Finding halibut spots ... tips from the pros

[Highliner]

You might try 30' of water with a combination of salmon heads and crabs. We couldn't believe it when we pulled this up! Just goes to show you they are everywhere.

[/IMG]

What the &%@$? How did he get in there?

 

[bryce]

foghorn probably isn't gonna be to happy about that.... I'm gonna write down these coordinates for this weekend...... so i can avoid these spots

 

[juandesooka]

I haven't looked at a chart yet, but given how this subject goes, I'd have to assume these are in the middle of the Pacific missile testing range or something. ;-)

Seriously though, giving up coordinates was not my intention in starting this thread. In fact the opposite -- by giving coordinates, you continue the mythology that you need to be on "the spot" or you don't have a hope, and so we get the same old bitching about being shadowed, people anchoring up too close, etc.

What I am suggesting is to give these newbies some pointers on finding their own new spots. If looking at a chart, what are the telltale signs of something worth exploring? What do you look for on the sounder to confirm? That way they can go off on their own with some confidence instead of bugging the old guys and creating all this tension.

There's been some good tips given already. I pulled out my copy of "Island Halibut Fisherman", it has a few pointers too -- though less than I might hve expected. And no discussion at all about anchoring up -- I am starting to think the South Island is out-of-the-ordinary with this. Everywhere else it seems to be about drift fishing, and so the very specific spot is maybe less critical as you've covering some ground?

 

[Poseidon]

I haven't looked at a chart yet, but given how this subject goes, I'd have to assume these are in the middle of the Pacific missile testing range or something. ;-)

Seriously though, giving up coordinates was not my intention in starting this thread. In fact the opposite -- by giving coordinates, you continue the mythology that you need to be on "the spot" or you don't have a hope, and so we get the same old bitching about being shadowed, people anchoring up too close, etc.

What I am suggesting is to give these newbies some pointers on finding their own new spots. If looking at a chart, what are the telltale signs of something worth exploring? What do you look for on the sounder to confirm? That way they can go off on their own with some confidence instead of bugging the old guys and creating all this tension.

There's been some good tips given already. I pulled out my copy of "Island Halibut Fisherman", it has a few pointers too -- though less than I might hve expected. And no discussion at all about anchoring up -- I am starting to think the South Island is out-of-the-ordinary with this. Everywhere else it seems to be about drift fishing, and so the very specific spot is maybe less critical as you've covering some ground?

I think your right Juandesooka, fisherman seem to want to know everything, but the coordinates given out should be a private thing. After all in the older days of fishing I can recall a old guy saying to me that, all your really looking for is a "Stepped-on-Cod", and that is how you start looking for them. Generally whenever I seem to discover where these fish are, there is usually all kinds of cods around it before and after. Also to think that they are like a preditor and think like a shark, when they are around it seems like everrything is moving away from them. Fresh bait works, but the more rotten the bait is, seems to make them more active in feeding. Think of it as servival of the fittest, and the halibut is in full competition with other halibut.

 

[yo mama]

Seriously is this what it has come too? Why dont you draw a map while your at it. One of those was where I WAS going to tomorrow till you decided to post it idiot. Also your "way out there" is right on top cables, good place to advertise to a public forum on where to anchor.

 

[Lipripper]

........

WTF?

Good thing there are some good spots that aint gunna be plugged this weekend

 

[Bassblaster]

Interesting Tactic Fixer,

Send everyone and their dog to the listed Hali holes, and fish somewhere else. Alone.

 

[Englishman]

Learnin' an' stuff

Some folks have commented on lurkers who don't post as though there is something sinister going on. I am a lurker but the reason I don't post is because I don't know anything! I only bought my boat in June 2010 and have never caught a halibut in my life. As a beginner I posted a few questions about salmon fishing on the Sooke Summer/Spring thread last year and several folks were very helpful with tips, advice and encouragement. (As a result I caught a few salmon but the largest is still only 13lb!) Like I say I am a beginner........

Therefore, these sort of threads are very useful to me. (And I don't mean the GPS coords that some junior member with only one single post has put up - that was over the top!!) For example I thought you had to anchor up with a whole mess of scented baits, in very scary currents with specialised anchor equipment with winches and buoys etc. etc. to fish for halibut. From this thread I have learned I can simply drift. Good to know that for a start, 'cos it means even a beginner like me with no anchoring experience or heavy duty winch has a chance.
Thx guys

 

[Poseidon]

Years ago I paid a charter guy to show me some spots to fish out off Tofino, when we went out to a hole we tolled for springs. But funny enough we were catching salmon on the deeper depth (90ft) and catching halibut on the shollower rod(50ft). So yes trolling does work great.

 

[Charlie]

Trolling, back trolling, and drifting are all productive. Just watch the back trolling, when the swells start breaking over the stern, inside the boat... it is time to quit!