I couldnt hold the hali's on, need advice.

[id. painter]

This summer was my first real attempt at catching Halibut.
The area we fished was refered to by locals as thier CHICKEN RANCH.
Each day i fished we hooked lots of fish but really had trouble hanging on to them.
We used several lures , but the most srtikes came from a 10oz jig head with a power grub (glow ) stuck on the single hook. I just couldnt seem to get the single hook to hold on for the whole ride up.
I remember you all showing and talking Halibut rigs . Any advice i can get for next year would be great. My strike to hook rate was way too low and my hook to land rate was way to low. id. p.

[Orca]

Huge hooks - I have used 11/0 J hooks and/or 16/0 circle hooks. Haven't had any problems keeping Halibut hooked up. If you use the circle hooks, bend the entire bottom out at about a 30 degree angle, and let the fish work over the bait until you are getting a solid tug, then just put on the pressure and bring them up (30 seconds is not too long!)

If strictly fishing halibut, I am going to start using a spreader, 16/0 circle, 200 lb. mono or steel leader, with a glow hoochie and RSK. Slip the herring in the RSK, rubber band the hook next to the tail and get ready. And, as UG pointed out below, I sharpen up all those hooks. See this http://www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb....;f=21;t=002835 for Pilar's current multi-species slaying rig that will work for halibut as well as ling and salmon when mooching.

You can get perfect sized rubber bands for holding hooks for salmon or halibut rigs at the horse tack stores - 500/$2. They are used to braid horse manes.

[ 09-04-2003, 10:18 AM: Message edited by: Orca ]

[Uglygreen]

Sharpen your hooks... large hooks are seldom sharp from the factory... get the file out.

UG

[id. painter]

Thanks for the link to Pilar,s disertation. I like the idea of using bait .. Ill learn more . id. p.

[Hellibut]

As Orca said I think circle hooks would be your best bet and for the most part this is all I have ever used. These hooks are used for long lining and are designed to set themselves. The only fish I lost using these hooks were due to something called patience or lack of. The first little bump I got I was trying to set the hook and while I did hook a few, I routinely lost them on the way up. My experience with Halibut have been that when using bait with a circle hook I feed out a pull or two of line after the first bump. For the most part I have found that when using a jig of any kind, Halibut will actually strike it. Bending the hook at a 30 degree angle I haven’t tried but it is an interesting concept.

Drop the second hook if you're using circle hooks, it is a waste of gear. The first hook out will hook the fish. I prefer to use 100lb mono leaders, cable works though. Let the butt run with your bait until it stops. Real in your line and let the circle hook set its self. Set the hooks (2) hard when using J hooks. Sharpen them too.

[id. painter]

O.k. I will have very sharp hooks ,, I must have been jerking the jig right out . The more fish i lost and the more frustrated i became the quicker and stronger my reaction (set the hook).Old habits die hard.
It sounds like an interesting little paradox, eh. Remember, im just an ocean pup and have a lifetime of learning ahead. Thanks for the tips .. id. painter.

[Pilar]

Yeah, set the hook with the reel handle. Reel slow until the rod begins to get the bend and then crank for all you are worth to get the fish off the bottom.

After that just play it like always. Repeat as necessary for stress relief. Your mileage may vary.

It's really hard to lose the 'Jerk' mentality.

[Uglygreen]

John is talking circles in the previous post. Set J hooks if using the jig like in your orignal post.

Here is why you dont set a circle hook. For a circle to work the fish has to turn away with the hook in its mouth for the hook to set. take a circle hook and tie on a leader. Use your hand for a approximation of a fishes mouth and slowly pull the hook out. with the line going the same direction as your hand the hook just comes out. With the line at a 90 degree angle to your hand the hook would set in the corner between your thumb and forefinger if you pulled hard enough. You have to give the fish a chance to turn away with the bait for the hook to work. Once set, it nearly never comes out.

Leadhead jigs, use a stiff pole and set the hook hard and keep a lot of pressure on. The reason most people lose fish with a leadhead is not enough line tension. Think about it. Halibut - maybe a 20 oz to get down? Now take a 20 oz leadhead and hold the shank in your hand, shake your hand like a fish's head thrashing back and forth. Its hard to keep a grip on the hook, right? All that lead swinging back and forth when the fish moves and shakes trying to get free will tear the hook portion of the jig out. Or tear a great big hole that the hook can fall out of if the tension is off for even a millisecond. Using big leadheads, use mono line for strech and shock absorbsion, keep the drag way tight, sharpen the heck out of the hooks and fight the fish very agressivly, if you try to baby it because your losing fish you will just lose more and try to baby it more and lose more - a vicious circle. Most of the time using a jig the fish will hit it on the fall. Swell makes the boat go up and down, and the fish will most often hit the jig on the way down, you might not even feel the initial take. The first you feel the fish is when the boat is going back up. Delayed reaction and you may be setting the hook when the boat is on the way back down. Up in Alaska we would hold our rods when using jigs for this reason and set the hook instantly when the fish was first felt and the boat hopefully still on the rise up the swell. Might try it if your going to jig fish buts. :smile:

UG

[ 09-04-2003, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: Uglygreen ]

[id. painter]

So, from what ive herd, try 100# mono leader with two circle hooks snelled about 4 in. apart. Use a R.S.K. ( i use a thing called Krippled herring) behind a 5 0r 6 foot leader trailing from a banana sinker.
Just drift along and when you feel he first bump stay cool for a couple of seconds (15)maybe ,then give em some pressure. Dont set the hook hard with a snap but more slowly apply pressure. Am I comming close to getting it??
Sounds good anyway. and thanks for helping, I ended up pretty frustrated this year . I am going to teach those Hali's a lesson next year. id. p.

[Orca]

That should work id.

[id. painter]

Thanks guys , this all helps . I think U.G. hit it on the jig head so to speak. I did get several fish right to the boat before the weight of the jig tossed its self out of the fishes mouth. Just as U.G. mentioned in a millisecond of slack line.
I like the thought of getting the fish to eat the bait and let the hook get him . It sounds like i will have to show some self control and not set the hook as soon as i feel a bump,, or let the rod holder hang on to it for me.
Another question about using herring for Halibut. We were fishing in 300 - 350 feet of water . I felt like it could be a whole lot more work if a guy was using bait ,because each time you got a strike you wouldnt know if you still had a bait on , and the not sure if your still fishin.Thats a lot of reeling and waisted fish time.
I litterly could hardly get a jig to the bottom without fish hitting it. I would reel in my jig after some fishing and the entire glow grub would be ripped to shreads.
One more ? How important is it to be just a few feet from the bottom ,, is 10feet ok ? Or do you always want to keep it real close?

[Mr. Fisherman]

IDP, Email me your mailing address and I'll send you the answer

As far as how far up to fish? Well we have caught large Halibut everywhere from the bottom to 40' down. Yes, we have caught Halibut while trolling with a downrigger for Kings and while mooching for Lings. Not just once but several times.
If we dont get fish on the bottom after a few drifts I start fishing at least one rod further off the bottom. Eventually you will find them. Your milage may vary but fish the rig I send you the way Pilar discribed and hang on

[greenbuttskunk]

I personally like the double hook rig. Fixed lower hook (larger) and the upper as a slider. I tie my own. Good size sharp hooks also help a ton, and make sure when you pump the rod you keep the slack out of the line. A problem some have when experiencing bottom fishing early on. Not saying you do, but i've seen it on charter boats
and some folks leave a few feet of slack on the drop, which Ican give the fish it's opportunity to say bye-bye!

[id. painter]

I am new to bottom fishing the ocean and Im sure im have lots to learn. As a kid we trolled for salmon, only. Thanks . id.painter

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

i.d. the problem you are having is very common with those who use any of the lines that have no stretch. If you are jigging then you most likely are setting the hook to soon and are lip hooking the fish.

During the halibut season, I fish as many as 27 people at a time and hardly ever lose a fish. This is because I use 40# test mono line. The passengers don't know when a fish is biting and so the fish hook themselves very well. Those who bring their own poles with tuffline or the same however, have a high incident of loss.

Let the fish have the bait or jig. Let them swallow it and hook themselves. If you are using a tuffline type of line, you will be tempted to "Set the Hook" and will have a low catch rate.

[bull285]

id.painter,
I was only able to get out to the Chicken Ranch once this year on 8\2 but got a limit on buts one 44" and four others that went 50lbs plus. My partner was fishin steel leader with 9\0 gamakatsu octopus hooks. Had the same problem til he finally broke his leader. I gave him one of mine and he couldn't shake them off. I use 80lb Big Game and 8\0 gamakatsu circle hooks tied into a solid mootching rig. I use a whole purple label herring top hook through the mouth and the bottom hook through the back just in front of the tail. Two to three pounds of cannonball depending on drift and depth (you want your bait on the bottom and stationary for as long as you can before lifting to reset with the drift). Most importantly let the fish take the bait and for god sakes don't set the hook. I usually wait for a solid pull and then start reeling. I have very few come unbuttoned and have yet to break the big game even horsing a 62lber in. Would post the picture but I haven't figured out how unless it's already on a web site. Any tips would be appreciated.