Size of Halibut 



Halibut are the largest of all flatfish and one of the largest species of fish in 

 the world. The largest halibut ever recorded from the northeast Pacific was a 495 

 pound fish caught off Petersburg, Alaska many years ago. A 507-pound halibut was 

 reported taken in the Bay of Datt (Sakhalin Island, USSR). In the Atlantic even 

 larger halibut have been reported, the largest weighing 700 pounds. These large 

 specimens were over 9 feet in length. 



The North American catch of Pacific halibut, causht mostly by setline gear in 

 the regulated fishery, consists of individuals chiefly from 5 to over 200 pounds (Figure 

 15). The average size is between 30 and 35 pounds. 



Figure 15. Female halibut 23 years old — 257 pounds eviscerated heads-on weight. Worth about 



$100.00 at 1970 prices to fishermen. 



Trawl-Caught Halibut 



In the Pacific halibut fishery the retention of halibut taken by net gear is pro- 

 hibited. This is necessary because the mesh size of the net gear used in the com- 

 mercial trawl fishery, while well suited for the capture of the smaller flounders, cod 

 and other bottom species, tends to catch an unduly large number of small and young 

 halibut. Such halibut have not reached their optimum or best harvesting size. In 

 addition, such net gear also fails to adequately crop the larger halibut that should be 

 caught. Because of these characteristics of trawl nets, a loss of yield from the resource 

 would result if halibut were harvested by such gear (Figure 16). 



In the uncontrolled European halibut fishery, the catch now consists of a large 

 proportion of individuals 2 to 4 years of age and under 5 pounds, caught chiefly by 

 trawl net gear designed to catch other species. 



