Species
Halibut Fishing Charters
Pacific halibut are huge flatfish of deep, cold water, a mainstay of Alaska charters, with limits set by federal and state managers. 115 captains and guides in 17 towns list halibut. Here is where, and the months it is in season where we have a published calendar.
Key facts
About the halibut
A large flatfish with a diamond-shaped body and both eyes on the upper side. The upper side is mottled gray to dark brown and the underside is white; its tiny scales are buried in the skin, so it feels smooth.
- Scientific name
- Hippoglossus stenolepis
- Also called
- Pacific halibut, Alaskan halibut, barn door (very large fish)
- Family
- Righteye flounder family (Pleuronectidae)
- How big they get
- Up to 8 feet long and 500 pounds; females grow larger than males
- Where they live
- Coastal waters from Santa Barbara, California, to Nome, Alaska; most common in the central Gulf of Alaska, especially around Kodiak Island.
- Habitat
- On or near the bottom. Juveniles live in shallow nearshore water and move deeper with age; adults feed in shallower water in summer and move to deep water along the continental slope to spawn in winter. Anglers find them near drop-offs, trenches, bars, reefs, pinnacles and where rock, sand and mud bottoms meet.
- Diet
- Adults eat groundfish, sculpins, sand lance, herring, octopus, crabs, clams and sometimes smaller halibut.
- Lifespan
- Up to 55 years, though fish older than 30 are rare
- On the table
- Very mild and sweet; cooked meat is flaky, tender and firm and turns snow white.
Where
Where to catch halibut with a charter
| Town | Captains listing it | Main months | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan, AK | 14 | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Homer, AK | 14 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| San Francisco, CA | 12 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Report |
| Westport, WA | 11 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Sitka, AK | 10 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Seward, AK | 9 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Newport, OR | 8 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | Report |
| Soldotna, AK | 7 | — | Report |
| Monterey, CA | 6 | — | Report |
| Astoria, OR | 6 | — | Report |
| Dana Point, CA | 5 | — | Report |
| Bodega Bay, CA | 3 | — | Report |
| Seattle, WA | 3 | — | Report |
| Gloucester, MA | 2 | — | Report |
| Portsmouth, NH | 2 | — | Report |
| San Diego, CA | 2 | — | Report |
| Portland, ME | 1 | — | Report |
Counts are captains who list halibut, as of October 2026. Months come from the state wildlife agency or local captains’ published calendars where we have one; seasons and limits change, so check current rules.
Before you go
What to know about halibut fishing
Things to know
- The U.S. and Canada manage Pacific halibut jointly through the International Pacific Halibut Commission; regional fishery councils divide the catch in Alaska and off the West Coast. Check ADF&G or your state agency for current sport rules.
- NOAA's 2024 assessment found Pacific halibut not overfished and not subject to overfishing.
- Big halibut are very strong and can damage a small boat; ADF&G advises dispatching large fish alongside before bringing them aboard.
- Around Sitka, ADF&G notes halibut move onto shallower shelves in late spring and catch rates stay high through September before fish move deeper.
- Two other fish share the name: California halibut (Paralichthys californicus), a smaller sand- and mud-bottom flatfish that grows to about 45 inches and is fished mostly in central and southern California, and Atlantic halibut, found mainly in the Gulf of Maine, which NOAA lists as overfished, with strict per-vessel limits in federal waters.
How charters catch them
- Anchoring over known halibut holes with bait so the scent trail draws fish in
- Drifting baits along the bottom
- Baits such as herring, squid, octopus and salmon heads on large circle or J hooks
- Jigging lead-head jigs, plastic squid or flashy spoons just off the bottom
- Heavy rods and reels spooled with 60 to 100 pound line
Related fish
Fish caught on the same kind of trip
Questions
Halibut questions
How big do halibut get?
NOAA says Pacific halibut can reach 8 feet and 500 pounds. The biggest ones are nicknamed barn doors, and they are usually females.
Is California halibut the same fish as Pacific halibut?
No. California halibut is a different, smaller flatfish that lives on sandy and muddy bottoms from Washington to Baja California and grows to about 45 inches.
Can you catch Atlantic halibut?
Yes, but NOAA lists the stock as overfished and limits recreational boats to one fish per trip in federal waters, with a minimum size.
Facts on this page come from official fisheries and wildlife sources, checked October 2026:
Size and bag limits and seasons change and differ by state. Check the state agency before you keep a fish.
For captains and guides
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