Most flatfish are generally either right-eyed or left-eyed dominant, but the California halibut is unusual in having a roughly even number of each type.

The legal catch limit that applies to all commercial and recreational halibut fisheries is 22 inches and around 4 pounds , and this growth takes them about 3 to 5 years to reach.

They are known to change color and pattern to mimic substrates,[7] serving as incredible camouflage into benthic mud, gravel, and sand.

While the Pacific halibut has a similar flat body shape, it is generally larger and can reach 300 pounds (140 kg), and can be distinguished by its slightly different coloration and the position of the eyes.

They lie camouflaged in sediment and will swim up off the seabed to feed on schooling fish and invertebrates such as northern anchovy and market squid.

However, during juvenile stages, halibut have more predators and are likely eaten by a wide variety of species such as sharks and rays, osprey, cormorants, and terns, and marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins.

[5] Like other flatfish, California halibut undergo a unique metamorphosis during their early life stages, transforming from symmetric larvae to asymmetric juveniles.

[6] Initially, as larvae, they inhabit the water column, but as they metamorphose, they develop an eye on one side of their head and become bottom-dwelling flatfish.

These halibut are broadcast spawners with high fecundity, meaning they produce thousands of offspring in each spawning cycle.

The spawning season’s peak varies by latitude, occurring earliest in Mexican waters and progressing northward through southern and central California.

[10] Together, they aim to establish the biological groundwork needed to advance the aquaculture of this species, focusing on both juvenile production for stock enhancement and the cultivation of market-sized individuals.

Halibut is rarely frozen, as freezing negatively affects its texture, which contributes to the artisanal nature of this fishery and keeps much of the product local within California.