Santa Cruz Halibut Hit the Decks

Got off work yesterday, drove down by WestCliff, took one look at the water, and decided I had a few hours left in the day to see if I could hook into the elusive Santa Cruz halibut. The conditions were perfect-incoming high tide, flat swell, and turquoise green water clarity. The swell had dropped down for a few days now, making the conditions ripe for a good halibut bite.
 The area out in front of the harbor had been receiving a lot of pressure, so I decided to fish the halibut spots off West Cliff. Loaded up the kayak and drove down to Natural Bridges. Launched through the surf and paddled out to 50 ft. The plan was to drift the sand spots down to ITs beach and land there so I didn;t have to paddle all the way back up. A light breeze made the drift perfect.
Tried drifting squid for a handful of schoolie rockfish, and a good sized brownie out in front of Fair St. Saw some bait schooling, and decided to break out the big ones.  A few casts quickly picked up 6 healthy sardines and a 7 inch spanish mak. Paddled in a bit shallower to 30 ft, to this spot outside the kelp we call "the J" and pinned one of the dinos on my trap hook/fluorocarbon sliding sinker rig. Set my rod down, and within a minute saw the subtle tap and pull. Fed it some line so it could eat the bigger bait, set the reel in gear, and it was on. A few minuts later I had a 15 lb halibut on the deck. Paddled back up on top of th same spot, rigged up another dino, and landed a 12 lb flattie.
Another beautiful day on the water. Hit the beach and headed back home to grill up some fresh fish tacos for the friends and neighbors.
The halibut fishing has been really slow so far this year, but they're out there, and everyone I've talked with has said a good live bait is the key.
Good luck.

Thanks for the report Brendan. I may get out there on the north coast this weekend with my sabikis and my halibut rig. I've also been watching the weather evolve to good hali conditions, just haven't been able to get out there yet.
BTW, I haven't forgotten about the woodcarving photos. I'll get some to you this weekend.
-Sean

The last two times I tossed out the sabiki I came up with hordes of rockfishies.  Anything better?
Pat

Nice work Brendan, I used to ride sponges at ITs, that place can get gnarly. I rescued a tourist that got plowed head first into the sand by a wave there. I can't imagine landing there but I only went on big days.

Pat, Little blues make pretty good ling bait...

Indeed, they are fun for ling, Bill.  

Heh, are you trying to distract me from finding a bigger better cabezon right now?.........

Pat

Yes Pat please move along, nothing to catch here...  

Now I am in conflict.  Do I continue the hunt for the elusive 2005 halibut or do I get back to the real work of beating Bill??????

If someone doesn't have any good ideas on how to get the little silvery fish to like my sabiki better, I will be "stuck" dragging for cabs I guess.......

Oh, btw, good luck at the tourney Bill and all.

Pat

Pat - I may have the fomula to beat Bill .....sorry Bill....but Pat is a whole lot cuter than you are  

Cabs seem to LOVE crabs...so, if you can trun over a few rocks from the shore, catch the little critters and use them for live bait.....you get a winner    And if you beat Bill's record, I want half of the winnings  ....and lunch as well  

Now go git 'em  

I've heard that before, Joel.  If my spectacular cabezon red single tail fails me, I will go "au naturel".
If you keep making deals with everyone in tournaments, you will be a sure winner.......mooching prizes!
I'm betting cabezon tacos will be a big hit at Elk!
......here crabby crabby........
Pat

10lbs IS a big cabby though.  Take me a couple trips to my cabby hole to beat it prolly.