catching halibut - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

carbonbass · 06-07-2011, 12:15 AM

I know there are some basic things like swimming a swimbait on the bottom, luckycraft etc. But if i wanna target a big hali inshore what are some key things to look for? do you prefer the kelp line over more towards the surf? Anything in particular on a FF, are you fishing under a bait ball? are most of your halis targeted or bycatch? Just curious on more hali insight, as i have yet to get a nice one on the yak.

jorluivil · 06-07-2011, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbonbass

I know there are some basic things like swimming a swimbait on the bottom, luckycraft etc. But if i wanna target a big hali inshore what are some key things to look for? do you prefer the kelp line over more towards the surf? Anything in particular on a FF, are you fishing under a bait ball? are most of your halis targeted or bycatch? Just curious on more hali insight, as i have yet to get a nice one on the yak.

I'm pretty knew to the Hali fishing myself. Where do you normally fish?

sasha · 06-07-2011, 08:40 AM

I would love to know that answer as well..

Sasha

bus kid · 06-07-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I'm pretty knew to the Hali fishing myself. Where do you normally fish?

The grunion are running this month, seal beach night session is in the near future. trolling just past the surf line with a dine, or a squid strip works well. The best bait I have ever had for halis is by far lizard fish.

good tips

http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/h...libut-fishing/

http://www.hookupsportfishing.com/fo...hing-tips.html

http://www.newportlanding.com/halibutfishing.html

Jimmyz123 · 06-07-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bus kid

The grunion are running this month, seal beach night session is in the near future. trolling just past the surf line with a dine, or a squid strip works well. The best bait I have ever had for halis is by far lizard fish.

good tips

http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/h...libut-fishing/

http://www.hookupsportfishing.com/fo...hing-tips.html

http://www.newportlanding.com/halibutfishing.html

Are you serious about the Lizard fish part? I catch lizards all the time and have wondered what they could be used for. I caught nice bait sized one the other day I should have strapped that thing on the line to be Halibut food.

bus kid · 06-07-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyz123

Are you serious about the Lizard fish part? I catch lizards all the time and have wondered what they could be used for. I caught nice bait sized one the other day I should have strapped that thing on the line to be Halibut food.

shhhhh its a big secret.

http://www.charkbait.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001092.html

http://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/...438cc217c394f8

Jimmyz123 · 06-07-2011, 02:05 PM

I'm hooked, I'll be giving this a try. I catch enough of them and rather than just kill them I'll pin a hook in them. Thanks for the info.

Jimmyz123 · 06-07-2011, 09:24 AM

This is the setup that I use and it works really well.
http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/h...libut-fishing/

There is also the 3 way swivel Bounce Ball setup that also works well.
http://www.kayaksportfishing.com/tac...or_halibut.htm
I have used this but without the dodger on it. Live bait or plastics work.
Don't worry about using larger baits they work and they work well.

They can be caught as shallow as to feet of water and even shallower, to 50 feet or deeper. Most of the Halibut I have caught have been in the 10 to 80 foot depths. Bait of choice Sardines and Macs. I know squid, and anchovies work well also. Make sure your bait in on the bottom and that your drift is not too fast.

Have fun.

taggermike · 06-07-2011, 10:21 AM

Halibut are a tough fish to figure out. They don't school, are often unaggresive biters, and can be found in a wide variety of depths and bottom structures. I've caught or speared them from 3 to 150 feet. Some things I have observed. They are ofter on sand or mud near hard bottom areas with eel grass or kelp. They do follow bait fish concentrations, especially grunion as they school up and migrate in to the surf to spawn. When the surf perch have thier babies in the spring I see halibut right up against the edges of the reefs. Naive little perch that stray away from the safety of the rocks do not last long. In the bays I try to target them on the edges of areas. Edge of structure, edge of eel grass or the edges of drop offs. At the channel edges they can be on the top, slope or bottom. Ive caught halis on chovies, dines, perch, smelt, grunion, macks, brown bait, and squid. Keep your bait on the bottom. I like sliding sinker rigs for shallower water and dropper loop for deeper. Be slow with halis, slow drift, slow bait movement, long wait before setting the hook, and slow steady winding on the fish with out any pumping of the rod. Mike

06-07-2011, 12:15 AM	#1
carbonbass Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 367	catching halibut I know there are some basic things like swimming a swimbait on the bottom, luckycraft etc. But if i wanna target a big hali inshore what are some key things to look for? do you prefer the kelp line over more towards the surf? Anything in particular on a FF, are you fishing under a bait ball? are most of your halis targeted or bycatch? Just curious on more hali insight, as i have yet to get a nice one on the yak.

06-07-2011, 02:05 PM	#7
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	I'm hooked, I'll be giving this a try. I catch enough of them and rather than just kill them I'll pin a hook in them. Thanks for the info. __________________ No better time than being on the water, God Bless, JimmyZ

06-07-2011, 09:24 AM	#8
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	This is the setup that I use and it works really well. http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/h...libut-fishing/ There is also the 3 way swivel Bounce Ball setup that also works well. http://www.kayaksportfishing.com/tac...or_halibut.htm I have used this but without the dodger on it. Live bait or plastics work. Don't worry about using larger baits they work and they work well. They can be caught as shallow as to feet of water and even shallower, to 50 feet or deeper. Most of the Halibut I have caught have been in the 10 to 80 foot depths. Bait of choice Sardines and Macs. I know squid, and anchovies work well also. Make sure your bait in on the bottom and that your drift is not too fast. Have fun. __________________ No better time than being on the water, God Bless, JimmyZ

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06-07-2011, 08:40 AM	#3
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	I would love to know that answer as well.. Sasha

06-07-2011, 10:21 AM	#9
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Halibut are a tough fish to figure out. They don't school, are often unaggresive biters, and can be found in a wide variety of depths and bottom structures. I've caught or speared them from 3 to 150 feet. Some things I have observed. They are ofter on sand or mud near hard bottom areas with eel grass or kelp. They do follow bait fish concentrations, especially grunion as they school up and migrate in to the surf to spawn. When the surf perch have thier babies in the spring I see halibut right up against the edges of the reefs. Naive little perch that stray away from the safety of the rocks do not last long. In the bays I try to target them on the edges of areas. Edge of structure, edge of eel grass or the edges of drop offs. At the channel edges they can be on the top, slope or bottom. Ive caught halis on chovies, dines, perch, smelt, grunion, macks, brown bait, and squid. Keep your bait on the bottom. I like sliding sinker rigs for shallower water and dropper loop for deeper. Be slow with halis, slow drift, slow bait movement, long wait before setting the hook, and slow steady winding on the fish with out any pumping of the rod. Mike