Halibut or Flounder?

[fehays]

Hello,

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

What's this?
9933

[Deamon]

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

[GR6RR]

looks like jail bait too

[Siebler]

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

[Deamon]

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...

[fehays]

Thanks for the info.

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

[fehays]

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

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

[silentsmell]

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

[Fiskadoro]

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

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.

[Mainline]

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



9934

[fehays]

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.

Yes. It was let go.

[jorluivil]

its a halounder

[Saba Slayer]

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/bwegallery/data/500/thumbs/IMG_10391.jpg (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/showphoto.php/photo/6930)

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/bwegallery/data/500/thumbs/IMG_1075.JPG (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/showphoto.php/photo/6933)

This is some Sand Dabs, notice the straight line and the flat edge of the tail.
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/500/thumbs/IMG_2129.jpg (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/showphoto.php/photo/6931)

Good Luck
Jim / Saba Slayer