Other Fish in the Sea

[TCS]

I decided to give tail chasing a break for a day and fish the bottom instead. Got a nice rockfish, four juvinile halibut and a little octopus. Released the halibut and octopus carefully to grow up and fight another day. After seeing Chris' post I think I'll go back after the yellowtail before they leave town.

Like Chris, being out of work is a bitch, but fishing and surfing are a pretty nice way to balance it out.

I have a question about the halibut: would the bigger halibut be right around where the little ones were? Or deeper? Shallower?

Wouldn't mind a nice keeper halibut!

Thanks, Tom

[Whizz Bang]

I am no expert by any means, but from other posts and the articles I have read, try to think of them as a flock of various sized birds. Birds and fish have wings and fins and they will move on you. The important thing is that you have located their spot for now, and most importantly, their depth. Now they may move like any flock from day to day, however, there is some reason they were in that area and it deserves a little attention via C rig, bounce ball.....whatever. If the area remains short or fishless...move on and focus extra attention on that depth.... This is all internet knowledge so please treat it as such.

Best of luck to you.

Eric

[Iceman]

I have a question about the halibut: would the bigger halibut be right around where the little ones were?

smaller males surround the big female especially around spawning.

[Whizz Bang]

And again I learn something new.

[Dennis]

four juvinile halibut
Sure they weren't sand dabs... Anyway thanks for the report.

[steveooo]

Sure they weren't sand dabs... Anyway thanks for the report.


X2

Did they look like this?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/bigsteveorr/P9120056.jpg

[TCS]

How do you differentiate that from a little halibut?

[steveooo]

http://www.oceanhunters.com/Fish%20identification%20chart/mspcont8.html

[Gino]

What Iceman said.

Halibut will spawn all year long, but typically during the spring. Bigger Halibuts will spawn again during the fall but typically stay in deeper water, than they would during spring.

This time of year, work the outside of structure.

[Zed]

http://www.oceanhunters.com/Fish%20identification%20chart/mspcont8.html
Don't forget the C-O sole (http://ladiving.smugmug.com/FieldGuide/Bottom-Dwelling-Fish/5562715_jpRzs/1/347882132_5vJD5/Medium). Got one of these off Dana Point.

C-O description:
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=FI0148

[Dennis]

Yup, caught this guy west of the Scripps Pier..
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11/bohloe1/pic4025.jpg

[deepdvr]

I'm not the expert but from my experience fishing the bay for butts, usually they hang around in packs. I've caught 15" ones in the same spot as 28" ers. If the halibuts bottom side has sand or mud attached to it, its been in that location awhile and there are certainly more there. A really clean/white bottom means its been cruising around.

The high arch on the lateral line around the head/gill plate is a dead giveaway in identifying the butt.