Best lures and techniques for inshore halibut fishing
Jul 12, 2019 22:28:27 #
I'm a newly reborn fisherman who realizes just how little I know about, well , everything fishing! I find myself inshore fishing mostly, and although I can't define anything I'm doing as specifically aimed at Halibut, that's what I am blindly flailing about from the beach. Anybody with experience supporting strong preferences as to tidal timing, swim lures, knots, bait(s), and techniques for attracting Halibut; I am your student! I am currently fishing with a) a light/moderate pole with a baitcaster: and, b) an moderate/heavy with another baitcaster on it. One has 20#braid, the other has 30#braid. Birdsnests aside, I am suffocating in my ignorance of what the hell I should be doing. I have a hook, ...on a string, ...at the end of a stick, ...in the water.
Jul 13, 2019 06:52:32 #
If you are fishing from the beach, try a heavy (2+ ounces) egg type sinker so it will move around with the wave action (halibut tend to be quite stationary). Use a Carolina type setup with 2 to 3 feet of leader for bait fishing.
As for knots, learn to tie the Palomar knot correctly.
I use paddle tail swim baits. No particular reason, but I do catch halibut frequently with them so never really tried other types.
Good luck!
As for knots, learn to tie the Palomar knot correctly.
I use paddle tail swim baits. No particular reason, but I do catch halibut frequently with them so never really tried other types.
Good luck!
Jul 13, 2019 07:35:24 #
Raw Dawg Ron
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
Fish for halibut, must be up north, flounder down south! They seem to be seasonal here and head offshore to breed in November. Good time to target them tasty flattys!
Jul 13, 2019 10:50:12 #
BongsonBob
Loc: East Bay
White Hair Raisers, large silver Castmasters; if the bottom is sandy, large (5-6") broken back Rebels. Talk to the fishermen around you; they are the best source of good info
Jul 13, 2019 14:12:54 #
I’m in the mid atlantic so we don’t get halibut here. But I’ve seen photos of them up to 600 pounds. Seems to me you need heavier gear
Jul 13, 2019 22:05:03 #
Jerry_h23
Loc: Ocala
I lived in Sitka, AK and caught halibut. I used heavy salt water rods 40 to 80# mono or braid (different rods) 6/0+ hooks, 12 to 20 oz lead (depending on current) and herring. Good luck.
Jul 13, 2019 23:16:06 #
Here in New England we fish for "Fluke" aka summer flounder & they look exactly like Halibut, but don't get as big.
Generally speaking I don't think you'll get very big halibut inshore or from shore, so don't worry about needing heavy gear.
Summer flounder generally will not take a lure or bait if it does not look alive (moving/wiggling).
I would NOT waste my time with "broken back rebels" as they stay near the surface & halibut are bottom dwellers.
The most effective lures I would recommend are lead head jigs or buck tail jigs with a soft plastic lure like a curly tail grub, or soft plastic swim bait, both are improved by a good scent like Pro Cure rubbed on, or use gulp alive grubs with the scent already in them.
I would also check out You tube videos about flounder or fluke fishing, especially videos by John Skinner.
I would bet that Halibut would react the same way that fluke do. Good luck.
P.S. If you're having trouble casting a bait caster, get & use a spinning rod.
Lastly, why not search you tube for videos about catching halibut?
Generally speaking I don't think you'll get very big halibut inshore or from shore, so don't worry about needing heavy gear.
Summer flounder generally will not take a lure or bait if it does not look alive (moving/wiggling).
I would NOT waste my time with "broken back rebels" as they stay near the surface & halibut are bottom dwellers.
The most effective lures I would recommend are lead head jigs or buck tail jigs with a soft plastic lure like a curly tail grub, or soft plastic swim bait, both are improved by a good scent like Pro Cure rubbed on, or use gulp alive grubs with the scent already in them.
I would also check out You tube videos about flounder or fluke fishing, especially videos by John Skinner.
I would bet that Halibut would react the same way that fluke do. Good luck.
P.S. If you're having trouble casting a bait caster, get & use a spinning rod.
Lastly, why not search you tube for videos about catching halibut?
Jul 14, 2019 10:37:58 #
Good advice. I like a bucktail with gulp grub also. In addition i add a teaser 2 feet up line from the bucktail.
Jul 14, 2019 10:43:16 #
BongsonBob
Loc: East Bay
Live anchovies or jack smelt are the best bait, followed by frozen anchovies or shrimp. The "broken back Rebels" I use dive to 10'+. Bounce them off of a sandy bottom. Do NOT waste your time watching videos about flounder/fluke fishing. Halibut would eat a fluke
Jul 14, 2019 10:43:39 #
Hay striperhound3, i assume the migrating stripers have reached your region by now. Are you a rock crawling wet suit guy?
Jul 14, 2019 13:53:16 #
Thanks y'all for the input. I have caught two hali's with gulp red worms! I am currently using zoom flukes! Only some bites, seems as though they chomp and lose interest.
Jul 15, 2019 01:02:44 #
Ypyetr
Maybe you should use some scent on the zoom flukes so they hang on longer, or set the hook right away before they spit it out. Pro Cure makes the best scents I've used.
Maybe you should use some scent on the zoom flukes so they hang on longer, or set the hook right away before they spit it out. Pro Cure makes the best scents I've used.
Jul 15, 2019 01:11:57 #
BongSonBob
You say "Bounce them off of a sandy bottom. Do NOT waste your time watching videos about flounder/fluke fishing. Halibut would eat a fluke"[/quote]
Don't watch the videos? Why not, are you telling us that YOU are the only source of accurate info?
For your information, watching SOME flounder /fluke videos has upped my fishing tremendously, but you go ahead & ignore them if you like.
Halibut would eat a fluke, so what? A fluke could also eat a halibut, how does that useless info help anyone?
You say "Bounce them off of a sandy bottom. Do NOT waste your time watching videos about flounder/fluke fishing. Halibut would eat a fluke"[/quote]
Don't watch the videos? Why not, are you telling us that YOU are the only source of accurate info?
For your information, watching SOME flounder /fluke videos has upped my fishing tremendously, but you go ahead & ignore them if you like.
Halibut would eat a fluke, so what? A fluke could also eat a halibut, how does that useless info help anyone?
Jul 15, 2019 01:13:14 #
oldsalt
I don't fish for them any more, my targets species are all bottom fish now.
I can understand you thinking that though, with my screen name, I probably should have chosen a different one than that old one to avoid confusion, maybe 'BottomFisher' or some such thing would be better.
I don't fish for them any more, my targets species are all bottom fish now.
I can understand you thinking that though, with my screen name, I probably should have chosen a different one than that old one to avoid confusion, maybe 'BottomFisher' or some such thing would be better.
Jul 15, 2019 01:20:27 #
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