Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis

1 of 2worth the trip today

Best right now at Sitka, Alaska. Water is inside the 37–55° range Pacific halibut like at 2 of the 2 spots with a live reading.

Go 0Worth the trip 1Marginal 1Sit it out 0Click to zoom in, drag to move, right-click to zoom out

Where Pacific halibut score best right now

Sitka71 now · AK Homer / Kachemak Bay63 now · AK

About Pacific halibut

The giant flatfish of the North Pacific — the premier saltwater quarry from Homer to Sitka, where "barn-door" halibut can exceed 300 lb. Caught on the bottom in deep water with heavy gear and bait, it is managed coast-wide by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, so daily limits and size rules are set annually and differ for guided vs. unguided anglers.

Hippoglossus stenolepis, family Pleuronectidae.

Pacific halibut, spot by spot

All 2 spots with Pacific halibut in season, scored for Pacific halibut, best first.

SitkaSitka Borough, AlaskaPacific halibut

51° water · 5 mph wind · incoming tide

71Worth the trip

Homer / Kachemak BayKenai Peninsula Borough, AlaskaPacific halibut

47° water · 20 mph wind · incoming tide

63Marginal

The water they want

Pacific halibut feed from about 37° to 55°F and best near 45°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 2 of 2 are inside the range.

ideal 45°

37°55°

How they feed

Water37–55°F, best near 45°
TideEither, as long as it moves
MoonEither
DepthUsually 60–600 ft
Active monthsMay–Sep

Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works

Keep or release

Alaska2 a dayUnguided anglers: 2 halibut a day, 4 in possession, no size limit, February 1–December 31; closed in January. Charter (guided) anglers follow separate federal limits set each year by the IPHC and NOAA.Pacific waters · verified Oct 18, 2026 · source · 8 days since checked

Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Pacific halibut are fished at spots in 1 state: Alaska.