Pacific coast
California halibut
Paralichthys californicus
The flat ambusher of the Pacific sand, a prize for any kayak angler.
What they like
- 2–20 musual depth (they tolerate 1–90 m)
- 12–22 °Cwater temperature they feed in
- clear or coloured waterwater clarity
- sloping edges, shallow flats, channelsbottom they hunt, in order
- a moving tide (rising or falling)tide
- daylightlight
Sand flats near harbour mouths and bays in spring and summer; the edges where sand meets rock or eelgrass.
Season by region
Peak months, shaded. Outside them the species may still be around, just less reliably.
Bait and technique
Methods: spinning / casting, bait.
Bait and lures: Live anchovies, sardines or smelt on a dropper loop; swimbaits and hard baits dragged slowly.
Technique: Drift slowly over sand with the bait just off the bottom; bites are soft, give the fish a few seconds.
Rules
California: California: 22 in minimum, 5 per day south of Point Sur (3 north). Verify with CDFW.
Seasons, sizes and bag limits change every year and differ by zone. Check the current regulations before you keep anything.
Preferences are expert estimates from the fisheries literature and angling practice, not measurements at your spot. The likelihoods on the maps are a planning aid, not a catch prediction.