In British Columbia, octopus is THE bait for halibut, often combined with a heavy jig. The sports outlets in the Port Hardy area carry it chunked and frozen. We also used it in Alaska, along with various fish parts. It stays on the hook great. Here, squid is much easier to acquire and would probably work just as well. Remember, Pacific Halibut are basically scavengers and opportunistic attackers -- they aren't working hard for their dinner, just taking whatever comes along. If I had to get some octopus around here I supposed I'd try the fish section in the asian markets. Larry

 

Octopus is one of my standard halibut baits, along with herring and shad. Like everything, fresh is best, but frozen will also work. Some of the bait shops in Canada will sell canned (jarred) stuff but save your money, it doesn't work.

Skein

 

As stated above, it should work great for halibut bait. The Asian market accross from where the Blazers play(?) basketball almost always has some.

However, If I had Octopus, either from diving or from the seafood market, it would go into Ceviche de Pulpo, no better eating. I spend my halibut bait money on Shad. Works great.

 

I am going to go "Squidding" this winter, we jig for them right off the peirs in downtown Seattle. I use the squid for dinner, halibut and sturgeon fishing. The durability is excellent on the hook and well fresh calamari isn't so bad either. :smile:

 

I have burned thru all of my shad crabbing. Anyone have some they want to part with for my 2006 Halibut opener?

Would you rig shad as strips or ???

 

There are quite a fwe places to buy frozen octopus in the Portland area, not sure about your neck of the woods though. I get mine at a small asian seafood market in hillsboro, on TV highway, they have whole octopus frozen in blocks. I think it is a couple bucks a pound.

Make sure if you go to an asian market you don't buy Tako, which will have white flesh with red markings, this is octopus, but it is already steamed, for use in sushi. It will be expensive, and not good bait.

I have never had great luck with straight octopus, but frequently add a tentical to a herring bait, since it just won't come off a hook.

 

I agree with Threemuch. Be careful if you buy it and make sure it's not been cooked or seasoned in any way.

My go-to baits are shad and herring, in that order. Shad is readily available around halibut season, and it works! It's tough, shiny, smelly, and the halibut LOVE it.

Octo's are much harder to come by.

Skein

 

An octopus & herring combo is an Alaskan favorite for halibut. The octopus stays on the hook better than herring, so if you miss the fish the first time, halibut often come back for a second whack at the bait. This is nice, especially when you are fishing at deep depths.

 

Squid works very well with a large herring on the same rig.
I have not tried the octopus. Big baits big fish :smile:

 

Fresh "Octopus Candy" is the go-to-bait in Canada. Soft and chewy like a rubber band. Chucked with a large jig works best. It stays on the hook ...forever! Although one of my all time favorites is Salmon belly, again, soft, chewy and white in color. This is my all time favorite bait and have caught multiple (5 or more) halibut on the same strip of Salmon belly.

 

yep, salmo belly IF legal. I also like to use a Youngquist teaser rig above my jig w octo on that. Again in areas where legal. I am kind of a wuss tho - I seek out shallow Hali in less than 200'

 

I am going to go "Squidding" this winter, we jig for them right off the peirs in downtown Seattle. I use the squid for dinner, halibut and sturgeon fishing. The durability is excellent on the hook and well fresh calamari isn't so bad either. :smile:

Now your talking
I love fresh Calamari and its good bait when ya can't eat anymore

 

Octopus... The best! Use the same bait over and over again. day after day.

CAPT KUJO

 

I really would prefer either that or Halibut skins for Halibut. stays on a lllloooonnnngggg time.

 

Do they catch squid down here in Oregon anyplace?

 

Great bait,I use it alot up north with a 12 or 16oz jig and big mombo grub just like a Giant crappie jig!!! Octopus=berkly crappie nibble. deadly :angel:
Wild Oats Markets usually have it, they also have baby octupus-sus-ses-seses. :smile: :help: :smile: (octopus's=Octopi)

LipRipr

 

Sometime check the stomach contents of your halibut. Invariably when we looked in the halis from AK, at least a handful of the limit had octopus beaks in their stomachs, and sometimes whole ones as well. Halibut love octopus!

-GWH

 

Squid is geat bait but if you want the very best bait for big fish what you have to do is catch a halibut about 60 lbs and have it cough-up a partly digested hake about 14". Wrap that firmly on your hook and yer good ta go! :laugh: :laugh:
edsr

 

I have used octopus for halibut bait with good success, but after viewing that video on the octopus attacking and eating the shark, I wonder how many octopus eat halibut?