Halibut Help San Diego/Mission Bay - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

GregAndrew · 04-05-2013, 08:10 PM

There are lots of opinions on things like rigs and when to fish where. Most of the rigs are tailored to the style and preference of the users. Most of them are successful if fished properly. Use a trap hook, I prefer a single Octopus type. Keep moving, and cover as much ground as you can because generally they are ambush predators. Try to keep your pace consistent so you will notice more or less drag on your rod tips (much of the time they coast along with you after they grab your bait). If you notice this, lift the rod to feel for weight. As soon as you feel weight, set the hook. Even if you pull the bait from their mouth, they generally come back after it. When you hook up, keep pressure on and the rod bent (because, like Large Mouth Bass, they like to shake a loose hook free). Don't horse the fish up, you will find lots of barely hooked fish cause of all the hard spots in their heads. Whatever else you do, gaff the fish in the belly. Then continue to support the weight of the fish by the gaff until you have it secured.

04-05-2013, 08:10 PM	#6
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	There are lots of opinions on things like rigs and when to fish where. Most of the rigs are tailored to the style and preference of the users. Most of them are successful if fished properly. Use a trap hook, I prefer a single Octopus type. Keep moving, and cover as much ground as you can because generally they are ambush predators. Try to keep your pace consistent so you will notice more or less drag on your rod tips (much of the time they coast along with you after they grab your bait). If you notice this, lift the rod to feel for weight. As soon as you feel weight, set the hook. Even if you pull the bait from their mouth, they generally come back after it. When you hook up, keep pressure on and the rod bent (because, like Large Mouth Bass, they like to shake a loose hook free). Don't horse the fish up, you will find lots of barely hooked fish cause of all the hard spots in their heads. Whatever else you do, gaff the fish in the belly. Then continue to support the weight of the fish by the gaff until you have it secured.