NorCal Kayak Anglers

General => Fish Talk => Fish ID sub-forum => Topic started by: yakyakyak on September 29, 2016, 11:02:05 AM

Title: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: yakyakyak on September 29, 2016, 11:02:05 AM

Hi All,
   Any tips how to tell which fish is a Pacific vs California halibut?  I've done my reading before, but I can't tell with decent accuracy and never boarded both at the same time to be able to tell.



Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: LoletaEric on September 29, 2016, 11:03:11 AM
Pacific is diamond shaped.  California is more oval. 
Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: Malibu_Two on September 29, 2016, 11:04:02 AM

Hi All,
   Any tips how to tell which fish is a Pacific vs California halibut?  I've done my reading before, but I can't tell with decent accuracy and never boarded both at the same time to be able to tell.

Kind of a non-issue unless you're fishing up north. But yes, diamond vs oval.
Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: yakyakyak on September 29, 2016, 11:18:40 AM


Thanks!  'read it that Pac hali is closed as of 9/23/16 'til 5/1/11, from Pt Conception to Pt Arena, so no diamond hali ...



Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: Vermillion on September 29, 2016, 06:47:11 PM
Diamond vs oval also the fins on a Cali Hali go from head to tail in a clean arch. The Pacific Hali has a very pronounced protruding dorsal fin.
Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: Sin Coast on September 30, 2016, 12:15:44 PM
You will probably never encounter a pacific halibut from a kayak in CA, unless you are specifically targeting them in Shelter cove, Cape mendocino, or Trinidad...
Much more important to be able to distinguish CA halibut from other flatfish species like sole, turbot, sanddabs, etc.
Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: yakyakyak on September 30, 2016, 01:33:42 PM
You will probably never encounter a pacific halibut from a kayak in CA, unless you are specifically targeting them in Shelter cove, Cape mendocino, or Trinidad...
Much more important to be able to distinguish CA halibut from other flatfish species like sole, turbot, sanddabs, etc.

Thanks!  'learned something new everyday.
Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: crash on September 30, 2016, 02:13:04 PM
You will probably never encounter a pacific halibut from a kayak in CA, unless you are specifically targeting them in Shelter cove, Cape mendocino, or Trinidad...
Much more important to be able to distinguish CA halibut from other flatfish species like sole, turbot, sanddabs, etc.

I was targeting pacific halibut on closing day last week.  We caught several petrale sole.  They look a whole lot like CA halibut.  I don't think you could ever mistake a pacific for a california, but I'm positive you could mistake a california halibut for a petrale and vice versa.
Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: Rock Hopper on September 30, 2016, 02:14:48 PM

I was targeting pacific halibut on closing day last week.  We caught several petrale sole.  They look a whole lot like CA halibut.  I don't think you could ever mistake a pacific for a california, but I'm positive you could mistake a california halibut for a petrale and vice versa.

Stick your finger in its mouth if you're not sure.
Title: Re: Pacific vs California halibut
Post by: Sin Coast on September 30, 2016, 02:36:37 PM
...but some soles & flounders have gnarly teeth like halibut
Here's a good resource: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/finfish/sp/flatfish.asp