Halibut or Flounder?
 

Hello,

Noob fisherman question for you experts. How do you tell the difference between a flounder and a Halibut?

What's this?
Attachment 9933

100% Calif Halibut. Flounders have a very small mouth no teeth...end of your pinkie size in diameter unless very large...

looks like jail bait too

We dont have flounder in SoCal, probably easiest way to tell difference.

Ummm...SD Bay's got a Flounder...they LOVE Ghost Shrimp. Used to catch a bunch off Shelter Island Pier way back when. Called them Starry Flounder. Small mouth, gut hooked every time...

Thanks for the info.

FYI, this particular fish was thrown back. Err on the side of caution. Definitely not 22"

I also ran into this link recently if anyone is interested:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mspcont8.asp

Ya I catch flounders when I fish with ghost shrimp in the bay. Little suction mouths and diamond shaped.

Starry flounders have small mouths, arrowtooth flounders, and petrole soles have larger mouths and I have caught both of them local in SMB.

No doubt about the fish being a halibut. Mottled brown, white spots, looks to be about 18 inches, hope he let it go.

I`ve caught what I thought were called diamond turbot in sd bay, i guess they
are really called starry flounder?



Attachment 9934

Yes. It was let go.

its a halounder

Halibut
 

Halibut have teeth...a different tail shape...and the line down the middle of the fish (both on the brown side and the white side) has a distinct hook (or curve) up towards the top; the sand dab, sole, flounder or turbot all have a straight line from head to tail.
The warden checked all three (teeth, tail and line) last time I brought a load of Sand Dabs in...and he checked every one of the fish and I had about 30 of em'!
This is a Halibut...notice the curved line near the upper fin...
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall.../IMG_10391.jpg

This is a shot of a Halibut tail...notice the curves as opposed to the flat edge of the other bottom fish...
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...s/IMG_1075.JPG

This is some Sand Dabs, notice the straight line and the flat edge of the tail.
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...s/IMG_2129.jpg

Good Luck
Jim / Saba Slayer