Best way to target halibut in sand/rock/kelp mixes

Hey everybody - I got some reports from a few different divers in the Pt Pinos area on where they are seeing halibut.  I want to try to focus on areas towards the back of the kelp and particularly areas where there are larger gaps between the kelp strands with a sand bottom.   The places I'm thinking about are like 20-30foot by 20-30 foot or bigger  'clearings' in anywhere from 35-50 feet of water.

What is the best way to fish these spots?   

Thanks in advance,
Chris

Good question... I was wondering the same thing this morning while I was fishing the channels in Morro Bay. Caught 1 halibut (not a keeper) but the frickin Bat Rays were just slammin me. Not that Bat Rays aren't a fun ride. They're kinda like a diesel tractor, they don't punch like a halibut, they just steadily pull your butt, and your boat, all over the place. Good times.

Again, it would be nice to be able to target the buts a little better.

MB,
After you find the specific small area you want to fish, determine the direction of the "drift".  Paddle above the spot and drift through the patch.

Wind, swell and current will all effect the drift.

There is a device called a drift sock/drift chute/sea anchor, which is like a parachute, to help control/slow your drift on breezy days.

The real issue is finding the "honey holes" that you are referring to.  Kelp is a good indicator of rock below, but as you mention, a more ideal terrain is a mix of sand and rock.

If you are bouncin your weight, after a little experience, you can tell the difference in the bottom (rock v sand/mud) based on how hard it bounces bottom.  Soft thud = mud/sand, Hard bounce = Rock/shale.

Good Luck in your hali hunt,
Stuart

Mooch's trooching method should work well here. drop an anchovy/herring and paddle very slowly
across the hole, or around the edges, do not let the line scope out, you may need 1lb of weight.

Ideally you are like a bass boat with a trolling motor. drifting ultimately is difficult for such a
confined space, ideally you are under a little power.

Mooch has his rod forward, I had mine in a rearward facing rod holder.

I caught my first halibut doing this last year.

In areas like this I have had success (in SoCal) dropshotting a big soft jerkbait like a Fin-s-fish or Zoom Fluke.

In fact, I have caught more halibut on a dropshotted zoom fluke than any other artificial presentation.

Livebait is always a winner in this situation also.  Get yourself some jacksmelt.....game on.

MolBasser

anchoring to kelp on one side of the hole is probably a good idea too, I don't do that much,
but I need to start.

I'm also going to experiment with using small swimfins, like the ones lap swimmers use or small
bladed boogie board fins and just hang my legs over the side. Somehow on a surfboard I can
make the surfboard act like it's got a trolling motor using my legs. I do it mostly unconciously,
not quite sure how it works. I think I could do it on the kayak with a little more power from
the fins, we'll see.

J

Dude . .dropshotting seems like a good idea. I'm definetly going to try that next time.  How close is the bait to the sinker?

Thanks again for the tips.  I'm going to try all of them.  I tried some trooching this morning and caught a bunch of rockfish and a nice cab.  

Thanks again.

Swimfins! . . that's what I'm going to do next time I go to San Justo.  Sweet.

Dude . .dropshotting seems like a good idea. I'm definetly going to try that next time.  How close is the bait to the sinker?

Thanks again for the tips.  I'm going to try all of them.  I tried some trooching this morning and caught a bunch of rockfish and a nice cab.  

Thanks again.

~12"

The fish will tell you.

BTW I have drop shotted as deep at 100' in San Diego with good success.

MolBasser

What is your preferred lead shape for dropshotting?  Ball, torpedo?  I've never tried it, but plan on trying it also.  Hopefully I will be able to make it out this weekend.  I just got back from Alaska visiting my mom.  I'll post some pics of my trip soon.

It just really depends.  I use mostly ball, but I have used torpedo also.

MolBasser

mol, so are you using lighter (8lb?) test and a spinning reel and totally deadsticking it?

Most of my halibut dropshotting has been in 30ft or less in San Diego Bay, but I have caught them out to 80 in the kelp.

In the bays I use 8-12# and my pitching stick and pretend I am bass fishing.  Cast out, shake it back to the boat.

In deeper water I tend to fish vertically on a drift and jiggle it.  I use my inshore stick for this.  30# powerpro and 12# fluoro leader for the drop shot.

I never just let it sit there for any length of time.  Maybe a pause in the shaking, but never still for long.



This is a hali from San Diego bay with my spinning gear (8#) drop shot.  6" rootbeer zoom fluke.

MolBasser

How are you hooking the fluke? From the pic it looks like one time in the middle.
If you are fishing near kelp, would you want to hook the fluke or artificial weedless style, like in bass fishing?

The Fluke is all mucked up from the fish in that pic.

It is riged texas style on a gamakatsu ewg worm hook.

Typical drop shot rig with the hook tied with a palomar.

It is very weedless.

MolBasser