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Before planning your halibut fishing trip,
halibut.net suggests you first check the phase of the moon during
your trip and then the tides for the area and weather. The phase of
the moon will effect your halibut fishing as well as any other
bottomfishing you might try. A full moon will cause higher, swifter
tides that make it difficult to keep your halibut baits or halibut
lures on or very near the bottom. This doesn't mean you won't catch
halibut, it simply means you will have to use different halibut
fishing techniques. For instance, anchoring for halibut can be very
effective, even during the strongest tides of the month.
The largest halibut I've taken to date, a
whopping 325 pound trophy halibut, was taken during the strongest
tide of the month. We anchored our 25 foot boat in a known halibut
bed and then lowered our whole salmon heads to the bottom, with the
aid of four pound leads. Our anchorage was 320 feet deep. It would
not have been possible to stay on the bottom without the use of 80
pound test superbraid line, (thin diameter, strong breaking
strength) or without the heavier lead.
For years everyone has said you will catch
more halibut during slack tides. This is true only because that's
typically when the majority of halibut anglers pursue halibut.
However, the expert halibut guides know they can fish for halibut
and catch halibut during any tidal phase, if they go to the right
spot.
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Tip:
When planning your halibut fishing trip, try to plan to take
advantage of the two best times to have your halibut baits
or halibut lures on or near the bottom: |
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#1 High slack |
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#2 Low slack |
| Many locations
throughout the Pacific Ocean, where Pacific halibut are
numerous and where they are scarce, you'll find areas that
produce only one tidal phase. For instance, your best
halibut fishing buddy might give you his best halibut
fishing GPS numbers, that produced limits of halibut last
week. Great, you plug the numbers into the GPS and go the
halibut hotspot and fish for hours without so much as a
bite. Why?
Look at the chart of the area, then
note when your buddy experienced great halibut fishing
action. If he was there during an outgoing tide chances are
the location won't produce unless you fish the outgoing
tide. Upon close inspection of the chart you might figure
out where in the area to try next. For instance, if the
known halibut hotspot only produces on an outgoing tide, you
should look for an area that's deeper, in the opposite
direction of the tidal flow. The same is true for the
opposite tide. I've often found small banks in the Pacific
Ocean loaded with halibut on the incoming tides, here's why.
The main halibut beds in many areas, depending on time of
year, (deeper early in the season, shallower later in the
summer) are located in deeper water. As the tide pushes
toward the east (incoming) it moves baitfish onto shallow
banks, creating a perfect opportunity for halibut and other
bottomfish (salmon included) to feed on numerous baits. Also
watch for deeper water areas and canyons closer to shore
when planning your outgoing tide halibut trips.
Hopefully you'll find an area rich
with halibut willing to bite your favorite halibut bait or
halibut lure. Regardless of where you choose to fish, you
should always keep a logbook of your activity. This simple
practice will enable you to figure out what you did right or
what you did wrong during your day of halibut fishing. If
you own your own boat, it's always a great idea to hire a
guide for at least one day. There knowledge and skill will
help you to learn the unique qualities of any halibut
fishing area throughout the Pacific Ocean, regardless of
which fish you pursue. Good Luck!
Weather
Most weather forecast aren't
accurate along the coastal areas beyond about 48 to 72
hours. The Pacific Ocean weather patterns can change quickly
so be prepared and don't take chances. Not even the biggest
trophy halibut is worth risking your life.
Stay safe... |
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