First Hali still looking for legal though... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Oxbeast1210 · 12-15-2014, 10:08 PM

My last trip made me decide that Halibut would be my next target fish here in SD. So without question that was our task for today.

We made our way to the bait barge right away and started drifting.
10 minutes into drifting we got our first Halibut. The next drop produced the only legal one of the day but it managed to release itself from my friends kayak.
The Halibut bite died down but it wasn't long before we were hooking into something else. These fish are nasty looking they remind me of a dragon... I am being told that they are sculpin?
Although we didn't bring home a keeper Halibut it was still a great day on the water; both of us caught our first Halibut , our first Sculpin and we got to see sealions up close.

Total between the two of us:
5 Hali , at least 6 sculpin, and several short bass
All fish were released to fight another day well the only keeper released itself.

Now that I have the technique down its time to find the big ones!
(Tips welcome)

Cbad Mike · 12-15-2014, 10:44 PM

NICE pictures!

danjor · 12-16-2014, 05:50 AM

Those pictures are nice enough you should frame them and hang them on your wall!
Great job

Chuck D · 12-16-2014, 06:10 AM

Tip-Make sure to know what a sculpin looks like or it could be a painful ride home.

YakDout · 12-16-2014, 06:44 AM

What's worked well for me with halibut in the big bay is a triple swivel with 16" leader to weight, and 12" leader to a lucky craft flashminnow or a bait similar to that. Suspending jerk bait. Obviously that's only if I don't have live bait.

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Name: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1418741027.286966.jpg
Views: 2937
Size: 75.7 KB

Similar to this but instead of the bait hook, a lucky craft or similar.

blitzburgh · 12-16-2014, 07:28 AM

Nice pics! Like someone else said, just be mindful when handling those rattlers

.

Lipripper92592 · 12-16-2014, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

What's worked well for me with halibut in the big bay is a triple swivel with 16" leader to weight, and 12" leader to a lucky craft flashminnow or a bait similar to that. Suspending jerk bait. Obviously that's only if I don't have live bait.

Attachment 14128

Similar to this but instead of the bait hook, a lucky craft or similar.

I've had great luck with the LC 110 in sardine using the same technique. That LC is a hali killer for sure. Slow rolled......what great action!

surfisher · 12-16-2014, 10:11 AM

Rad photos! I've had some pretty good luck catching halibut using a 1oz spinner bait slow rolled on the bottom

octico · 12-16-2014, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

What's worked well for me with halibut in the big bay is a triple swivel with 16" leader to weight, and 12" leader to a lucky craft flashminnow or a bait similar to that. Suspending jerk bait. Obviously that's only if I don't have live bait.

Attachment 14128

Similar to this but instead of the bait hook, a lucky craft or similar.

+1 this always works for me. Live smelt or small back works best.

kauaiboy04 · 12-16-2014, 12:58 PM

awesome pics!

Oxbeast1210 · 12-16-2014, 01:53 PM

Thanks for all the tips I have some new things to try now.
Do you think i have a better chance of catching a legal one in mission or SD bay?

YakDout · 12-16-2014, 01:59 PM

Sd bay

YakDout · 12-16-2014, 02:01 PM

When I fish mission bay I get a scoop of bait and head out the channel to open ocean. Lots of kelp and flat sand areas. Really good fishing just south of OB pier

SorryCharlie · 12-16-2014, 02:19 PM

Those are some awesome pictures, especially the first.

Something tells me you will have a different reaction to seal lions being near you in the future

And like everyone has said, avoid those spines on the sculpin... Otherwise your day will not end on a good note!

taggermike · 12-16-2014, 04:27 PM

5 halis for the 2 of you on your first day targeting them is good fishing. Sorting through shorts is part of hali fishing for sure. Keep up the good work and the legals will come. Mike

RookieYakker · 12-16-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SorryCharlie

Something tells me you will have a different reaction to seal lions being near you in the future

+1

Are sculpin good eating? If so, how low do you have to clip in order to keep them?

Oxbeast1210 · 12-16-2014, 07:00 PM

I have has some bad experiences with the dogs at La Jolla but they are lazy at the Barge. This yellow that the dark horse helped me catch was attacked by one when we were reeling it in. The second yellow was a little faster but was chased by a couple smaller dogs. You can see where the dog bit my fish in the first picture! lol

CobraTandem · 12-17-2014, 08:55 PM

Yep, nice pix!

Saba Slayer · 12-18-2014, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RookieYakker

+1

Are sculpin good eating? If so, how low do you have to clip in order to keep them?

Sculpin are off limits at this time...the DFW closed Sculpin fishing until March 1st I believe.

ful-rac · 12-18-2014, 08:23 AM

Whoa!!! Holy Thread Jacking YOURSELF!!! Batman!!!

Nice fish congrats!

12-15-2014, 10:08 PM	#1
Oxbeast1210 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 421	First Hali still looking for legal though... My last trip made me decide that Halibut would be my next target fish here in SD. So without question that was our task for today. We made our way to the bait barge right away and started drifting. 10 minutes into drifting we got our first Halibut. The next drop produced the only legal one of the day but it managed to release itself from my friends kayak. The Halibut bite died down but it wasn't long before we were hooking into something else. These fish are nasty looking they remind me of a dragon... I am being told that they are sculpin? Although we didn't bring home a keeper Halibut it was still a great day on the water; both of us caught our first Halibut , our first Sculpin and we got to see sealions up close. Total between the two of us: 5 Hali , at least 6 sculpin, and several short bass All fish were released to fight another day well the only keeper released itself. Now that I have the technique down its time to find the big ones! (Tips welcome) Attached Images

12-15-2014, 10:44 PM	#2
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	NICE pictures! __________________ [SIGPIC]

12-16-2014, 06:44 AM	#5
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	What's worked well for me with halibut in the big bay is a triple swivel with 16" leader to weight, and 12" leader to a lucky craft flashminnow or a bait similar to that. Suspending jerk bait. Obviously that's only if I don't have live bait. Similar to this but instead of the bait hook, a lucky craft or similar.

12-16-2014, 07:28 AM	#6
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Nice pics! Like someone else said, just be mindful when handling those rattlers . __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

12-16-2014, 12:58 PM	#10
kauaiboy04 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sandy Eggo Posts: 215	awesome pics! __________________ http://socalkayak.blogspot.com

12-16-2014, 05:50 AM	#3
danjor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Riverside CA Posts: 673	Those pictures are nice enough you should frame them and hang them on your wall! Great job

12-16-2014, 06:10 AM	#4
Chuck D Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bay Park Posts: 559	Tip-Make sure to know what a sculpin looks like or it could be a painful ride home.

12-16-2014, 10:11 AM	#8
surfisher Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 388	Rad photos! I've had some pretty good luck catching halibut using a 1oz spinner bait slow rolled on the bottom

12-16-2014, 01:53 PM	#11
Oxbeast1210 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 421	Thanks for all the tips I have some new things to try now. Do you think i have a better chance of catching a legal one in mission or SD bay?

12-16-2014, 01:59 PM	#12
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Sd bay

12-16-2014, 02:01 PM	#13
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	When I fish mission bay I get a scoop of bait and head out the channel to open ocean. Lots of kelp and flat sand areas. Really good fishing just south of OB pier

12-16-2014, 02:19 PM	#14
SorryCharlie Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 140	Those are some awesome pictures, especially the first. Something tells me you will have a different reaction to seal lions being near you in the future And like everyone has said, avoid those spines on the sculpin... Otherwise your day will not end on a good note!

12-16-2014, 04:27 PM	#15
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	5 halis for the 2 of you on your first day targeting them is good fishing. Sorting through shorts is part of hali fishing for sure. Keep up the good work and the legals will come. Mike

12-16-2014, 07:00 PM	#17
Oxbeast1210 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 421	I have has some bad experiences with the dogs at La Jolla but they are lazy at the Barge. This yellow that the dark horse helped me catch was attacked by one when we were reeling it in. The second yellow was a little faster but was chased by a couple smaller dogs. You can see where the dog bit my fish in the first picture! lol Attached Images Last edited by Oxbeast1210; 12-18-2014 at 07:11 PM.

12-17-2014, 08:55 PM	#18
CobraTandem Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 76	Yep, nice pix!

12-18-2014, 08:23 AM	#20
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Whoa!!! Holy Thread Jacking YOURSELF!!! Batman!!! Nice fish congrats! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.