Halibut rig question - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

GregAndrew · 02-05-2014, 08:28 AM

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?

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02-05-2014, 08:28 AM	#14
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	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?