The Largest Halibut Ever Caught in Washington was a Sea Giant

Washington State offers a lot of fishing and shell-fishing opportunities. There are many rivers, lakes, ponds, and beaches to fish from. One of the best fish anglers hope to catch is halibut. This large fish is a member of the flounder family. Can you guess the size of the largest halibut ever caught in Washington? It’s a true sea monster and a once-in-a-lifetime catch.

What is the Largest Halibut Ever Caught in Washington?

On September 9, 1989, Vic Stevens caught a 288-pound Pacific halibut in the Swiftsure Bank. This impressive fish weighs more than the average human! Imagine having to use all of your strength to reel in this beast. Although massive, the world record largest halibut is nearly double the size of the Washington record catch.

Where Is Swiftsure Bank on a Map?

The Swiftsure Bank is located between Washington state and British Columbia, Canada. It is where the Salish Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. It can be found beyond the northwest corners of the state.

About Pacific Halibut

There are three fish often called halibut. The one we refer to in this article is the Pacific halibut. Pacific halibut can be hard to catch. Although they aren’t overly shy fish, these massive giants have been known to break fishing rods and strings. Follow along to learn more about these sea giants, including the impressive world record!

Size and Appearance

So, what does a Pacific halibut look like? Pacific halibut are right-eye flounders native to the North Pacific. They are easy to identify from their diamond-shaped bodies. They are long, but not very thick or wide. The Pacific halibut also has a crescent-shaped tail.

These fish range in coloration, although they are usually dark brown or grey and blend into the ocean floor. Pacific halibut also have a lighter underside, usually white or beige. They swim sideways, which helps them hide from predators and hunt for prey. A Pacific halibut’s eyes are on the upper side of its body. They are also relatively smooth fish with small scales.

Although their appearance is striking, their size is what truly impresses anglers. Pacific halibut are large fish. They can easily reach up to 400 pounds. Unconfirmed records have found Pacific halibut weighing over 500 pounds. Pacific halibut are also long. Some records indicate they can reach over 8 feet long.

Distribution and Habitat

These large fish are abundant, especially in Alaskan waters. Pacific halibut are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. You can find them in coastal waters from Santa Barbara, California to Nome, Alaska. These popular fish are powerful swimmers. As adults, you can find them in deep water. However, young Pacific halibut live in shallow water. These fish migrate during spawning. Pacific halibut live in waters with temperatures ranging from 37.4 to 46.4 °F.

Diet

Pacific halibut are incredible swimmers. They use their strength, size, and unique coloration to hunt. Common Pacific halibut prey include herring, salmon, crabs, cod, shrimp, and pollock.

Predators

Pacific halibut have few predators. There aren’t many fish large enough to try and eat it. However, it’s sometimes hunted by sharks, sea lions, and killer whales. To avoid predators, Pacific halibut swim with their darker side pointing up, which helps them blend in seamlessly with the ocean floor.

The Largest Halibut Ever Caught in the World

The record for the largest Pacific halibut ever caught in the world is tricky. Although there have been larger reports, the world record Pacific halibut weighed 459 pounds. In 1996, Jack Tragis caught this massive fish in Dutch Harbor. In the same area though, Jack McGuire caught a 482-pound halibut. He harpooned this fish. Although it was larger than the world record, the catching method is banned by the International Game Fish Association. In other words, there might be even larger Pacific halibut in the ocean, ready to be discovered.

Other Saltwater Fish in Washington

The state record for the largest Pacific halibut caught in Washington has remained the same for over two decades. This isn’t the only impressive saltwater fish record though in the state. Follow along to discover other saltwater fish you can find in the state and the record for each!

Pacific Cod

The first fish on our list is the Pacific cod. These bottom-dwelling fish are members of the family Gadidae. They’ve been observed at depths up to 3,000 feet. Pacific cod are also known by other names including greyfish and grey cod. They are easy to confuse for Atlantic cod as they have a similar appearance. Pacific cod have long cat-like whiskers and brown, grey, and white skin. You can find these fish from the Yellow Sea to as south and far as Los Angeles, California. Pacific cod are important fish for commercial fishing. Although not as large as Pacific halibut, Pacific cod can grow up to 6 feet long. They also weigh around 28 pounds. 

The record for the largest Pacific cod caught in Washington has been held since 1984. On March 6, 1984, Ralph Bay caught a 19.63-pound Pacific Codfish in Ediz Hook.

Striped Marlin

Another large saltwater fish you can find in Washington is the striped marlin. These fast and large fish have a very wide native range. They are highly migratory fish and strong swimmers. Striped marlins are especially common in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They live for about 20 years. Striped marlins are very long and heavy. They can reach up to 12 feet long and weigh between 250 to 450 pounds. Striped marlin are long fish with small teeth and rows of blue stripes on their bodies. Adult marlin have few predators. They are sometimes hunted by sharks and other large marine mammals. Striped marlin also have a long bill which they use to hunt for prey like fish and squid. They also swipe their long bill to defend themselves against predators. 

The largest striped marlin caught in Washington State weighed 134 pounds. Although striped marlin can weigh about 250 pounds, this is still quite the catch! Phil Wolff caught this heavy marlin in 2005 in Westport.

Kelp Greenling

Next on our list is the kelp greenling. These fish are small, vibrant, and eye-catching. Kelp greenling fish are members of the family Hexagrammidae. They are abundant and listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. Kelp greenlings live in rocky coastal areas or sandy bottoms in the eastern Pacific Ocean. These stunning fish vary in size and coloration depending on their gender. Kelp greenlings are small, rarely weighing over 4 pounds. The largest kelp greenling fish recorded measured 24 inches long, but this is uncommon. Male kelp greenlings are grey to brown and have blue dots throughout their bodies. They also have 21 or 22 spines in their first dorsal fin. Females have a slightly different appearance. Female kelp greenlings are also grey to brown, but they have orange rust-like spots throughout their bodies.

The largest kelp greenling ever caught in Washington weighed 4.42 pounds, which is almost as large as the world record of 4.6 pounds. Danita Rixen caught this fish on September 19, 1999, in Sucia Island, San Juan County.

Starry Flounder

Last but not least is the starry flounder. This lovely flounder also lives off the coast of Washington State. The starry flounder is a small flatfish native to the North Pacific. This flounder has many names including the grindstone, emery wheel, and long-nosed flounder. Starry flounders are black and white with orange markings. They are also covered in tiny star-shaped plates. These rough small fish can grow up to 36 inches long. They’ve been recorded weighing as much as 19.8 pounds. Most starry flounders though only reach 12 to 14 inches and can weigh as little as 1 to 4 pounds.

The largest starry flounder recorded in Washington state weighed 9.5 pounds. Robert Walton caught this flounder in 2009 in Pillar Point.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Han Maomin/Shutterstock.com