Halibut addiction

[YakDout]

Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy

QUESTION TO EVERYONE: If you don't have live bait, what are your favorite backups for targeting halibut?

I've tried Luckycraft's, hard plastic artificial trouts, soft plastic swim baits, curly tails, chrome diamond jigs, big weighted plastic glowing rubber squids with LED lights, hoochie skirts, and random other things. I don't have any favorite backups to live bait.

For me, halibut can be a by-catch when not expected. When targeting halibut in SD Bay, it's not so easy to avoid collateral damage to bass that suck down the trap hook

For artificial I like a drop shot with a small torpedo weight. 1-2 oz and a 4” MC slug. I use a Vmc inline hook and I tie two separate knots to the eye of the hook instead of the Palomar knot with a long tag for your weight. The inline hook with two knots keeps the bait from rolling as opposed to the palomar knot where you have the plastic rolling on the side and looking un natural. This is especially successful in the surf and I do very well with it. My go to color for halibut is white with a second choice in a smelt pattern. The action on this setup is incredible with even a little current.

I think the biggest key to halibut fishing is finding their depth. If I’m on my yak, in open ocean, ill start shallow because it’s a closer paddle, and make multiple drifts no longer than 30 minutes at that depth then work my way deeper about 20-40 feet at a time. Learning the behavior and knowing when they come shallow to spawn is an invaluable lesson.

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by YakDout

I think the biggest key to halibut fishing is finding their depth. If I’m on my yak, in open ocean, ill start shallow because it’s a closer paddle, and make multiple drifts no longer than 30 minutes at that depth then work my way deeper about 20-40 feet at a time. Learning the behavior and knowing when they come shallow to spawn is an invaluable lesson.

I agree - once I find a depth that draws a bite I mark it, and repeat the drift over that area several times.

I will tell you I have no problem fishing 20 lb line, I will also put out a 15 lb rig to "test an area"
- If there is a fish in the area - you would think 15 lb test will coax her to bite.

[GregAndrew]

Billy, Contrary to a lot of published material, Halibut will travel high and far for a bait making the right moves. You can fish pretty high off the bottom for Halibut if the visibility is good. Unfortunately most people do not know when the visibility is good near the bottom. Even when it looks great at the surface, it is probably not so good on the bottom. Of course the opposite can also be true . I have seen Red Tide days, where the bottom was very clear. Most harbors are going to be pretty low visibility nearly all of the time.

Most baits are going to take full advantage of both the sinker and hook leaders too. They use most of the length to stay above the bottom. Generally, longer hook leaders should be combined with shorter sinker leaders. Keeping your bait in the "Zone" means keeping it where a target fish is likely to see your actively struggling bait. And that is not just the fish directly below it, but the ones off to the sides. The lower you keep it, the better ground coverage you get on the average day. Although the tradeoff is that you pick up a lot more snags and debris that way.


Overall, I would guesstimate the average visibility of our inshore fishing here in SoCal to be about 5-6'. Generally, the deeper you go (and further from surf zone), the better the visibility. Obviously other factors will effect the visibility like runoff, current, surge etc. The later (in the morning) you go, the better the light you will get reflecting off your bait (extending your range). Even though you can catch the fish away from the bottom, most anglers are going to bet on the conditions favoring lower presentation.


All that being said, the visibility has been pretty darn good all over for several weeks now And a low presentation can be a bad thing for some of the nicer fish to bycatch

[Billy V]

Thanks Greg.
All my fish were in 90 and 100 ft of water this month off Mission.

- There is something else I might mention... I ran into some bycatch...eating macks.
Everything you need to know is in this pic. I'm sure there is more in La Jolla proper.

[Ohiostreetz]

[Iceman]

Gulp Saltwater Curly Tailed grub. Nuclear Chicken. Boom!

I have witnessed Ross get a few of those

[bender0240]

Billy, out of curiosity, what do you see as the advantage of a 3-way swivel rig over a sliding rig like a Carolina or Fish Finder Rig?

It would seem to me the sliding rig would give more sensitivity to the bite and would let the bait swim a little more freely?

[DanaYakAngler]

I have been using a 3 way swivel with a trap set up lately. Seems 90% of the time the halibut are caught on the trap treble hook. So I see the importance, however it can be a bit much to deal with two hooks sometimes. I was wondering how many of you guys belly hook by the anal fin for the short strikes so common with halibut?

I like the Idea of trying the carolina rig when targeting buts.

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by bender0240

Billy, out of curiosity, what do you see as the advantage of a 3-way swivel rig over a sliding rig like a Carolina or Fish Finder Rig?

It would seem to me the sliding rig would give more sensitivity to the bite and would let the bait swim a little more freely?

It keeps the grass and other stuff off the leader line with the hook -
- and I believe it gives halibut a better chance to see your bait because it elevated slightly higher.

Most of the time I fish with the reel in freespool with my thumb on the spool feeling for a bite. If I feel that characteristic (thump thump) I will click it into gear and try to set the hook. (I don't let them run, or wait to eat it like I would fish for yellowtail.)

- over the years I have noticed big/or medium big halibut either swallow the bait completely on the strike, Or bite it, then swallow it down.
- I have noticed they have kind of a distinct "thump thump" to their bite.
Mostly - LOL as Iceman says - there are "no guarantees"

If I use a light torpedo sinker, like a 4oz or maximum 6oz, I can feel that thump almost every time - and click over the gear lever on the (saltist) and try to set a hook.

- Even if I get Bass Bit - or hook a Calico - it would be time to change a bait anyway! So no harm, no foul.
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That's just one way I like to fish for them (rod in hand) if on the boat.
You have a little more luxury to set out a few different rigs at the same time, for obvious reasons.
- Like a sliding (adjustable) Octopus J hook (tied with a nail knot) (not a snell)- then direct tied to a 3x strong mustad treble (matching the bait size).
- There are other old school rigs I like to use too.

- The kayak is a little different, sometimes you need those hands to paddle...
Even with my Hobie, I would try to lay the rod across my lap while peddling/steering/drifting - to watch and feel for that thump.
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- The First fish I ever caught in La Jolla, (besides bait) was a 28.5 lb Halibut, and it handed me my ass!

I did it all wrong and gaffed it in the loin - then it went Nuts and broke the promar adjustable gaff into 2 pieces (there is rope inside of it)so it holds together.

As my friends laughed their asses off.....and were snapping embarrassing pictures - they threw me another gaff which I quickly use to stick the fish....again.
- and now had 2 gaffs stuck into this crazy fish (kicking my ass)
Both hands full - and 2 googans laughing their ass off.

I've been addicted ever since. - Sorry for the BIG PIC - I don't know how to resize it!