Tag Recapture!! GFR5996 Pacific Halibut, Named “Bowser”
The Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) named “Bowser” (Tag ID: GFR5996) was originally tagged & released by Captain Will Gentry on August 19th, 2015 while fishing aboard the charter boat Predator from our Official Research Center, Grande Alaska Lodge/J-Dock Sportfishing (http://www.sewardakfishing.com/) out of Seward, Alaska, USA. The Pacific Halibut was measured to be 36 inches (91.44 cm) total length and had an approximate weight of 28 pounds.
The Pacific Halibut was recaptured 276 days later on May 20th, 2016 by angler Mackenzie Bodnar, while fishing with the Captain Will Gentry and mates Matt Smith and Chase Reed again aboard the charter boat Predator from the Grande Alaska Lodge/J-Dock Sportfishing. The recapture location was approximately 9.25 miles (14.9 km) northwest of the original tag location. During that 276-day time period, the Pacific Halibut most likely stayed in the waters just south of Montague Island where it prefers to stay either on the the bottom over mud, sand, or gravel banks.
North Pacific Halibut, a member of the Flounder Family of fish, are unique due to the biological characteristic that only the Flounder Family has. When they are first hatched from the egg they swim upright and have one eye on each side of their head like all other species of fish. However, at about five weeks of age and one inch in length, one eye “migrates” over the top of the head so that both eyes are on the same side of its body. At this time the juvenile Halibut “lays over” on its’ side with both eyes on the upward or top side. As the fish grows the underside becomes white, the top side becomes a mottled darker variation of colors resembling the sea bottom, and their body flattens into an oval shape: thus the nickname “Flatfish”.
The Predator charter boat crew will receive some Gray FishTag gear for their tagging efforts. Captain Will Gentr will receive a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses, a Tag & Recovery Certificate, and Gray FishTag gear for reporting the tag recovery.
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