The halibut is the giant of the flatfish family. Our sources do not record it off the Sussex coast. British boat record: confirmed.
Download the halibut fish guide (PDF)2 pages, A4, 206 KB: the facts on this page, the picture and how to fish with us. Free to print.
About the halibut
The halibut is the giant of the flatfish family. It is a huge, slim, diamond-shaped fish with both eyes on the right side, dark brown to green on top and pale underneath, with a slightly forked tail. It lives in cold, deep water, with adults at 50 metres or more over sand, gravel or clay, mainly in the northern North Sea and the north Atlantic. It is not a Sussex fish in any practical sense. Size is the headline. British Sea Fishing gives no typical weight for a UK catch, but the species can pass 700 lb, and Wikipedia says males average 10 to 15 kg. On the south coast, then, the halibut is a fish to know about rather than one to plan a trip around. Most UK anglers who do fish for one go by boat, using pirks, lures and livebait. It is a rare catch, and British Sea Fishing says the IUCN lists the Atlantic halibut as Endangered, though Wikipedia is not consistent on that. So if one ever does turn up on the end of a line, the kind thing is a careful, quick release.
On the boat
Most UK anglers who fish for halibut do so from a boat, using pirks, lures and livebait, according to British Sea Fishing. The record gives no months for Britain or for Sussex, so we cannot say when they are best sought. They live at 50 metres or deeper over sand, gravel or clay, mainly in the northern North Sea and north Atlantic, so a trip from Brighton is not where this fish is found.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 234 lb 0 oz
- Where
- Dunnet Head, off Scrabster, Scotland
- When
- 1979
- Angler
- C Booth
Confirmed British boat-caught record: C Booth caught a halibut of 234 lb 0 oz at Dunnet Head, off Scrabster, Scotland, in 1979. That is the entry on the official British Record Fish Committee list for June 2026. The list gives the year only, not the full date.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
The IUCN lists the Atlantic halibut as Endangered, according to British Sea Fishing, although Wikipedia is inconsistent on this. It is a rare catch, so release it carefully. Our record gives no landing size or eating advice. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
Atlantic halibut can pass 700 lb, according to British Sea Fishing, and Wikipedia says males average 10 to 15 kg. The British boat record is 234 lb.
Questions about the halibut
What is the British boat-caught record for halibut?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: C Booth caught a halibut of 234 lb 0 oz at Dunnet Head, off Scrabster, Scotland, in 1979. That is the entry on the official British Record Fish Committee list for June 2026. The list gives the year only, not the full date.
Is halibut caught off the Sussex coast?
Not according to the sources behind this guide.
When is the best time to catch halibut?
Our sources do not give months for the halibut, for Sussex or for the rest of Britain.
How big does a halibut get?
Can pass 700 lb; Wikipedia says males average 10-15 kg. British Sea Fishing gives no typical UK weight.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Atlantic halibut: en.wikipedia.org
- British Sea Fishing: Halibut: britishseafishing.co.uk
- BRFC sea fish listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
Picture: Cephas, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
