AbstractBlood samples were collected from captive Pacific halibut,Hippoglossus stenolepis, at intervals of about six weeks from early December 1986 to late November 1987. Concentrations of plasma androgen and estradiol‐17β were determined by radioimmunoassay. The plasma concentrations of steroid were highest during autumn and winter in halibut that matured during late winter. The concentrations of steroids in samples collected in December were above 2 ng/mL (estradiol) or 1 ng/mL (androgen) in maturing females and below 0.5 ng/mL for both steroids in non‐maturing females. The levels of steroids decreased rapidly about one month before spawning. In a mature male, androgen began to rise in August and November, and reached a peak of 7 ng/mL in early December. One month before spawning, the androgen concentration fell to 0.16 ng/mL. Estradiol concentrations were detectable in the male and varied little during the year. In immature fish, neither androgen nor estradiol changed significantly throughout the year. These results suggest that the concentrations of estradiol or androgen measured in blood samples taken during December may be used to determine the sex and state of maturation of Pacific hal