Halibut rig question

[45user]

Originally Posted by stephenG

If you decide to try Dana point soon I suggest you make a few drifts just off Doheny beach using live bait from the bait barge.

Thanks for the tip!

[alanw]

Watch out for OC waters right now, there's lots of poo out there!

[45user]

Originally Posted by alanw

Watch out for OC waters right now, there's lots of poo out there!

Thanks for the heads up!

[janines.fishtales@cox.net]

So if I want to try a Rapala on the bottom for halibut, what kind do I use, and how do you rig a lure for the bottom? Jorge?

Janine

[GregAndrew]

My personal opinions on your questions are based on my experience, and the fact that I fish a leadered hook(as opposed to Drop Shot or Dropper Loop) .
1) The clearer the water, the more I will lean toward Fluoro and or lighter test (20# min). Most harbors will not matter though.

2) Whichever hooks you can keep from foul hooking the bait, and will stay in the bait. However, I don't use Circle hooks because the fish needs to be swimming away from you to properly set them. My experience is that this will not always happen before the fish loses interest for some reason. I also do not prefer treble hooks for a leadered setup either. I believe they can feel them in their mouth, and picky fish will spit them out if they have the chance to (which a leader can do).

3) Bait is kind of tricky, because it involves keeping track of what is available at the time. If live Squid is around, especially on the bottom, there is nothing more effective. Don't be afraid of doubling or tripling it up either. In the absence of this, I would want either Greenback Macks or large to jumbo Sardines. Next down the list would be Smelt, Spanish Macks or Croaker. Then Lizzard fish, if they are the only bait around, they can be very effective. Generally, live bait of any tier is better than dead bait of the tier above. But, that does not mean to keep checking your bait every 5 minutes (keep it down in the "zone").

4) I believe that Halibut can feel irregularities like Trebble hooks and dragged sinkers, so the less you can use to stay on or just above the bottom the better. I have seen a lot of swallowed baits get spit right back out on video for no other apparent reason. And this only using 2/0 - 3/0 wire hooks and usually 4 - 6oz sinkers.

That said, I know that Tony does very well with an unleadered setup with heavier sinkers and Trebble hooks. So go figure?

[GregAndrew]

I don't fish a bounceball, although my camera setup would be close except for the actual bouncing. But that is only my preferred setup for taking video, not fishing.

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

3) Bait is kind of tricky, because it involves keeping track of what is available at the time. If live Squid is around, especially on the bottom, there is nothing more effective. Don't be afraid of doubling or tripling it up either. In the absence of this, I would want either Greenback Macks or large to jumbo Sardines. Next down the list would be Smelt, Spanish Macks or Croaker. Then Lizzard fish, if they are the only bait around, they can be very effective. Generally, live bait of any tier is better than dead bait of the tier above. But, that does not mean to keep checking your bait every 5 minutes (keep it down in the "zone").

Right on Greg! This should be printed in a book I tell'ya!

There is no #1 bait for all situations. I know the so called "#1 bait" has been printed and talked about before, but if you don't have that squid pinned on, on a squid bite...your not going to catch sH**.

If your starting out trying to catch halibut, best advice I can give is to just to get out there as much as possible. In time you will learn the technique that works best for you, and you will also meet people that will help you on your way. We're all still learning how to catch these things...and will be probably forever, and that's part of the fun.

[jorluivil]

As you can see there is no true 'halibut rig'. Be it artificials vs live bait, torpedos vs bounce balls, j-hooks vs circle hooks or drop shot vs 3-way swivel........they all seem to work. I think the key thing to this rigging question is that you have to go with What you like and What works for you.

[SASQUATCH]

[QUOTE=ful-rac;181354]Right on Greg! This should be printed in a book I tell'ya!

There is no #1 bait for all situations. I know the so called "#1 bait" has been printed and talked about before, but if you don't have that squid pinned on, on a squid bite...your not going to catch sH**.

If your starting out trying to catch halibut, best advice I can give is to just to get out there as much as possible. In time you will learn the technique that works best for you, and you will also meet people that will help you on your way. We're all still learning how to catch these things...and will be probably forever, and that's part of the fun.[/QUOT

A little off topic but I am gonna take a bite outta that sandwich...

[45user]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

My personal opinions on your questions are based on my experience, and the fact that I fish a leadered hook(as opposed to Drop Shot or Dropper Loop) .
1) The clearer the water, the more I will lean toward Fluoro and or lighter test (20# min). Most harbors will not matter though.

2) Whichever hooks you can keep from foul hooking the bait, and will stay in the bait. However, I don't use Circle hooks because the fish needs to be swimming away from you to properly set them. My experience is that this will not always happen before the fish loses interest for some reason. I also do not prefer treble hooks for a leadered setup either. I believe they can feel them in their mouth, and picky fish will spit them out if they have the chance to (which a leader can do).

3) Bait is kind of tricky, because it involves keeping track of what is available at the time. If live Squid is around, especially on the bottom, there is nothing more effective. Don't be afraid of doubling or tripling it up either. In the absence of this, I would want either Greenback Macks or large to jumbo Sardines. Next down the list would be Smelt, Spanish Macks or Croaker. Then Lizzard fish, if they are the only bait around, they can be very effective. Generally, live bait of any tier is better than dead bait of the tier above. But, that does not mean to keep checking your bait every 5 minutes (keep it down in the "zone").

4) I believe that Halibut can feel irregularities like Trebble hooks and dragged sinkers, so the less you can use to stay on or just above the bottom the better. I have seen a lot of swallowed baits get spit right back out on video for no other apparent reason. And this only using 2/0 - 3/0 wire hooks and usually 4 - 6oz sinkers.

That said, I know that Tony does very well with an unleadered setup with heavier sinkers and Trebble hooks. So go figure?

So you're not using trap rig?
Thank you!
45

[William Novotny]

Originally Posted by janines.fishtales@cox.net

So if I want to try a Rapala on the bottom for halibut, what kind do I use, and how do you rig a lure for the bottom? Jorge?

Janine

I assume you can use a trolling setup like you would use for trout just beef it up a bit. Will probably foul up a bit. You will constantly be pulling garbage off your rigging

[driftwood]

Greg is not the most popular guy among kayakers but he has
a boat load of experience. If you have time to listen to the whole
tape your learning curve will be that much more.

http://www.hookup1090.com/uploads/ar...4%20hr%201.mp3

Lets talk hook up.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by janines.fishtales@cox.net

So if I want to try a Rapala on the bottom for halibut, what kind do I use, and how do you rig a lure for the bottom? Jorge?

Janine

A buddy of mine will attach a rubber core sinker to the line to get the crank bait closer to the bottom and then with the bill it will dive deeper. He's been really successful with that.

[Samcro]

This thread has some great information for halibut rigs. I'm curios as to why the torpedo sinkers is preferred over the cannonball sinkers? Does the shape of the sinker affect the presentation of your bait? Thanks for sharing.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by Samcro

This thread has some great information for halibut rigs. I'm curios as to why the torpedo sinkers is preferred over the cannonball sinkers? Does the shape of the sinker affect the presentation of your bait? Thanks for sharing.

Personally I find that the torpedo sinkers don't snag as much, also something I have done is if the weight you are using is not enough, you can connect another weight to the bottom end of the torpedo weight.