I run them (and pilchards) backwards, as in the nose faces away from the spreader bar. Halibut seem to like ingesting their food face first. A large single in the tail on a tight slider, and a large treble - line coming in from the rear of the gill plate and treble centered in the yap. Caution on that rig is it is lethal. Won't be able to release many as they WILL be hooked deep. Can alleviate that with a larger circle hook run through the top of the skull of the bait if you're planning on letting any go...
Cheers,
Nog