Atlantic Halibut

Habitat Distribution

• Native to the Northwest Atlantic; in Canada, meaningful numbers are found off Newfoundland and Labrador, the Grand Banks, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Scotian Shelf.
• A bottom-dwelling fish that lives on or near sand, gravel, and clay substrates — most abundant in the deep channels between the banks on the Scotian Shelf and southern Grand Banks at depths of 200–500 m.
• A unique, isolated population exists in the Saguenay Fjord in Quebec, where the fjord's deep, cold water supports halibut year-round and has become the focus of an active scientific ice-fishing program.
• Prefer cold water in the 3–5°C range, which concentrates them in deep offshore channels and fjords rather than shallow coastal flats.

Key Locations

• Scotian Shelf and its deepwater channels — historically one of the most productive Atlantic halibut grounds in the Northwest Atlantic.
• Grand Banks, Newfoundland — significant halibut numbers remain in the deep channels between the banks, though the stock is well below historical levels.
• Gulf of St. Lawrence — halibut are present throughout, with commercial catches documented across the region.
• Saguenay Fjord, Quebec — home to a unique resident population and the Atlantic Halibut Winter Fishing Project for Scientific Purposes, the only permitted recreational-style fishery for the species in Canada.

Specific Spots

• Deep channels and underwater valleys between offshore banks — the Scotian Shelf's deepwater channels are classic holding areas where halibut sit on or just above the bottom waiting for prey to move through.
• In the Saguenay Fjord, fish concentrate in the deep basin water beneath the fjord's freshwater surface layer, accessible to ice anglers fishing directly over the deepest sections.
• Hard bottom transitions — where sand or gravel meets clay — give halibut a firm surface to lie on while staying positioned near current that delivers food.