Pacific halibut Hooking - Location

Most Pacific halibut caught on circle hooks are hooked in the corner of the jaw. Most of these Pacific halibut are hooked on the white side. This is the result of taking the bait and then swimming up and away. The gangion pulls along the corner of the white-side jaw, and the fish is hooked (or sometimes not). Sometimes Pacific halibut are hooked in the corner of the dark-side jaw. This is the result of the bait being suspended or for some reason not lying on the bottom. When the Pacific halibut takes this hook, it then swims down and away, with the gangion pulling out of the dark-side corner of the jaw, resulting in a dark-side hooking.
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IPHC Staff