Atlantic halibut

The biggest flatfish in the Atlantic: a thick, diamond-shaped right-eyed flatfish, dark olive-brown to almost black on top and white below, with a big mouth full of sharp teeth and a curved lateral line over the pectoral fin.

20–100 lb.

Over 8 ft and over 400 lb; anglers in northern Norway have landed fish over 450 lb.

Cod, haddock, herring, sand eels, squid and crabs.

An active predator that often leaves the bottom to chase fish; very powerful and slow-growing.

Found from Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Arctic & North Atlantic Islands, United Kingdom & Ireland, Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan, Newfoundland & Gaspé, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & PEI, New Hampshire & Maine, Rhode Island & Massachusetts, Quebec and Hudson Bay & Labrador. Cold waters from Norway, Iceland, the Faroes and Greenland to northern Scotland, and from Labrador to the Gulf of Maine.

Cold waters from Norway, Iceland, the Faroes and Greenland to northern Scotland, and from Labrador to the Gulf of Maine.

50–1,000 ft.

On or near the bottom; shallow sandy bays in summer in northern Norway.

Summer (May–September) in northern Norway and Iceland.

Daylight (the Arctic summer has 24-hour light).

Moving tide over sandy banks and edges.

Calm days.

Whole herring, mackerel or coalfish.

Big soft shads (8–12 in) on heavy jig heads, and pirks.

30–50 lb class boat rod with a strong reel.

6/0–10/0 hooks.

50–80 lb braid.

100–150 lb mono.

Drift sandy bays and edges and bounce a big soft shad slowly along the bottom; when a halibut takes, let it make its first runs before lifting.

Never bring a big, green halibut aboard: they can break legs and boats. Keep it in the water until it's tired, and release the big breeding fish.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Superb: thick, firm, white and sweet. Bake, poach or grill steaks.

Big halibut thrash violently. Keep fish over about 50 lb in the water.

Halibut were badly overfished and are heavily managed. In Norway, every halibut over 2 m (6½ ft) must be released, there is a minimum size and a seasonal protection period in winter and spring, and many lodges ask guests to release big fish. U.S. and Canadian waters have strict limits. Check local rules. Sea fishing is free for visitors in Norway (with a limit on how much fish you can take home) and mostly free in Sweden and Denmark's sea waters with a Danish fishing license; Iceland, Greenland and the Faroes have their own rules, and every lake and river needs a local permit.

Big halibut are breeding females decades old. Keep a small one to eat.