AUGUST DIET OF AGE-0 PACIFIC HALIBUT IN NEARSHORE WATERS OF KODIAK-ISLAND, ALASKA

The objective of this study was to describe the diet of age-0 Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus stenolepis, for the inshore waters of Kodiak Isl and, Alaska during August 1991. Stomach contents were identified from 170 age-0 halibut captured inshore of the eastern and southern coasts of Kodiak Island, and were analyzed in relation to halibut size, locat ion, depth and substrate of capture. One hundred sixty-eight of 170 fi sh had eaten crustaceans, of which the predominant prey taxa were Mysi dacea (34.3%), Cumacea (33.1%), Gammaridea (26.6%) and Caridea (3.9%). In five of six capture locations, mysids and amphipods were predomina nt prey. In the remaining area, Sitkinak Strait, cumaceans were the pr imary food source. At depths less than 10 m, mysids were the predomina nt prey taxa. Gammarid amphipods were of primary importance at depths of 10-30 m. Halibut captured from 30-70 m fed mainly on cumaceans. Cum aceans and gammarid amphipods were consumed by halibut caught on grave l substrate. Fish caught on substrates of sand and mud fed mainly on m ysids and amphipods. Cumaceans were also consumed on sandy substrates. Fish less than or equal to 45 mm fed on cumaceans. An ontogenetically related shift in diet occurred at 46-55 mm TL, at which size the hali but's primary prey began to shift from cumaceans to mysids. Fish of 46 -75 mm consumed increasingly greater proportions of mysids, amphipods and shrimps. The diet of age-0 Pacific halibut along the Kodiak coast during August was related to predator size, and location, depth, and s ubstrate type of capture.