California Halibut
Paralichthys californicus

 

Physical Description

  • Large, toothed flatfish.
  • Brown to brownish-black on top/eyed side, can have spots to blend in with habitat.
  • Non-eyed side is usually entirely white, sometimes with some mottling.
  • They can change skin color patterns to camouflage with the habitat.
  • Adult: both eyes on the same side of head.
  • Juveniles: one eye on each side of their head. At around 20-29 days, one eye migrates to the other side of the body so that both eyes are on the same side of the head.

Range

  • From Quillayute River, Washington to Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico.
  • Separate population in upper Gulf of California.
  • Most abundant from central California to Baja California.

Habitat

  • Live in nearshore waters, estuaries, and the inner continental shelf.
  • Most often in 10-100 feet of water, can be found as deep as 600 feet.

Reproduction

  • Spawning from February-September, with most spawning in May.
  • Adults come from deeper waters to spawn in 16-60 feet.
  • Fertilization is external, eggs are deposited on sandy bottom.
  • Larvae and post-larvae float in water column for several months before settling on bottom.

Diet

  • Visual ambush predators – lie flat and very still, partially buried on the seafloor, and then swim out and attack their swimming prey.
  • Larval halibut eat plankton.
  • Adult halibut eat other small fish, like anchovies and sardines.

Predators

  • Bottlenose dolphins, angel sharks, Pacific electric rays, sea lions, and humans fishing for them.

Interesting Facts

  • These are not “true” halibuts. They are not in the Hippoglossus genus with the Pacific halibut and Atlantic halibut, the only two true halibuts.
  • As larval halibuts, they are born with one eye on each side of their head. At around 20-29 days, one eye migrates to the other side of the body so that both eyes are on the same side of the head! Halibut can be right-eyed or left-eyed. 
  • California halibut is one of the most important recreational and commercial species in southern California. Most is consumed here in the US, with very little exported.

Sources: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; California Sea Grant; Aquarium of the Pacific; Ben Frable, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Photo: Tracy Clark