Halibut Fishing in Alaska

Hippoglossus stenolepis - The Pacific Halibut

The North American Pacific halibut fishery began long ago by the various indigenous peoples inhabiting the northwestern coastline of North America.  Alaska halibut fishing continues to be one of the most sought after fisheries in Alaska for both sport and commercial as both user groups struggle for their share of the Hippoglossus stenolepis.

Halibut fishing in Craig Alaska at the Kingfisher Lodge is an ideal Alaska adventure trip for first-timers or experienced fisherman. At Kingfisher Lodge, your Alaskan fishing guide, will often make halibut fishing in Alaska the first order of the day, allowing members of his daily fishing expeditions to limit out on their daily Alaskan halibut quota, before moving on to other species, like silver salmon, king salmon , red snapper, ling cod, black bass or other rock fish.

Halibut fishing at Kingfisher Lodge we use a 6’ fairly stiff rod (“Seeker 660 XH) with roller tips, and a Shimano TLD 20 2 speed reel with 80lb Tuff line, attached to the line is a leader with a large 10/0 circle hook . Alaska halibut fishing in Craig with Kingfisher Lodge is a popular adventure vacation trip, and we’ll make it a vacation you won’t forget. Captain and owner Chuck Haydu knows well the spots where Alaska halibut live and feed off shore as well as inland waters of S.E. Alaska.

This 260# halibut taken in 240’ of water on a halibut rod, circle hook with a silver salmon head as bait. Jeff worked 1 ½  hours to land this tremendous specimen.

Hippoglossus Stenolepis               

Pacific halibut are large flatfish found on the continental shelf from California to the Bering Sea. Halibut have flat, diamond-shaped bodies, can weigh up to 500-700 pounds, and can grow to nine feet long, although we have a photo here at Kingfisher Lodge of a halibut caught in the early 1920’s at 11’long  and estimated weight well over 700 pounds.

Reproduction of Pacific halibut

Halibut migrate great distances from shallow summer feeding grounds to deeper winter spawning grounds. The number of eggs they lay depends on the female's size.

A 50-pound female can produce about 500,000 eggs, while a female over 250 pounds can produce four million eggs. The eggs float freely and drift in deep ocean currents. They hatch after 12-15 days, and the larvae drift to shallow waters on the continental shelf. Larvae begin life in an upright position with eyes on both sides of their head. When they are about an inch long, the left eye migrates over the snout to the right side of the head, and the color of the left side fades.

Female halibut mature at around 12 years, while males mature at around 8 years. Adult fish tend to remain in the same area year after year, except for their migration to deepwater spawning grounds. The oldest halibut on record to date was 55 years.

What they eat

Adult halibut prey on salmon, cod, Pollock, sablefish, rockfish, turbot, sculpins, other flatfish, sand lance, herring, octopus, crabs, clams, and occasionally smaller halibut.

Who eats them

Pacific Halibut are preyed on by shark, Sea Lion, Orca whales, and us.

 

Outstanding display of mature halibut

 

 

 

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