RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF PREY ITEMS TO CALIFORNIA HALIBUT

The relative importance of prey items in the diet of California halibu t, Paralichthys californicus, was determined from 1,397 stomachs taken from fish ranging from 159 to 1055 mm total length (TL), Northern anc hovy, Engraulis mordax, and mysids were the most important taxa in hal ibut < 300 mm TL. Halibut greater than or equal to 300 mm TL were pred ominately piscivores, feeding on Pacific sardine, Sardinops sagax; nor thern anchovy; and white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus.