Rick Ferguson "DaGoose"
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Nothing worth doing is easy.
May. 4 2009, 11:56 AM
May. 4 2009, 11:56 AM
Now that water temps have warmed up a bit, the spring chew has finally arrived. It’s only going to get better as fish continue to move in to spawn. Our last time out on the water, April 25, we scratched up these three decent fish off Carlsbad, in somewhat snotty conditions. The egg sacks were fully developed. Perhaps they were staging before moving in to spawn. Local sport boats are also starting to get into them pretty good, too.
Many folks ask, “Can you help me catch a big halibut?” Over the years the fish have taught me many things, and I still have much to learn. It’s funny, the more you do something, the more you begin to realize you really know nothing at all. There is one constant truth, that being you must be out on the water, working at it to get them. So first and foremost, my best advice is simply to get out there and pound some serious sand. It will happen. Nothing worth doing is easy.
Here’re a few other basic tips that might prove helpful. There’s really nothing new here. Great flattie fishermen like Capt. David Bacon and Matt Goldsworthy have already chronicled the same in Pacific Coast Sportfishing. A refresher can only help.
Halibut school up like most all other fish. I believe they also school by size. If you catch a fish or observe signs of fish, like raked baits, there are others nearby. If the fish are small, consider moving. If it’s a big flattie, do not leave the area. Be patient. Naturally, there are fewer big fish in a school. Mark the spot on your GPS.
Halibut bite in spurts. Something triggers the dinner bell, and they go on the chew just like turning on a light switch. It can last a few hours or a few minutes. Once over, it shuts off just as quickly as it started. I cannot explain it. The pattern is real. When the bite is on, work it hard! Don’t waste any time lollygagging around. Prior preparation is absolutely necessary. Backup rigs must be readily available. Remember, the light switch will shut off just as quickly as it turned on. We often troll the same area all day long if it’s been productive recently, for this very reason.
Cover some ground while in the searching mode, working tight next to structure. Halibut are ambush-oriented predators. I prefer bounce-balling. If you drift and are not moving, kick the boat in and out gear.
Halibut are not afraid of weight. In fact, it actually attracts them as the lead bounces off the bottom, creating a commotion. We often use three-pound cannonballs. Be sure to use enough to stay on the bottom. Consider bouncing it every now and then if drifting.
When you hook a good fish, do not high-stick it, raising and dropping the rod greatly to bring her in. Let the fishes’ flat body shape work against them. With constant forward motion, they plane up flat. Use a short tuna stroke if need be. Lastly, once she’s getting close, kick the boat in and out of gear to lay her out flat for the gaff shot, keeping the head in the water. Don’t stick them in the bony head. The gaff will likely not penetrate completely through and fall out halfway over the rail. Try to get them in the meat a few inches behind the gill plate.
Get out there, have a great day on the water, and get some!
Rick
Best of Big Game
www.bestofbiggame.com
Here’re a few other basic tips that might prove helpful. There’s really nothing new here. Great flattie fishermen like Capt. David Bacon and Matt Goldsworthy have already chronicled the same in Pacific Coast Sportfishing. A refresher can only help.
Halibut school up like most all other fish. I believe they also school by size. If you catch a fish or observe signs of fish, like raked baits, there are others nearby. If the fish are small, consider moving. If it’s a big flattie, do not leave the area. Be patient. Naturally, there are fewer big fish in a school. Mark the spot on your GPS.
Halibut bite in spurts. Something triggers the dinner bell, and they go on the chew just like turning on a light switch. It can last a few hours or a few minutes. Once over, it shuts off just as quickly as it started. I cannot explain it. The pattern is real. When the bite is on, work it hard! Don’t waste any time lollygagging around. Prior preparation is absolutely necessary. Backup rigs must be readily available. Remember, the light switch will shut off just as quickly as it turned on. We often troll the same area all day long if it’s been productive recently, for this very reason.
Cover some ground while in the searching mode, working tight next to structure. Halibut are ambush-oriented predators. I prefer bounce-balling. If you drift and are not moving, kick the boat in and out gear.
Halibut are not afraid of weight. In fact, it actually attracts them as the lead bounces off the bottom, creating a commotion. We often use three-pound cannonballs. Be sure to use enough to stay on the bottom. Consider bouncing it every now and then if drifting.
When you hook a good fish, do not high-stick it, raising and dropping the rod greatly to bring her in. Let the fishes’ flat body shape work against them. With constant forward motion, they plane up flat. Use a short tuna stroke if need be. Lastly, once she’s getting close, kick the boat in and out of gear to lay her out flat for the gaff shot, keeping the head in the water. Don’t stick them in the bony head. The gaff will likely not penetrate completely through and fall out halfway over the rail. Try to get them in the meat a few inches behind the gill plate.
Get out there, have a great day on the water, and get some!
Rick
Best of Big Game
www.bestofbiggame.com
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