Winter Halibut - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

JasonG · 12-27-2020, 01:51 PM

Looking for some guidance on targeting winter halibut... not asking for you to share your hotspot waypoints (unless you really want to, then please shoot me a PM, Haha), just some general guidance on where to launch. I've been fishing LJ weekly since late spring and have hooked up on a couple shorts, but haven't really tried targeting halibut more than a couple times. Last week I watched on the fish finder what I assume was a Hali come up off the bottom and check out my bait. So...

1) Should I stick to LJ all winter long, or try SD bay? I live in North County, so LJ is much closer to me, plus I have a chance at hooking up on a WSB or winter YT.

2) If I do fish the bay (good bad weather backup option), where do you guys like to launch? Do you sabiki for bait, or do you launch close enough to the bait barge to pickup a kayak scoop?

Any info you can share much appreciated!!

Thanks

Mahigeer · 12-27-2020, 09:53 PM

I would say find sandy bottom area for halibut.

Rocky bottom for lobster and rocky next to sandy for both plus bass.

Kelp for sheephead and bass.

tight lines.

JasonG · 12-28-2020, 01:01 PM

Yeah, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what to look for when targeting. Mostly, I’m curious if SD Bay or La Jolla are equally productive in the winter months for legal size Hali.

YakDout · 12-28-2020, 07:50 PM

I would say bay for quantity, La Jolla for quality

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JasonG · 12-29-2020, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

I would say bay for quantity, La Jolla for quality

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the input. I’ll prob stick to LJ (weather permitting)

jorluivil · 12-30-2020, 11:09 AM

Just remember.......................The bigger the bait, the bigger the fish.

DanaPT · 12-31-2020, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Just remember.......................The bigger the bait, the bigger the fish.

Check out this video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SpFB_6anwKU

A halibut killer.

jorluivil · 12-31-2020, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaPT

Check out this video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SpFB_6anwKU

A halibut killer.

Man, that's an old rig, haven't used that one in years.

JohnMckroidJr · 12-31-2020, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaPT

Check out this video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SpFB_6anwKU

A halibut killer.

Curious, what is your bait of choice for that trap hook rig?

FISH11 · 12-31-2020, 11:57 AM

My guess, is a nice X Large Greenback Mac.

TheBentRod · 01-08-2021, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Man, that's an old rig, haven't used that one in years.

Still works for me! Catches Lingcods too!

summers in kuwait · 01-08-2021, 09:40 AM

The biggest thing for me and halibut, is sticking to the game plan. If I plan to fish for halibut, then I need to commit to it and not change up the plan when Im on the water.

This means, pounding the sand and spending a lot of time in the right environments and areas.

I've tried the three way swivel, but I personally use dropper or reverse dropper and the carolina rig. Typical bait is greenbacks. I do not use a trap hook, but many do.

That said, when fishing halibut, I will also run a jig or flyline setup to work the water column.

Time on the water.

Revoguys · 01-12-2021, 07:27 PM

Yea couldn’t agree more with Summers in Kuwait, sticking to the game plan and fishing those sandy bottoms in search of halibut and committing to only fishing for halibut. I hate doing it cause I’ve literally spent days on the water in search of them and coming out unsuccessful most of the time but at least you’ll still hook up on some nice sand bass and one day will get that monster hali. I never use the trap hook either, never tried it but looks like a good rig. Time on the water and finding the right spots! Tight lines and good luck

12-27-2020, 01:51 PM	#1
JasonG Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: North County San Diego Posts: 50	Winter Halibut Looking for some guidance on targeting winter halibut... not asking for you to share your hotspot waypoints (unless you really want to, then please shoot me a PM, Haha), just some general guidance on where to launch. I've been fishing LJ weekly since late spring and have hooked up on a couple shorts, but haven't really tried targeting halibut more than a couple times. Last week I watched on the fish finder what I assume was a Hali come up off the bottom and check out my bait. So... 1) Should I stick to LJ all winter long, or try SD bay? I live in North County, so LJ is much closer to me, plus I have a chance at hooking up on a WSB or winter YT. 2) If I do fish the bay (good bad weather backup option), where do you guys like to launch? Do you sabiki for bait, or do you launch close enough to the bait barge to pickup a kayak scoop? Any info you can share much appreciated!! Thanks

12-30-2020, 11:09 AM	#6
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Just remember.......................The bigger the bait, the bigger the fish. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

12-31-2020, 11:57 AM	#10
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	My guess, is a nice X Large Greenback Mac. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

12-27-2020, 09:53 PM	#2
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,897	I would say find sandy bottom area for halibut. Rocky bottom for lobster and rocky next to sandy for both plus bass. Kelp for sheephead and bass. tight lines.

12-28-2020, 01:01 PM	#3
JasonG Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: North County San Diego Posts: 50	Yeah, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what to look for when targeting. Mostly, I’m curious if SD Bay or La Jolla are equally productive in the winter months for legal size Hali.

12-28-2020, 07:50 PM	#4
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	I would say bay for quantity, La Jolla for quality Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-08-2021, 09:40 AM	#12
summers in kuwait Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: East County San Diego Posts: 657	The biggest thing for me and halibut, is sticking to the game plan. If I plan to fish for halibut, then I need to commit to it and not change up the plan when Im on the water. This means, pounding the sand and spending a lot of time in the right environments and areas. I've tried the three way swivel, but I personally use dropper or reverse dropper and the carolina rig. Typical bait is greenbacks. I do not use a trap hook, but many do. That said, when fishing halibut, I will also run a jig or flyline setup to work the water column. Time on the water.

01-12-2021, 07:27 PM	#13
Revoguys Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: San Diego Posts: 60	Yea couldn’t agree more with Summers in Kuwait, sticking to the game plan and fishing those sandy bottoms in search of halibut and committing to only fishing for halibut. I hate doing it cause I’ve literally spent days on the water in search of them and coming out unsuccessful most of the time but at least you’ll still hook up on some nice sand bass and one day will get that monster hali. I never use the trap hook either, never tried it but looks like a good rig. Time on the water and finding the right spots! Tight lines and good luck