A Question For The Halibut Wisperers - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

YakDout · 06-05-2018, 04:40 AM

I’ve caught most of my halibut in ripping current. Big tide swings. This includes getting them in the surf. I had one morning throwing a lucky craft flash minnow that yielded 3 legals in 30 minutes. Two out of three fish jumped completely out of the water when they smashed my jerkbait. I was fishing a major rip current off the beach and the water was cruising. Have had similar experiences on major tide swings in kayaks and boats. The like the fast moving water for sure.

Mr. NiceGuy · 06-05-2018, 05:34 AM

References from surfing around. May or may not be relevant. Food for thought:

"... dragging the front edge of a reef. The front edge of a reef is determined by the current and which every edge of the reef the current touches first is considered the front edge. Often while fishing a reef for calico bass, barracuda, sand bass etc prime halibut habitat located near by. Halibut like to hang out in the transition zone between sandy bottom and reef."

From Newport Landing - Halibut Tips
http://www.newportlanding.com/halibutfishing.html

"... watch for underwater hydraulic relief zones. Humps, bumps, depressions, valleys, and rock piles."

From GoFish Magazine - Halibut Tips
http://www.halibut.net/HalibutTipSheet.htm

Generally speaking, I like exploring the edges of lots of things, including the shoulders of drop-offs. Personally, I've done better on the shoulder of the channel in SD Bay than I have the bottom of the channel. I've heard the opposite from other halibut enthusiasts who like fishing the bottom of the channel.)

Saba Slayer · 06-05-2018, 06:09 AM

For me it's all about "time on the water"...you can study the water flow and moon charts and be as scientific as you want...but if you don't get out there until you think it's the "perfect time" you'll miss a lot of bites...go when you can...be prepared and hope you get lucky!

But just for the record...I like the upswing of the tide.

Baja_Traveler · 06-05-2018, 06:21 AM

I've always been under the impression that the better halibut grounds are further West off Zuniga - out by the whistler buoy. Area "G" that you don't show...

goldenglory18 · 06-05-2018, 08:43 AM

I'm as far away from being an expert as anyone here, but this is what I've targeted when Hali specific fishing and where I've exactly found them...

"...Halibut like to hang out in the transition zone between sandy bottom and reef."

Mr. NiceGuy · 06-05-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

I've always been under the impression that the better halibut grounds are further West off Zuniga - out by the whistler buoy. Area "G" that you don't show...

Are you referring to the last channel buoy on the west side of the main dredged channel entering the bay (Area I) at about 1-1.5 miles off the end of Zuniga Point, or the buoy about 4.5-5 miles off the end of Point Loma at the edge of the map (Area G)? The buoy at G whistles, and I think it's officially "Buoy #1" but that's a long damn way in a kayak, especially if the winds and currents turn against us. It can get rough out there.

For reference, each longitude/latitude square is roughly 1.5 miles. The beginning of the dredged channel is at Channel Buoys 5 & 6. The tip of Zuniga jetty lines up with Channel Buoys 7 & 8.

From: Mr. NiceGuy's pin-board office wall of brainstorming things-to-do and fishing zones to explore

Mr. NiceGuy · 06-05-2018, 10:53 AM

For those of you who want to ask, it's here:

Baja_Traveler · 06-05-2018, 11:55 AM

I've always peddled out to the first buoy 1.5 miles off the end of the jetty to start my drift. Prevailing wind will push me straight across the flats towards the Hotel Del. Then I'll peddle outside the surf line back north and work the outer structure of the jetty on my way back in. When there is no wind, or it is the wrong direction I slowly peddle more towards the military base, either bounce balling a hootchie, dragging a Carolina rigged curly tail or rarely (because I'm a sadist and refuse to fish live bait mostly), dropper looping a mackerel I sabiki'd off Ballast Point (mackerel always seem to be there).
Sometimes if the tide and swell is right I can cut through the jetty in the center where the swell washes over it - just time the incoming swell, get up a head of steam, then hold the Mirage fins up against the hull when I pass over the rocks 1-2 feet under me. Saves about a mile of peddling after a long day, but shouldn't be attempted on larger swell days...

That little cove just above the "32" on the inside of Point Loma on the MPA map is also a great spot to fly fish for calicos. Always had good success in there...

06-05-2018, 05:34 AM	#2
Mr. NiceGuy Manic for Life Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 839	References from surfing around. May or may not be relevant. Food for thought: "... dragging the front edge of a reef. The front edge of a reef is determined by the current and which every edge of the reef the current touches first is considered the front edge. Often while fishing a reef for calico bass, barracuda, sand bass etc prime halibut habitat located near by. Halibut like to hang out in the transition zone between sandy bottom and reef." From Newport Landing - Halibut Tips http://www.newportlanding.com/halibutfishing.html "... watch for underwater hydraulic relief zones. Humps, bumps, depressions, valleys, and rock piles." From GoFish Magazine - Halibut Tips http://www.halibut.net/HalibutTipSheet.htm Generally speaking, I like exploring the edges of lots of things, including the shoulders of drop-offs. Personally, I've done better on the shoulder of the channel in SD Bay than I have the bottom of the channel. I've heard the opposite from other halibut enthusiasts who like fishing the bottom of the channel.) __________________ Another ho-hum day in Paradise Last edited by Mr. NiceGuy; 06-05-2018 at 06:20 AM.

06-05-2018, 06:09 AM	#3
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,872	Time on the water For me it's all about "time on the water"...you can study the water flow and moon charts and be as scientific as you want...but if you don't get out there until you think it's the "perfect time" you'll miss a lot of bites...go when you can...be prepared and hope you get lucky! But just for the record...I like the upswing of the tide. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

06-05-2018, 10:53 AM	#7
Mr. NiceGuy Manic for Life Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 839	For those of you who want to ask, it's here: __________________ Another ho-hum day in Paradise

06-05-2018, 04:40 AM	#1
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	I’ve caught most of my halibut in ripping current. Big tide swings. This includes getting them in the surf. I had one morning throwing a lucky craft flash minnow that yielded 3 legals in 30 minutes. Two out of three fish jumped completely out of the water when they smashed my jerkbait. I was fishing a major rip current off the beach and the water was cruising. Have had similar experiences on major tide swings in kayaks and boats. The like the fast moving water for sure.

06-05-2018, 06:21 AM	#4
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	I've always been under the impression that the better halibut grounds are further West off Zuniga - out by the whistler buoy. Area "G" that you don't show...

06-05-2018, 08:43 AM	#5
goldenglory18 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Seattle Area Posts: 861	I'm as far away from being an expert as anyone here, but this is what I've targeted when Hali specific fishing and where I've exactly found them... "...Halibut like to hang out in the transition zone between sandy bottom and reef."

06-05-2018, 11:55 AM	#8
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	I've always peddled out to the first buoy 1.5 miles off the end of the jetty to start my drift. Prevailing wind will push me straight across the flats towards the Hotel Del. Then I'll peddle outside the surf line back north and work the outer structure of the jetty on my way back in. When there is no wind, or it is the wrong direction I slowly peddle more towards the military base, either bounce balling a hootchie, dragging a Carolina rigged curly tail or rarely (because I'm a sadist and refuse to fish live bait mostly), dropper looping a mackerel I sabiki'd off Ballast Point (mackerel always seem to be there). Sometimes if the tide and swell is right I can cut through the jetty in the center where the swell washes over it - just time the incoming swell, get up a head of steam, then hold the Mirage fins up against the hull when I pass over the rocks 1-2 feet under me. Saves about a mile of peddling after a long day, but shouldn't be attempted on larger swell days... That little cove just above the "32" on the inside of Point Loma on the MPA map is also a great spot to fly fish for calicos. Always had good success in there...