California halibut

California halibut
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Pleuronectiformes Family: Paralichthyidae Genus: Paralichthys Species: P. californicus
Binomial name
Paralichthys californicus (Ayres, 1859)

The California halibut or California flounder, Paralichthys californicus, is a large-tooth flounder that ranges from Quillayute River, Washington to Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur waters. It feeds near shore and is free swimming. It typically weighs 6 to 50 pounds (3 to 23 kg). It is much smaller than the larger and more northern-ranging Pacific halibut that can reach 300 pounds (140 kg).

A top level predator that hunts by stealth, it is prized by fishermen as great table fare.

Sport fishers typically use light fishing gear and live baits for this halibut. Baits include anchovies, sardine, squid, mackerel, and queenfish (brownbait). Some anglers use plastic lures and scampitype "lead heads" to fool a halibut into striking.

Mostly fishing from boats in the coastal regions, anglers catch good quantities of halibut in 10 to 80 feet of water. Sometimes the fish are caught from shore or by kayak fishermen in very shallow water. Slow trolling and drift fishing is the preferred method of bait presentation.

This is an unusual fish in that one eye has to migrate around from one side to the other as it grows from an upright fry or baby fish into an adult fish that lays on its side. The adult has two eyes on the up-side as it lays on the bottom. The fish hides under sand or loose gravel and blends into the bottom. See flatfish for more information on this.

References

• Paralichthys californicus (TSN 172743). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 18 April 2006.
• "Paralichthys californicus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. February 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.

External links

• Dr. Larry Allen of CSUN.edu on California Halibut
• California Halibut is key fish of oldest fishing tournament in Southern California - MDR Halibut Derby
• Tips for California Halibut fishing.
• Even More Tips on fishing for California Halibut.

Miller, D.L. and R.N. Lea. 1972. Guide to the coastal marine fishes of California. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Fish Bull. 157. 299 p

Oda, D. 1991. Development of eggs and larvae of California halibut aralichthys californicus and fantail Sole Xystreurys liolepis (Pisces: Paralichthyidae). Fishery Bulletin, U.S. 89:387-402.