Here’s my story about the big one that got away, in San Diego Bay.

My goal has been to land a keeper, or bigger, halibut. We typically fish San Diego bay, which is a halibut hot spot, with swim bait on a jig head. This gets us various types of bass, and halibut, but, I’ve yet to get a keeper halibut.
well, you live and learn . Don’t beat yourself up. You’re not the first and you won’t be the last!
I’ve been studying many halibut fishing YouTubes, where guys are hauling in keepers…but mostly in Northern California. So, I decided to give their techniques, and rigs, with frozen squid, a try in the areas that should be halibut havens. After 4 hours with 3 lines, drifting, and trolling…nothing…nada…zip.,,except for one small crab that let go as soon as I got him out of the water.

Feeling that I didn’t want to be totally skunked. I went back to my standard rig of 30# braided main and 6’ of 15# fluorocarbon leader, with swim bait on a jig head, at our hot spots for bass. First cast and I got a nice spotted bass. I was fishing an area where there is a submerged historic jetty, that Calico bass like. A few casts and I hooked up well on the jetty, I could not get freed of the jetty, so cranked my drag fully tight, and broke it free, losing about 2’ of leader, Which is why we run lighter leader than the main.

Not wanting to catch the jetty again I rigged up another jig head, with a fresh swim bait dunked in squid juice, and moved to another spot that is a mixture of eel grass and small sand patches…the later being what halibut like. A few casts, and I hooked up another spotted bass. He janked up my bait, so I replaced my swim bait, and dunked it in squid juice…and started casting.

After about 6 or so casts, I hooked up with what was definitely a good sized halibut. They have a distinctive behavior, which this guy did.. First they flutter a bit, then as you bring them in they dig in, and it’s like cranking in a bowling ball. Then as you try to bring them aboard you get a lot of vigorous head shaking, and a strong attempt to go deep. This guy did all of that. I was bent over the boat with my rod held up, and it was nearly bent in half, he was near the surface, and I got a glimpse of this beast…and he was definitely a big keeper. As I reached for my gaff, he dove down hard…and “TWANG!” My leader broke!!

Notice when I described fighting this guy, I didn’t say anything about line screaming off the reel? Well, that’s because I forgot to loosen the drag, after tightening it up while fighting the jetty. DUMBASS! Also, I should have changed the leader after fighting the jetty. As that might have weakened or damaged it. DOUBLE DUMBASS!!

Anyone else have those DUMBASS moments?

After about an hour, and a few spottys, the wind started to kick up, and the water was getting rough, so I called it a day.

Here’s my story about the big one that got away, in San Diego Bay.

My goal has been to land a keeper, or bigger, halibut. We typically fish San Diego bay, which is a halibut hot spot, with swim bait on a jig head. This gets us various types of bass, and halibut, but, I’ve yet to get a keeper halibut.

I’ve been studying many halibut fishing YouTubes, where guys are hauling in keepers…but mostly in Northern California. So, I decided to give their techniques, and rigs, with frozen squid, a try in the areas that should be halibut havens. After 4 hours with 3 lines, drifting, and trolling…nothing…nada…zip.,,except for one small crab that let go as soon as I got him out of the water.

Feeling that I didn’t want to be totally skunked. I went back to my standard rig of 30# braided main and 6’ of 15# fluorocarbon leader, with swim bait on a jig head, at our hot spots for bass. First cast and I got a nice spotted bass. I was fishing an area where there is a submerged historic jetty, that Calico bass like. A few casts and I hooked up well on the jetty, I could not get freed of the jetty, so cranked my drag fully tight, and broke it free, losing about 2’ of leader, Which is why we run lighter leader than the main.

Not wanting to catch the jetty again I rigged up another jig head, with a fresh swim bait dunked in squid juice, and moved to another spot that is a mixture of eel grass and small sand patches…the later being what halibut like. A few casts, and I hooked up another spotted bass. He janked up my bait, so I replaced my swim bait, and dunked it in squid juice…and started casting.

After about 6 or so casts, I hooked up with what was definitely a good sized halibut. They have a distinctive behavior, which this guy did.. First they flutter a bit, then as you bring them in they dig in, and it’s like cranking in a bowling ball. Then as you try to bring them aboard you get a lot of vigorous head shaking, and a strong attempt to go deep. This guy did all of that. I was bent over the boat with my rod held up, and it was nearly bent in half, he was near the surface, and I got a glimpse of this beast…and he was definitely a big keeper. As I reached for my gaff, he dove down hard…and “TWANG!” My leader broke!!

Notice when I described fighting this guy, I didn’t say anything about line screaming off the reel? Well, that’s because I forgot to loosen the drag, after tightening it up while fighting the jetty. DUMBASS! Also, I should have changed the leader after fighting the jetty. As that might have weakened or damaged it. DOUBLE DUMBASS!!

Anyone else have those DUMBASS moments?

After about an hour, and a few spottys, the wind started to kick up, and the water was getting rough, so I called it a day.

Nope. Been fishing since I was a kid 6 years old. I’m now 63. Never lost one fish due to tackle performance or my abilities as a perfect fisherman. I have a 100% percent catch rate, of what I’d have to say is 100’s of thousands of fish. From bluefin tuna to huge Alaskan halibut, I am sorry that this has happened to you. ( seems more than once ). But since I’ve never experienced this kind of thing, I cannot tell you that I know this feeling that your trying to express to the people on this site. I guess all I can say at this point is just keep at it. You’ll never be a perfect fisherman like me, but it seems you’ve learned from your mistake's. And this will get you closer to being that perfect fisherman you want to be.

Nope. Been fishing since I was a kid 6 years old. I’m now 63. Never lost one fish due to tackle performance or my abilities as a perfect fisherman. I have a 100% percent catch rate, of what I’d have to say is 100’s of thousands of fish. From bluefin tuna to huge Alaskan halibut, I am sorry that this has happened to you. ( seems more than once ). But since I’ve never experienced this kind of thing, I cannot tell you that I know this feeling that your trying to express to the people on this site. I guess all I can say at this point is just keep at it. You’ll never be a perfect fisherman like me, but it seems you’ve learned from your mistake's. And this will get you closer to being that perfect fisherman you want to be.

Back on the bay [San Diego Bay] today. Tides were non existent, so very little water movement. Fish were just not biting. I got a sand bass, a few spotted bass, a mackerel, and a crab. But, persistence pays off. After returning to one of our favorite spots, I hooked up on a 24” keeper Halibut. Then a few casts later, hooked up on his smaller brother, a 19” Halibut. Neither was the one I lost the last time out, as they didn’t have my jig dangling from their mouth. They were a an absolute hoot to bring aboard with light tackle. Fortunately this time I had the drag properly set, so the bigger one was able to strip some line. He bent my rod nearly in half. He’s on ice now, awaiting my filet knife.