California halibut

Large flatfish with a big mouth full of sharp teeth; the eyes can be on either side; the lateral line arches high over the pectoral fin. Brown mottled top, white underside.

5–15 lb; fish over 30 lb are called "barn doors."

About 5 ft and 70 lb.

Anchovies, sardines, smelt, small croakers and squid.

Lies flat and buried on sand and mud bottom and ambushes fish that swim over it.

Found from Southern California and Central & Northern California. Sandy bottom in bays, harbors, off beaches and piers from Baja to San Francisco Bay.

Sandy bottom in bays, harbors, off beaches and piers from Baja to San Francisco Bay.

5–60 ft.

On the bottom: 5–60 ft in bays and off beaches.

Spring through fall in the bays and off the beaches; deeper water in winter.

Daylight, especially on the morning tide.

A steady drift on a moving tide.

Light wind for a slow drift; clear water.

Live anchovies, sardines, smelt and small mackerel.

Swimbaits bounced on the bottom and bucktails with a strip.

7 ft medium rod with a conventional or spinning reel.

1/0–3/0 hooks on a Carolina (sliding sinker) rig; swimbaits on 1/2–1 oz heads.

15–30 lb.

20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 3 ft.

Drift a live bait on a Carolina rig over sand next to structure, or slowly bounce a swimbait. When a halibut grabs the bait, give it time to swallow, then reel tight. Always use a net.

Halibut often follow the bait to the surface and let go at the boat — keep the net ready and don't lift the fish's head out of the water.

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.

Fillet like any flatfish: four fillets, then skin them.

One of the best eating fish on the coast: thick white fillets for frying, baking or ceviche.

Sharp teeth — use pliers and a net, not your hands.

California's minimum size is 22 in, with a bag limit that differs north and south of Point Sur. Check CDFW for current rules. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.