Having trouble finding the halibut

[FishNdive]

I have been seeing pictures of guys catching big halibut but I'm not having any luck. I catch lots of short ones. Sometimes in the same spot, same tide, same gear, I'll get 6, and another day, zero bites.

Are the halibut generally in the bays right now, and not in the surf? I catch them in the surf later in the year with a lucky craft. In the bay I've been drop shotting with a curlytail grub which seems to work great for halibut and spotted bass, but the keeper halibut are eluding me.

I know this is like asking "where is your secret halibut spot", but any tips would be appreciated!

[Fishtricks]

Bass jigs, spinnerbaits, chatters, large drop shots, and C.rigs(5-6" lures). 8-10lb mono. Stay near the bottom. Mow the lawn. If you drop in his face, he will hit it. I usually get 1 good bite on a 6-8 hour trip.

[Fishtricks]

You can tell a big halibut bite, because your lure moves 10-15" instead of 1-3" on the bump. If you get the bite and miss, work that area for the next 2-3 hours with various lures. If you break off on the hook set, might as well go home. (or fish for SBB.)

[FishNdive]

Bass jigs, spinnerbaits, chatters, large drop shots, and C.rigs(5-6" lures). 8-10lb mono. Stay near the bottom. Mow the lawn. If you drop in his face, he will hit it. I usually get 1 good bite on a 6-8 hour trip.

I see, I think my missing ingredient is patience. 6-8 hours, one good bite! Thank you for the info. Maybe I'll stick with surf fishing pulling in spotfins until later in the year, and try halibut in the surf.

[camobass]

If you’re getting short halibut, You’re in the zone. There’s big ones there. Problem is, small lures will get both big and small- more small. That’s why I’ll drop a 8-10” Mac down…keeps the small/short bite away.

[FishNdive]

If you’re getting short halibut, You’re in the zone. There’s big ones there. Problem is, small lures will get both big and small- more small. That’s why I’ll drop a 8-10” Mac down…keeps the small/short bite away.

I was wondering that... do the babies and adults hang out together? If there are a bunch of short ones, are there big ones too? Or do babies stay in different spots and big ones wander farther, or elsewhere?

[Gotfish?]

Are you fishing from the shore, a boat, a kayak or tube? Helps to know.

Halibut are found in flats and in channels next to grass. But mostly near smaller fish they can ambush from below. Find the smaller fish and there are probably halibut nearby.

I often catch halibut while fishing for spotties from my tube, sometimes as many as 3 legals in a day, other times none. Most of them are in 6-12' of water but that is also where I fish for spotties. If I really wanted to target them, I would catch mackerel, smelt or lizardfish on a sabiki rig and then put one on a 3 way rig and drag across the bottom. Use about a 1 ounce sinker and about 18-24" of line to the bait and to the sinker from the 3-way swivel. You won't catch small ones with those baits.

[Gotfish?]

One more thing: low tide has been the best time for halibut. The smaller fish move out of the grass at low tide into the channels and that becomes feeding time for halibut.

[FishNdive]

Are you fishing from the shore, a boat, a kayak or tube? Helps to know.

Halibut are found in flats and in channels next to grass. But mostly near smaller fish they can ambush from below. Find the smaller fish and there are probably halibut nearby.

I often catch halibut while fishing for spotties from my tube, sometimes as many as 3 legals in a day, other times none. Most of them are in 6-12' of water but that is also where I fish for spotties. If I really wanted to target them, I would catch mackerel, smelt or lizardfish on a sabiki rig and then put one on a 3 way rig and drag across the bottom. Use about a 1 ounce sinker and about 18-24" of line to the bait and to the sinker from the 3-way swivel. You won't catch small ones with those baits.

I am on the shore, being out on the water would give me more options for sure. I have caught a few on the south side of the MB channel, the ocean beach / dog beach side. Small ones though. I caught some from north county beaches later in the year as well. I tried at various spots around mission bay, near different bridges and such, with no luck, though I did get a few bass. I was using my curly tail drop shot rig.

I bet if I got a tube and some live bait and dragged my bait around out away from shore I'd get one. I need to buy a little pickup truck to carry all my fishing stuff around.

[Gotfish?]

I fit a float tube, 5 rods, rod holder, booties, waders, fins, gear, rain jacket, hat, etc. in my Prius. Only need to deflate the tube about 10% to fit it. Takes me about 10 minutes to put everything together and get on the water once I park. I have taken as many as 3 people with tubes on a fishing trip to the Eastern Sierras but I used a car rack for that.

Carpkiller has some tubes he will sell cheap. Message him.

[camobass]

If you’re getting short halibut, You’re in the zone. There’s big ones there. Problem is, small lures will get both big and small- more small. That’s why I’ll drop a 8-10” Mac down…keeps the small/short bite away.

I was wondering that... do the babies and adults hang out together? If there are a bunch of short ones, are there big ones too? Or do babies stay in different spots and big ones wander farther, or elsewhere?

When fishing artificial, (smaller, average size baits) I have encountered all sizes in the same zone. Hard to tell when you’re dragging big baits if the small ones are there. I’ve never visually looked at halibut on the bottom. I just know from experience when there is one, there is many.

[MistrRocko]

I was wondering that... do the babies and adults hang out together? If there are a bunch of short ones, are there big ones too? Or do babies stay in different spots and big ones wander farther, or elsewhere?

They hang out together

[FishNdive]

I was wondering that... do the babies and adults hang out together? If there are a bunch of short ones, are there big ones too? Or do babies stay in different spots and big ones wander farther, or elsewhere?

They hang out together

Is that a baby halibut with a bite mark from a big halibut?? Hah!

[inthedeep2]

be persistent you will get one. took me a few years to finally get a legal. best advice I can give, when you can get off the bank.

[MistrRocko]

Is that a baby halibut with a bite mark from a big halibut?? Hah!

Yup, little dude was a survivor.