Surefire Halibut Fishing Techniques

The Halibut is an exciting species that can be found in Alaska and all along the pacific coast. The halibut can grow to some amazing sizes that can catch any new angler by surprise.

The average size of the halibut is around thirty pounds but there have been some caught that weighed over 600 pounds. Of course, the larger halibut will be found out in the deeper water but you can find some nice size halibut in the surf as well.

If you want to be successful at halibut fishing then you need a few fishing techniques to help you get started. The most important part of halibut fishing is having the right gear. Not only are the halibut a large species but they are also a smart fish that can be very aggressive.

Weak gear will only lead to disappointment when you lose more than you catch or when they break your rod making it necessary for you to call it an early day.

You won't be able to reel the halibut all the way into your boat so it is necessary to have a strong net to help you pull in the fish once you get him to the surface. The bait you use and your presentation can mean the difference between having an exciting and successful day halibut fishing and a slow boring one.

Types of Bait to Use

The halibut are bottom feeders so you need to get your bait down to the bottom where they are the most plentiful. Using lead sinkers is the best way to accomplish this. A sliding weight system combined with heavy monofilament line will also work very well.

The halibut is not very picky when it comes to the bait because they will strike at about anything that captures their attention. Still, the best baits to use include the following: Hearing, Live Squid, Queenfish, Sardines, Mackerel and Anchovies.

Using these will get the attention of the halibut faster than some of the other options you have. It is important to change your bait at least every thirty minutes to keep it fresh. This will attract more halibut and draw them in your direction. Once the bait gets old the halibut will ignore it.

The hook is extremely important when fishing for halibut. It must be very sharp and in good condition or it will not go through the bony mouth of the halibut.

The fine wire hooks are recommended for the best results and make sure that you use a size that is appropriate for the size of fish you intend to be reeling in.

Jigs can be used to fish for the halibut with great success. You can use the jig to thump the bottom of the water and get their attention. The halibut are also attracted to the scents that can be used with jigs.

When you are fishing with jigs there are several available that will work very well. For example, the lucky jig is an excellent choice. These are considered pipe jigs and they are designed with different color skirts. The Gibbs jigs are shaped like the halibuts favorite food, the herring. So you can see why they would work so well when fishing for this species.