Halibut Help San Diego/Mission Bay - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Mobie Hobie · 04-05-2013, 06:47 PM

When you get bit it may be very subtle. Be sure not to swing or try to set hook. Just start winding up very slow but steady. The rod tip will load up but still do not swing or try to bury hook. Just keep winding steady and get flat face moving up. You will be shocked at how nice size butt initially may seem like kelp with no head and tail movement. When they realize they are in trouble and run then hook will bury and you will get to know feel of butt.

Sharpen your hooks, drop back a bit and let butt swallow bait when you get tapped. I try to use no more then 15# fluro as leader!

So you may be getting butt bites but pulling the baits out or off hook! And of course some butts normally the smaller and younger just commit suicide and inhale your bait!

Try over by the shallow-rock markers by North Island. Been getting butts there for years. Remember they ambush baits in tidal movement. So they will be facing into the current just like birds face into wind.

What is really fun is when you get color, butt is ready to be taken by net or gaff and you see a second butt following up the one you are hooked up to. Take your first shot at unhooked butt if it looks legal and let hooked butt run. I use light drag and thumb spool so as to avoid disaster. You get a feel....Lots of fun...

Hang in there you are sure to get one soon!

jaws197 · 04-05-2013, 07:17 PM

I'm heading out to San Diego bay tomorrow morning looking for some hali's if you want to join? Going to hit the bait barge and drift with the tide back into the bay.

PM me if you or anyone else would like to join.

GregAndrew · 04-05-2013, 08:10 PM

There are lots of opinions on things like rigs and when to fish where. Most of the rigs are tailored to the style and preference of the users. Most of them are successful if fished properly. Use a trap hook, I prefer a single Octopus type. Keep moving, and cover as much ground as you can because generally they are ambush predators. Try to keep your pace consistent so you will notice more or less drag on your rod tips (much of the time they coast along with you after they grab your bait). If you notice this, lift the rod to feel for weight. As soon as you feel weight, set the hook. Even if you pull the bait from their mouth, they generally come back after it. When you hook up, keep pressure on and the rod bent (because, like Large Mouth Bass, they like to shake a loose hook free). Don't horse the fish up, you will find lots of barely hooked fish cause of all the hard spots in their heads. Whatever else you do, gaff the fish in the belly. Then continue to support the weight of the fish by the gaff until you have it secured.

04-05-2013, 06:47 PM	#1
Mobie Hobie Junior Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 15	When you get bit it may be very subtle. Be sure not to swing or try to set hook. Just start winding up very slow but steady. The rod tip will load up but still do not swing or try to bury hook. Just keep winding steady and get flat face moving up. You will be shocked at how nice size butt initially may seem like kelp with no head and tail movement. When they realize they are in trouble and run then hook will bury and you will get to know feel of butt. Sharpen your hooks, drop back a bit and let butt swallow bait when you get tapped. I try to use no more then 15# fluro as leader! So you may be getting butt bites but pulling the baits out or off hook! And of course some butts normally the smaller and younger just commit suicide and inhale your bait! Try over by the shallow-rock markers by North Island. Been getting butts there for years. Remember they ambush baits in tidal movement. So they will be facing into the current just like birds face into wind. What is really fun is when you get color, butt is ready to be taken by net or gaff and you see a second butt following up the one you are hooked up to. Take your first shot at unhooked butt if it looks legal and let hooked butt run. I use light drag and thumb spool so as to avoid disaster. You get a feel....Lots of fun... Hang in there you are sure to get one soon!

04-05-2013, 07:17 PM	#2
jaws197 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Poway, CA Posts: 148	I'm heading out to San Diego bay tomorrow morning looking for some hali's if you want to join? Going to hit the bait barge and drift with the tide back into the bay. PM me if you or anyone else would like to join.

04-05-2013, 08:10 PM	#3
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	There are lots of opinions on things like rigs and when to fish where. Most of the rigs are tailored to the style and preference of the users. Most of them are successful if fished properly. Use a trap hook, I prefer a single Octopus type. Keep moving, and cover as much ground as you can because generally they are ambush predators. Try to keep your pace consistent so you will notice more or less drag on your rod tips (much of the time they coast along with you after they grab your bait). If you notice this, lift the rod to feel for weight. As soon as you feel weight, set the hook. Even if you pull the bait from their mouth, they generally come back after it. When you hook up, keep pressure on and the rod bent (because, like Large Mouth Bass, they like to shake a loose hook free). Don't horse the fish up, you will find lots of barely hooked fish cause of all the hard spots in their heads. Whatever else you do, gaff the fish in the belly. Then continue to support the weight of the fish by the gaff until you have it secured.