Closest Halibut Fishing

Skipper · 05-07-2002, 09:20 AM

Where is the closest halibut fishing to a harbor?

I have a 19' Harbercraft with an open bow and a 70hp Suzuki. I took it out in the blue pond last year but didn't go further than 5 miles out. I'm hesitant to go 20 or 35 miles out.

Pilar · 05-07-2002, 09:35 AM

Garibaldi at 24 miles .. but still too far if you doubt your boat. Later in the summer you could fish the Stonewall Bank (17 miles) and get fish there on the August all depth days. Or there is the lighthouse hole off Newport from May 1 till late summer. This is 5 miles or so from the bay.

Skipper · 05-07-2002, 03:53 PM

Pilar,

Do you know the GPS coordinates for the lighthouse hole?

On the 17th my buddy and I could go for bottom fish, halibutt, and herring (if they are still running).

Mr. Fisherman · 05-07-2002, 07:46 PM

Hey Skipper,

I was just funnin with ya.

You had better be careful with an open bow boat. I have RARELY been out that a green wave didn't come over. That would not be good in an open bow boat which is why mine dosen't go past the bay.

I can show ya on a chart where the lighthouse hole is but I'd rather show you

.

Later,

Mr. F.

AngleThis · 05-07-2002, 08:32 PM

I set out to answer this same question recently, and also came up with Gerribaldi as the answer. Conditions permitting (in the grey area at the moment), I plan to visit this spot 23.6 miles out sometime between Friday and next Monday. My boat is only 18ft, but maticulously well rebuilt and equiped..now adding a second bilge pump with 1,250 gal/hr capacity . I'd welcome a small vessel buddy system parnter on the voyage. But open bow?... I don't think I can envision that on big blue in anything but cream puff conditions.

Please email me if you plan to head to Geribaldi this weekend.

DC

[ 05-07-2002, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: ********* ]

Mr. Fisherman · 05-07-2002, 11:04 PM

Safeway!

Pilar · 05-08-2002, 07:18 AM

Skipper, I know how to get in the ball park but not exactly where it is. Look on the chart at the area due west of the lighthouse. You will see a well defined drop off. beyond the dropoff and you are in the >30 fathom excluded area. East of it and you can fish all summer.

As long as you stay shallower than the 30 fathom line it's open all summer.

Skipper · 05-08-2002, 10:04 PM

Thanks Pilar & Fisherman,

I can probably find the light house hole now.
The boat is well out fitted and has 29" deep sides and splash well. I have a GPS, VHF, bilge pump, flares, flare gun, full top, and plenty of power. I have a lot of experience as a youth going out on Uncles boats, and charter boats, even over Netarts bar many times (one of the most dangerous bars on the West Coast). 4 years in the Navy, and 7 years sailing 27' to 33' sailboats in Southern CA in the big blue pond, even navigating to Santa Catalina Island many times. I'm no stranger to the ocean.

Last year I had this boat out in white cap conditions, and it did OK even with an occasional wave coming over the bow. I just don't want to be 20 or 30 miles out on a calm day and have rough conditions come up suddenly, like it can.

Tinman · 05-08-2002, 10:48 PM

Skipper: I've been over the Netarts bar twice now, but the surf was just 2 feet. Tell me more about your experiences crossing Netarts. I don't know anybody else who has done it. I have a 15 foot Bayrunner, which has a very high bow, almost like a square-stern dory.

I've surf launched boats for years in So. California, and it seems to me that the waves on the Netarts bar are so mushy, they're not bad to ride over. Certainly they don't curl over and crash hard.

To my eye, 3 foot surf is the maximum I would tackle at Netarts, and then only on a flood tide so in case I do get pooped, at least the current will pull me into the bay. What size surf are you comfortable in? How do you know where the channel is on the way in? Do you need a high tide to cross the bar? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks

Skipper · 05-09-2002, 09:55 PM

Tinman,

I have never crossed Netarts bar as the skipper of a boat, only a passenger, and the last time was 20 years ago. The bay and bar constantly change.

40 years ago my Dad used to be a part of the Netarts Bay Boaters Club. They would put out a whistler bouy at the begining of each summer to mark the bar channel. Then the Coast Guard took over the task but eventually stopped. For the last 16 years I haven't seen a marker bouy out there.

Every year, and somtimes several times each year, the Coast Guard plucks people out of the water at Netarts Bar. Usually, inexperienced weekenders. However, I know of very capable men who have had their boats capsized by the waves there. Not by 3' waves, but 10' breakers.

If a guy just had to go over that bar, I would not go on an out going tide. The chop is worse, and if you're boat is sunk or capsized, then you will float out to sea. On incomming your may be washed ashore. Much better odds of staying alive.

I have been on a boat in the '60's that went thru the middle rock of the 3 Arched Rocks.

Great fishing, but better to come from Garibaldi.

Cheerio'
Jim Voges