It's important to buy fresh fish regardless of the type. When shopping for halibut steaks, you want to avoid any fish that has a strong odor. Halibut shouldn't smell fishy when it's fresh. The flesh of the halibut steaks should be firm and have a sparkly, translucent sheen. If the meat looks discolored or has yellow or green spots, don't buy it. You should also look for white spots, which indicate chalkiness, and avoid buying any halibut steaks with this pigmentation.