My first Halibut trip.

wak'm&stak'm · 05-16-2002, 12:48 PM

Just keep it on the bottom at all costs....there is no science to halibut.

When you feel a tug, tug...just let them swallow it for a minute like threemuch said.

I am not a big fan of circle hooks in a drift setting but some are. I used them in Alaska fishing off anchor, but I like the point traveling my direction.

Two of my three biggest fish came while my pole was in the holder and I was clubbing other fish...so who knows.

I also rig a second hook about 2 ft up my line....and I kid you not, there have been trips when that hook catches 90% of the fish, go figure.

A few years back we were at the Ranch (before it had a name) and I caught 16 Hailibut in one day (this was my personal best. and all but one was on that top hook.

Go get them....good luck

Matt H. · 05-16-2002, 11:25 PM

Well, my brother and I are heading out with an old friend down in Florence this Friday to try for Halibut.

So what should I keep in mind when fishing? Do the fish hit like a runaway train or tap like a bullhead? Will I need to constantly take care of my rod, or just put it in the rod holder and wait?
Whats the best way to fight these fish?

Sorry for so many questions, but I dont want to seem like a total newb when I'm out there =).

Thanks in advance,

Matt

Threemuch · 05-16-2002, 11:45 PM

If you use circle hooks, and I reccomend you do, don't do a thing when they hit. Maybe feed them some line. After no less than 30 seconds, start reeling slowly, when you get about 100 yards back, they are yours, almost guaranteed. Bait your hook with something tough. If I was using herring, I also put on octopus or squid, so that if I got hit, I knew I wasn't cleaned. And wrap the hell out of your herring with elastic thread. There is a ton of info here about 30 threads on how to kill FB.

Most of our 8 fish last weekend came on a strip of salmon belly tipped with a baby octopus. Good luck.

Matt H. · 05-18-2002, 04:44 PM

I got skunked =/.

Matt

Threemuch · 05-18-2002, 06:52 PM

Don't feel bad, the drift was horrible and the bite was nearly non existant out of garibaldi. We got one for three guys fishing, plus had loads of trouble with the boat. Could be worse, you might have been at work.

KB

Orca · 05-18-2002, 09:26 PM

My Brother-in-law went out of Newport to the Ranch and said the bite was off there as well. We will have to wait for the rest of the fleet to check in to see how others did out of Newport.

Mr. Fisherman · 05-19-2002, 05:33 PM

Newport was tough fishing this Friday and Saturday. We struggled to get the last fish Friday but it was a nice fat 50" :grin: .
Saturday was a different story. We fished HARD and couldn't buy a fish. I guess sooner or later it's always later. We didn't get back to the dock till 9:00 p.m. so when I say hard I mean it.

Well I bet there will ba additional days.

Hope more people got into fish than not.

The crabbing was very poor with the large swell. I don't know what's up with all the females. Maybe the comercial boats just went through or something. Only 2 keepers for 6 hotels. That's all I'm going to say about that right now.

Look for updates later....

Mr. F... Out...

Matt H. · 05-19-2002, 06:46 PM

I saw a lot of fish getting cleaned at the dock in Newport on Saturday though. At least 3 fish over 50". Most folks said the bite was on very early, like before 6:00 am, then was pretty much dead the rest of the day.

So for those lucky enough to be fishin early, it was pretty decent. I guess there's always June...

Matt