual cycle, however they have much smaller “home ranges” than younger, more migratory fish. When halibut fishing, you can greatly improve your odds by hiring a guide. When you use the services of a professional charter captain, you'll use his boat and gear. One of the advantages of using a guide is you have less gear to bring or buy. The knowledge of these professionals is directly related to the success you will have on your Alaska halibut fishing trip.

Depending on the underwater terrain the Alaska halibut can be found in water from 50-500 feet deep. Alaska halibut fishing tackle is highly specialized and most charter captains guard their techniques and fishing spots very closely. Alaska halibut are caught on heavy duty, but limber rods with small pulleys as guides, and heavy duty level wind reels with 60- 120 lb test lines. Baits are usually herring, octopus or salmon belly although jigs in the hands of an experienced angler can produce excellent results. Less experienced anglers will usually lose a rod when they hook their first Alaska halibut by jigging.

The Pacific (Alaska) halibut was called “haly-butte” in Middle English, meaning the flatfish to be eaten on holy days. Whether you eat it on holy days or unholy days this fish is good eating. Also we have some excellent halibut recipes on our fish recipe page. These recipes are free for you to use and enjoy.

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