If you are not afraid to get a little cold and want to go fishing for one of the largest fish that live on the bottom of the ocean, head north and charter a boat for halibut fishing! There are three different species of halibut—Atlantic, Pacific, and Greenland. And you can go fishing for any of them, depending on where you want to go! You will be astonished when you see how large the halibut are that you reel in—this fish can grow up to nine feet long! Halibut is a very popular fish on the market, and chances are if you like white fish meat then you have probably bought it a grocery store and cooked it up at home. But nothing beats catching the real thing and having fresh halibut meat for dinner. 

Fishing for halibut can be extremely exciting and a very family friendly activity to do. You can go fishing between March and November and reel in a big one to show off to your family and friends. Pack warm clothes and a pair of waders and hop on a plane and experience your next fishing adventure!

What is Halibut 

Halibut is the world’s largest flatfish, reaching lengths of up to nine feet long! The largest one every recorded weighed more than 615 pounds. There are three species of halibut—Pacific, Atlantic, and Greenland. Typical of flatfish, they are bottom feeders that swim along the ocean floor. You can find these fish where it gets chilly—the North Pacific, the North Atlantic, and the Artic Oceans. Halibut have the distinct eyes on one side of the face feature typical of flatfish, and a brown speckled coloring on the tops of their body and a white underbelly. This camouflage is impressive when they are hiding from predators. 

In order to promote conservation and restrict overfishing, most of the halibut you will eat from a market are grown in an aquaculture farm. There are benefits to eating both wild and farmed fish. Many will say that the fish caught in the wild will have a better taste due to the diversity and quality of algae and small fish they are eating. And others will say that the taste of farmed fish is comparable and better when considering the commercial market. However, since you are planning a recreational fishing trip and are not trolling for halibut like commercial boats, you can sit down at the end of the day and enjoy your catch knowing it is the highest quality you can get. 

How to Catch Halibut

You can go fishing off the United States for halibut from March to November. Similar to other flatfish like flounder, you fish for halibut by dropping your line to the bottom of the ocean floor using a weight. You will want to start by anchoring above where you think the fish will be and throwing a chum bucket over filled with fresh chum. Halibut are predators and they want their prey to be fresh. The best bait to attach to your hooks is herring. You can use the whole fish or cut it into fillets and hook that on. Some days, one option works better than the other, so you may have to trial and error for a couple casts when you first get out there. 

Once your pole is in the water and you have felt the weight hit the ocean floor below, you have to decide if you are going to keep your pole steady or jig for the fish. Jigging is when you rhythmically bop your pole up and down as a way to entice the fish. Once you feel a slow tug on your pole, you want to wait a second to make sure the fish has a solid grasp of your hook in its mouth, and then you pull up fast on the pole and set the hook! Once you begin reeling in, you will notice that the halibut puts up a strong fight—they will be swimming down as you are reeling up. If you need to stop for a break, the fish will also stop. It is a game of tug of war until your price reaches the surface—just make sure you have a net around or you may lose your fish!

You should be weary of some unwanted fish friends that are also hanging out where the halibut live, particularly skates and dogfish, or sand sharks. These are both not so fun to catch and not so fun to unhook, but they are a reality of fishing in these habitats. If you keep catching them, it may be time to try fishing in a different spot. 

Best Places to Catch Halibut in the United States

Halibut will rarely be found in waters higher than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that you have to travel north into cold waters to have any luck catching these large, gentle giants. You will definitely see the appeal though once you lure your first one in and then later on have a delicious meal with what you have caught. 

Alaska

The top area of course has to be first on this list. Whether it is recreational or commercial fishing, Alaska is the place to be to enjoy a great time fishing for halibut. In fact, more than 80 percent of commercially sold halibut come from these chilly northern waters! The largest Pacific halibut that has been caught weighed more than 450 pounds! There are catch limits since the population of Pacific halibut has been subjected to overfishing problems in recent years. You will have the most opportunities to catch a halibut in these brisk waters if you book a full day charter. Like other flatfish, halibut are responsive to the tides changing. Being out on a boat all day gives you the most opportunities to fish the tide as it comes in and out. You don’t have to go to a far away, remote place in Alaska to have some luck—you can easily fly into Anchorage and book a charter from here. Of course, you can go hours away to more remote parts of the state if you would like. 

California 

You can go fishing for halibut in California’s Pacific coast year-round but watch out because a spot good during the summer may not be a spot with any fish in the winter. The trickiest part about fishing in California’s waters for halibut is trying to find where they are hiding! The best time of year to go fishing for them in this part of the world is during the fall. This is when their prey like small bass and smelt are traveling in the waters as the water cools down. No matter the time of year, you need to make sure you pack a sturdy pole and line, smelly bait, and of course a lot of patience. You will need a fishing permit if you want to go and there is a daily catch limit. 

Massachusetts 

The largest halibuts that have ever been caught have been found in more northern Atlantic waters. A great place to fish out of is Massachusetts. This spot has to be on all serious anglers dream list. The population for halibut in the northeast has been growing over the years, which is only enticing more fishermen to come and try their luck for a weekend. However, the only reason this population has been able to grow is due to conservation policies—one on halibut per boat is allowed to be kept every day. So you have to make what you catch worth it!

Best Halibut Recipe Ideas

You will love the sweet, mild tasting white flaky meat that comes from halibut. Halibut meat is a great source of protein and the power antioxidant selenium, which helps your body repair damaged cells and decreases your inflammation. The meat is also jam packed with nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and niacin. You can enjoy this meat by grilling, broiling, steaming, or poaching! Many people will top their halibut with just lemon, olive oil, and a little butter before putting it in a pan. This fish goes great with pasta and rice, and can be paired with asparagus or broccoli to complete the meal. 

Halibut is a great fish to plan a whole fishing vacation around. You will not only love going for these larger fish, but you will fall in love with their taste. You will certainly taste the difference between the halibut you’ve bought from the store compared to your own caught fish. Just make sure you wear warm clothes wherever you decide to go!