Halibut

Techniques

	Primarily shallow water fishing applies: shore fishing, trolling, or drift fishing. The basic idea is to get your lure/bait down on the sandy bottom and keep it moving.
	Halibut feed most actively during moving current, especially incoming tide. Best fishing is 2-3 hours before high tide.
	Halibut move in schools, so if one is hooked, most likely there are more in the same spot.

For shore fishing: Constantly cast and retrieve slowly (to keep your lure/bait moving).

For trolling: Work the surf line in 20 foot water or less. When trolling with a deep diving lure, attach it to a good snap swivel and slowly troll it out about 50 feet behind your boat.

For drift fishing: This means fishing from a drifting boat over productive terrain (e.g. reefs and drop offs).

Tackle & Equipment

For surf fishing: Any freshwater or light saltwater tackle and line is good. Try using a 10-12 foot surf spinning rod with a two-handed grip. Saltwater spinning reels are most popular, wound with 200-250 yards of 15-20 lb monofilament line.

For pier fishing: Use a heavy freshwater or light-medium 6-8 foot saltwater rod. The spinning or conventional reel should hold about 100-200 yards of 10-25 lb line.

For trolling: Use a medium boat rod with roller tip (about 6 feet) and a saltwater trolling or casting reel that holds 300 yards of 25 lb monofilament line.

For drift fishing: Use a 6-7 foot boat rod with a sensitive tip (to detect bites) and a conventional saltwater reel holding 200-300 yards of 25 lb monofilament line.

Other Equipment (General): You should bring along a large landing net or gaff, and a fish billy (recommended for dealing a sharp blow midway down the fish's body to knock it out).

Bait & Rigging

Common bait and lure for halibut include:

	Live anchovies and small perch (hooked through the lips for drift fishing or trolling)
	Hair raisers
	Pet spoons
	Rebel minnow-type plug (6-7 inches)
	Bagley Bango-B deep diving plug (6-9 inches)
	Scampi-type twin tail soft plastics (about 5 inches)

BASIC SURF RIG

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TROLLING RIG

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DRIFT FISHING RIG

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Best Bets

Along the Pacific Coast:

	Bodega Bay (the entrance along the rocky breakwater)
	Tomales Bay (near the entrance at Lawson's Landing just south of Dillon's Beach)
	Marin coast (Stinson, Muir and Tennessee beaches)
	Golden Gate (just outside the bridge between the Cliff House and Seal Rock)
	Half Moon Bay at Pillar Point Harbor
	Monterey Bay

In San Francisco Bay:

	Crissy Field (Drift fishing parallel to the shore in about 10-20 foot water in June, July and August)
	Alcatraz Island (Try drift fishing with anchovies on the west side of the island in the 20-45 foot water from July through September. On incoming tides, drift toward the island.)
	Treasure Island (Try drift fishing with anchovies on the northern and western flats of the island in the 20-45 foot water from July through September.)
	Angel Island (Best areas include the Point Knox Shoal on the southwest side of the island at 20-50 feet, and Racoon Strait between the island and Tiburon).