In the Gulf of Alaska, the eggs and larvae drift in a counter clockwise direction along the coast. About 15 days later, the eggs hatch and the larvae drift with deep ocean currents. Female halibut release anywhere from a few thousand to 4 million eggs, depending on the size of the fish. Halibut spawn at depths of 600 to 1,500 feet from November through March.

The Official State Record Halibut is 459 pounds-0 ounces. This makes them a very popular game-fish species with deep-sea fishermen. Their snow-white flesh makes excellent table-fare. Halibut are predatory feeders that eat almost everything that swims in the sea. They can attain a lifespan of over 30 years. The age of an individual fish can be determined by counting the number of growth rings as you would age a tree. They have a button-sized calcified deposit in their head called an Otolith or “Ear Bone” that forms an annual growth ring.

Huge Pacific Halibut, known as a “Barn Door”, can attain a length of over 8 feet and a width of over 5 feet. The males range upward to about 60 pounds and the females range upward to about 600 pounds in weight. They spawn during the winter months in about 1,200 feet of water. The Pacific Halibut, upon becoming a mature spawning adult average about 25 to 30 pounds in weight. As the fish grows, the under side becomes white, the top side becomes a mottled darker variation of colors resembling the sea bottom, and their body flattens into an oval shape: thus the nickname “Flatfish”. At this time the juvenile Halibut “lays over” on its’ side with both eyes on the upward or top side. At about five weeks of age and one inch in length, one eye “migrates” over the top of the head so that both eyes are on the same side of the head. When they are first hatched from the egg they swim upright and have one eye on each side of their head like all other species of fish. The North Pacific Halibut, a member of the Flounder Family of fish, are unique because they have a biological characteristic that only the Flounder Family has. Alaskan Halibut Facts – Everything You Need To Know The Basics Ok, that might be over stating it, but there is some good info here about halibut. Here are a few Alaskan Halibut facts that are sure to blow your mind.

Halibut weight chart