It chomped so hard, in fact, it couldn't get off the hook at all. With admirable strength, the lucky angler reeled the 40-pounder up the 40 feet from the bottom to the top to the net and into the boat. That was a day to remember for the next 80 years. The other noteworthy thing of the week is the surprising appearance of the Pacific halibut species this spring. Of the two species of halibut in the Pacific, California halibut and Pacific halibut, we more commonly find the first in these waters.
Pacific halibut grow much larger than California halibut, over four feet over a hundred pounds.
The minimum length limit for California halibut is 22 inches. The minimum length limit for Pacific halibut is 33 inches. Both have a pronounced arch of the lateral line over the pectoral fin. It's jaw extends beyond the rear of the lower eye and has numerous sharp teeth. The eyed side is dark brown to black, often motled with white.