Doing some research on my upcoming Alaskan fishing trip in early June, I found the following information.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=halibut.printerfriendly

To best catch halibut, fisherman often send bundles of fish chum to the bottom (100 to 300 ft) after anchoring. Then fish around the ball of chum. The scent will draw halibut from long distances. Some chum made up with more oily scent makes a difference.

Experienced halibut sport fisherman prefer eating smaller halibut up to 50 pounds and let the larger ones (usually female) go. The thicker older larger “barn door” fish are harder to cook thru correctly and can dry out the fish during cooking. We shall see…

That said, If I hook an 80 lb. halibut, am I going to throw it back? Probably not. But the rules state one of the two halibut per day you can keep must be smaller than 32 inches thus keeping sizes and gender under some measure of harvest control.

Male halibut are much smaller usually less than 3 feet in length. Large Females can spawn upwards of seven million eggs. 

Fun Halibut Facts

• Size
  Length to over 8 feet, weight to over 500 lb
• Lifespan
  55 years (males and females)
• Distribution/Range
  California to the Bering Sea, west to the Sea of Japan
• Remarks
  Both eyes on the right (upper side), with rare exceptions
• Other Names
  Large halibut are called “barn doors,” small halibut are “chickens.”

Author Note: My strength and upper body, arm and hand exercise routine just finished week one. I can already feel the success. Fore arm and hand strength is terrific for a start. Only two of my Alaska fishing boat trips will be for halibut. The other two focus on salmon and a fly-in for brown bear photography and salmon. 

Good Fishing!