HALIBUT, ATLANTIC
The Atlantic Halibut is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. They are demersal fish living on or near sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 50 and 2,000 m (160 and 6,560 ft). The Atlantic Halibut is among the largest teleost (bony) fish in the world. Atlantic Halibut are strong swimmers and are able to migrate long distances. Atlantic Halibut size is not age-specific, but rather tends to follow a cycle related to halibut (and therefore food) abundance.
The Atlantic Halibut is a right-eyed flounder. It is flattened sideways and habitually lies on the left side of its body with both eyes migrating to the right side of its head during development. Its upper surface is a uniformly dark chocolate, olive or slate colour, and can be almost black; the underside is pale. The end of the caudal fin is concave. Young fish are paler with more mottled colouration. It is the largest flatfish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 4.7 m (15 ft) and weights of 320 kg (710 lb). Its lifespan can reach 50 years.
The Atlantic Halibut, like all the flatfish tribe, is normally a ground fish. But it comes to the surface on occasion, and it is a very powerful fish, when hooked. Atlantic Halibut caught in shallow water are very active, usually starting off at great speed when they are hauled up from the bottom, often spinning the dory around in their attempts to escape. You can catch them on clams, crabs, cut bait, jigs, live bait and squid. Fishing methods include bottom bouncing, drift fishing ans saltwater jigging. They are usually found on sand, gravel, or clay, not on soft mud or on rock bottom. They are utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; can be steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked. Atlantic Halibut is a very sporting fish as well as very delicatessen and welcome on the table.
International
The native habitat of the Atlantic Halibut is the temperate and arctic waters of the northern Atlantic, from Labrador and Greenland to Iceland, the Barents Sea and as far south as the Bay of Biscay and Virginia.