Anchoring For Halibut

Silver One · 11-04-2003, 04:19 PM

In all the posts on Salty dogs/ifish I have not read of anyone anchoring for Halibut at the rockpile? I ask because the pile (I have never been there but have the charts) has very similar depths and mixed sandy/rocky bottoms as where we fished in Canada this past summer. In Canada, the guides all seem to prefer anchoring.

Upon questioning they related that scent dispersal and drawing halibut to you (they were anchoring in 150'-250') was a superior method for catching more and bigger halibut.

Does anyone here have any thoughts or experience with this at the pile or elsewhere?

I'm totally new to halibut fishing and hope to try the pile next summer so your thoughts are appreciated, thanks!

Nalu · 11-04-2003, 04:47 PM

I don't know about Canada, but I anchored with my customer in Alaska for Halibut as well. The key difference being that we fished the tides, and only at slack could get to the bottom while on anchor.

The currents off the Coast of Oregon can get ripping pretty good, and they're not tide dependant. When working on charter boats here, we always drifted simply because it was the only way to get the gear down to the bottom, and even then it wasn't always easy.

Perhaps someone in a small boat could answer if it is at all practical to possibly anchor. I wouldn't think so in a bigger boat.

[ 11-04-2003, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: Nalu ]

Sensei-san · 11-04-2003, 04:50 PM

I suppose you could anchor at the rockpile. But you would have about a hundred boats throwing sinkers at you. Halibut fishing in the lower 48 is different than in BC or Alaska. There are way more people that participate in our limited season. In BC or Alaska there could be one or two boats at the most at a favorite halibut spot as they have a more open season. We get six to nine days guaranteed and the rest if we don't meet the quota. People would be really <angry> if someone hogged the best spot on anchor. Besides it can be really dangerous if the winds and swells come up.

[ 11-04-2003, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: skein ]

Nalu · 11-04-2003, 04:56 PM

Sensei-san-- I have to respectfully disagree with you on the amount of boats at certain locations in AK or BC.

I have a "trophy" that I tied to the top of my VHF antenna for the remainder of the summer when guiding in AK. The "trophy" was the distinct leader rig that one particular guide used. I brought it up with my anchor as he was trying to drift fish his customers between myself and a buddy-boat.

It gets downright nasty between people out there sometimes.

Certainly not to take away from here in Oregon, but it's the same all over.

Beer Waggin · 11-04-2003, 05:50 PM

It's looking more and more like you won't have to worry about anchoring on the rock pile, see www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=003041

As for really doing it... probably not a really good idea unless your life insurance is paid up.

Silver One · 11-04-2003, 06:16 PM

S-S
Good point about courtesy, just thought the pile was pretty big. Never been there, how many boats are on the pile on a busy weekend?

NorDav
Wasn't thinking about May fisherery, August seems to be much better weather. The Canadians were using the E-Z puller/float system. They were fishing out of 18' center consule boats and seemed to have no problems on the nice days in the mornings.

blubeast · 11-04-2003, 07:41 PM

NorRivDave,
As clarified in a later post, per odfw the Rock Pile WILL be open during halibut season.

It will also be ok for salmon & tuna... just not for rockfishing after the 40 fathom rule takes effect.

Phil Layer · 11-05-2003, 08:13 AM

I've fished for halibut in Alaska while on anchor but we were on slack tide in relatively protected waters (Cook Inlet). I'm guessing your Canadian halibut fishing was off of Vancouver Island, which would offer quite a bit of protection as well.

Our Oregon halibut fishing at the Rockpile is protected from nothing. While it can be calm out there at times, it can also come up pretty fast. I would be a bit nervous dropping anchor out there. I've never seen it done at the pile.

CrazyFish · 11-05-2003, 02:58 PM

I have fished the Pile with 8' swells and 3'+ wind chop. You would have to be insane to drop an anchor in an ocean like that.

The only time I've ever used an anchor in the ocean is in a near shore situation and only when necessary.

Mark Mc · 11-05-2003, 05:29 PM

There are two separate issues here.

(1) Anchoring in deep water is not necessarily that big a deal. We used to do it while commercial rod & reeling for rockfish in up to 80 fathoms or so. It helps to have the right kind of gear, and there are a few tricks to avoid losing your anchor like having the end of the line or chain attached to the base of the anchor, with a break-away tying it to the normal attachment point. Stonewall Bank would actually be fairly easy to anchor at because most of the rock is actually sandstone, not jagged gear-grabbing rock.

(2) Does it make sense to do at at the rockpile? The problem with that place is that, you could be the only one on the whole dang reef, and one boat will come out there and want to stop right on top of you because he can't find his own fish. This same sort of person most likely does not know any of the rules of the road, would not recognize any day markers, or buoy you were tied off to. By the time you start screaming at him to get away, he's running over the anchor line or the buoy or banging into you.

So this latter reason would be the reason not to do it, for me anyway.

Silver One · 11-05-2003, 09:08 PM

Phil
We were fishing the west coast of Vancouver Island, no protection at all.

edsr
Hey, do you really think I could make 10,000 bucks!!!? That would be great, up till now I've been doing stupid stuff way to cheap! :grin:

Mark
Thanks for the seasoned advice but I guess I'll pass unless I see someone with a video camera.

Mike

edsr · 11-05-2003, 11:42 PM

Picture one each of every kind of boat big enough to make it to the rock pile and a bunch more that are relly too small. Now picture the different rates of drift from these different boats. Now picture one boat anchored in this mess and you've got have the makings for the $10,000 prize on America's Funniest Home Videos, except this would be a tragicomedy.

There is also the matter of how much anchor rode would be needed in order to get the proper scope in water this deep.

edsr

edsr · 11-06-2003, 09:54 AM

Silver One - You could really start a new trend on AFV that would replace the ubiquitous "groin shots". "And here's Charlie dropping is 40lb Danforth in 60 fathoms on the rockpile --- but wait here comes Goof-Ball II across his bow dropping his anchor perpendicular to Charlies's and wait, the scope is too short -- Oh No!!! they both get pulled down -- boy these fishing guys are really crazy" "Tune in next week for", "Wake Board Wackies".

In short order we Salty Dogs would have the place to ourselves and a new reef to fish on.

edsr

Pitch Pocket · 11-06-2003, 12:34 PM

I've fished Cook inlet in at 28' aluminum boat and we anchored in over 350' of water. It's pretty much standard operating procedure there. You don't need a 7-1 scope to pin for a couple of hours in relatively calm seas. We anchored in some pretty large chop up there (as did the rest of the boats around us) and didn't have a problem. Helped to have the large windlass to haul the anchor. It's not for little old ladies or the weak at heart, but it was sure an effective way to fish halibut.

tailchaser · 11-06-2003, 12:48 PM

We also did this out of Homer, AK in roughly 250-350' of water and was very effective but we could only do it at the slower stages of the tides. Had to have a lot of weight also with the water ripping under you. I could only imagine how much anchor and fishing line you would need to do it in 500' of water here.

tc

Pitch Pocket · 11-06-2003, 03:46 PM

Even though we would stay through the slack water and continue to fish as the tide moved, we caught fish. I didn't last long bouncing 4 lbs of lead waaaaaay behind the boat though. I would stop and watch till we pulled anchor and went in. The problem with anchoring at the Rock Pile would probably be the current. Not sure what the velocity is out there, but it's most likely not the rip we had in Cook Inlet.

Anyone know the set and drift at the Rock Pile in the summer?

Silver One · 11-06-2003, 04:32 PM

Due to the apparent crowding problems and possible rough water I can see everyones concern about anchoring at the pile. However, some of you might be interested in what we observed which started this whole discussion.

We had fished several days using many of the same techniques and set-ups described on ifish. We had little luck but granted, that could have been us. Finally, one in our party talked to one of the guides who shared with us the anchoring tip. He also shared another little tidbit which I don't even know is legal here or there. He said they saved the salmon heads, guts and carcuses every day and then brought them out with them. After anchoring, they dumped the remains where they were fishing.

A couple days later we ran into these guys anchored at one of the halibut high spots. There were several boats and they were all hooked up. Needless to say we joined them. Over the next couple hours we watched them catch halibut after halibut and I'm talking BIG some of them. Later at the dock we learned they had brought in limits of halibut ranging in size from 50-165 lbs. We also finally brought in limits.

Coincidence? Don't know. All I know is we caught none before and then hammered them. That's why I'm trying to piece this puzzle together. Any thoughts on this anyone?

Mike

Pitch Pocket · 11-06-2003, 07:00 PM

Chumming? Don't know the specific legality, but it's again, not brain surgery. Dump feed and it attracts fish. Throw a can of corn in the water at Swift on opening day and them and see the action (observed, not performed). Very effective and logical. Dump halibut food in the water for several days at the same lat & long and come back the 3rd or 4th day for hungry fish. It's not quite a hunt, more of a lure and harvest.