First Halibut Today-HB Harbor - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

KayakCrabber · 04-05-2017, 09:23 PM

Got my first Halibut today fishing HB Harbor. Only problem was that it was 21 inches and I had to throw it back. Caught a couple of small spotted bass and just before I called it a day, I caught a Legal Spotted Bass. I hooked it so deep in it's throat I had to keep it. Does anyone eat these? The spotted bass actually put up a better fight than the Halibut, Go figure.

Onit8 · 04-05-2017, 10:34 PM

Nice... I haven't had any luck the last couple times I been there

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Amish Ed · 04-05-2017, 10:47 PM

Good job. That can be a tough place.

Iceman · 04-06-2017, 07:14 AM

halibut fishing here in the harbor should be getting really good right now all over but especially from the PCH bridge to Peters Landing

goldenglory18 · 04-06-2017, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

halibut fishing here in the harbor should be getting really good right now all over but especially from the PCH bridge to Peters Landing

It's on my yearly plan to try and figure out HH... LOL

hbmoose25 · 04-06-2017, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

halibut fishing here in the harbor should be getting really good right now all over but especially from the PCH bridge to Peters Landing

Planning to head there on Saturday with my pops. We haven't targeted Halibut out of the Yaks yet, so any tips on what rig/bait to use to get started? Going to do a little shopping today for some Tackle.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

goldenglory18 · 04-06-2017, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbmoose25

...Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not of much help with catching fish from the salt at all and its even less so in HH.

The only Halibut I've ever caught was on a jerkbait, so yeah....#clueless LOL

hbmoose25 · 04-06-2017, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

I'm not of much help with catching fish from the salt at all and its even less so in HH.

The only Halibut I've ever caught was on a jerkbait, so yeah....#clueless LOL

Lol. Hey that's better than nothing! Lol. Thanks for the tip!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Iceman · 04-06-2017, 09:28 AM

Small sabikis and cheap hamburger buns to chum and catch smelt above the eel grass in 6-8 feet then pin em on a Carolina rig.. I have caught a bunch trolling Crystal Minnow deep divers in green. 3-4 inch smelt like plastics on 1/4-1/2 oz lead head.

hbmoose25 · 04-06-2017, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

Small sabikis and cheap hamburger buns to chum and catch smelt above the eel grass in 6-8 feet then pin em on a Carolina rig.. I have caught a bunch trolling Crystal Minnow deep divers in green. 3-4 inch smelt like plastics on 1/4-1/2 oz lead head.

Thank you sir! Looking forward to getting the lines wet in Saturday!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

KayakCrabber · 04-06-2017, 10:41 AM

I was using 3" gulp Alive Shrimp in the New Penny color with a 1/4 ounce lead head, very slow retrieve dragging it on the bottom.

Amish Ed · 04-06-2017, 10:44 AM

Also try drop shotting Zoom Flukes (that's the 4") in smokey shad.

goldenglory18 · 04-06-2017, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

...smelt...Carolina rig....

...3-4 inch smelt like plastics on 1/4-1/2 oz lead head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayakCrabber

...3" gulp Alive Shrimp...1/4 ounce lead head... very slow...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

...drop shotting Zoom Flukes (that's the 4") in smokey shad.

3-4". Low. Slow.

Sounds about right to me. I can almost always contribute my lack of catching anything to me fishing too fast...

Amish Ed · 04-06-2017, 11:08 AM

I have the same problem. Too fast. On the super slow days, Steve usually does better than me. He is good at going slowwww. Me, I'll do ok for a while and then forget and speed up. Then remember and slow down again, then forget again. Over and over.

Hunters Pa · 04-06-2017, 11:13 AM

Last halibut I got in HH was a real dink, but I got it on a ghost shrimp imitation that I was allowing to drag as I slowly drifted and was casting a swimbait. I think it was a "yabby crabby"

OCPhisher · 04-06-2017, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

Also try drop shotting Zoom Flukes (that's the 4") in smokey shad.

+1 on drop shotting Zoom Flukes. Have also had luck with the White Ice color. Another plastic I've had luck with is the Berkley Gulp Saltwater mullets in chartreuse.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Hunters Pa · 04-07-2017, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbmoose25

Planning to head there on Saturday with my pops. We haven't targeted Halibut out of the Yaks yet, so any tips on what rig/bait to use to get started? Going to do a little shopping today for some Tackle.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like to park near Seabridge park, along Countess. If you get there early enough you can back into a spot and be a few steps from the water. Depends on where you are going to target.

Raskal311 · 04-07-2017, 03:06 PM

75% of the Hali I've seen are 21.5" :/

04-05-2017, 09:23 PM	#1
KayakCrabber Junior Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4	First Halibut Today-HB Harbor Got my first Halibut today fishing HB Harbor. Only problem was that it was 21 inches and I had to throw it back. Caught a couple of small spotted bass and just before I called it a day, I caught a Legal Spotted Bass. I hooked it so deep in it's throat I had to keep it. Does anyone eat these? The spotted bass actually put up a better fight than the Halibut, Go figure.

04-05-2017, 10:47 PM	#3
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	Good job. That can be a tough place. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

04-06-2017, 07:14 AM	#4
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	halibut fishing here in the harbor should be getting really good right now all over but especially from the PCH bridge to Peters Landing __________________

04-06-2017, 09:28 AM	#9
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	Small sabikis and cheap hamburger buns to chum and catch smelt above the eel grass in 6-8 feet then pin em on a Carolina rig.. I have caught a bunch trolling Crystal Minnow deep divers in green. 3-4 inch smelt like plastics on 1/4-1/2 oz lead head. __________________

04-06-2017, 10:44 AM	#12
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	Also try drop shotting Zoom Flukes (that's the 4") in smokey shad. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

04-05-2017, 10:34 PM	#2
Onit8 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: anaheim Posts: 34	Nice... I haven't had any luck the last couple times I been there Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-06-2017, 10:41 AM	#11
KayakCrabber Junior Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4	I was using 3" gulp Alive Shrimp in the New Penny color with a 1/4 ounce lead head, very slow retrieve dragging it on the bottom.

04-06-2017, 11:08 AM	#14
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	I have the same problem. Too fast. On the super slow days, Steve usually does better than me. He is good at going slowwww. Me, I'll do ok for a while and then forget and speed up. Then remember and slow down again, then forget again. Over and over. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

04-06-2017, 11:13 AM	#15
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,359	Last halibut I got in HH was a real dink, but I got it on a ghost shrimp imitation that I was allowing to drag as I slowly drifted and was casting a swimbait. I think it was a "yabby crabby"

04-07-2017, 03:06 PM	#18
Raskal311 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Santa Ana/Westminster Posts: 1,256	75% of the Hali I've seen are 21.5" :/ __________________ Kevin Yellow PA12