For going for Halibuts?

  Most of the tackle I have is for trout and bass.  I do have some tackle for surf fishing.  What is needed for butts?  Or rock fish in general.  What kind of weights? lures? Setups? Any particular hook better than the rest?  Last time I was out rock fishing, it was from a 24' Bayliner off of Davenport in 300+ FOW and we used a 3 hook yarn jig and maybe 4-8oz of weight to get through the mackrel (Which didn't really work to often, according the to birds nests that happened on the reels when they hit the rigs on the way down)
  It's been a while (Couple decade now)  I'd like to start gathering the proper tackle for the Memorial day weekend Paradise shindig Adam has put together for the may 23rd.
 Rods & reels I have, it's just the actual stuff to lure and hook fish I'm lacking.
Can someone list what tackle would be a good starting line up to get for an ocean noob? Quantities as well?

Troy

My only advice is: live bait!  I've resisted and have ZERO halibut to show for my stubbornness.  Meanwhile others are racking them up left and right.

Check out scallen's Halibut article to the left....

#1 Works when the bottom is clean of grass or other junk, otherwise you'll spend half the day fishing with junk on your bait which is as good as not even having a line in. 
 
#2 Use a 3-way swivel instead of the dropper loop.

#3 Shorten the leaders, when you do hook up its tough to boat fish with super long leaders.

  I have the stuff for #1 "Sliding Sinker rig" , from surf fishing.  don't have any torpedo weights, for #'s 2 & 3, and looks like I may need to get some heavier line for leader use.  My Penn Jig master is loaded with 20lb currently (After getting Alan Tani-ized)  I know I have some 3-way swivels I got some time back. (What can I say they looked cool!) Don't have any "hoochi skirts" either  Looks like i might have to go tallk to the guys at FW and load up a hand cart.
  Only concern now is how to hide the shopping from the wife?  Will have to be a cash purchase, is only way (Evil laugh here)

Hey Troy!

If your only going for halibut, its not gonna cost you more than your lunch money for the tackle and some more for some bait.  Just pickup some Hayward Halibut rigs, 2, 3, 6, 8oz torpedo or ball shaped sinkers.  Then also pickup some egg shapped weights 2-4oz, some leader line and Circle Octopus hooks and tie a 2-3ft leader, attached to a swivel, like you do for trout. 

For Rockfish... Whole different story but you don't really have to spend that much.  You can start with 3-4oz jigs like the MegaBait ones, some simple lead heads and some plastics, and maybe some farelon feathers.

   Al
 I have the egg sinkers already in 2oz, and a few 3 & 4 oz'ers  Thinking about it now after you mentioned the halibut rig I may have bought a packaged rig already! I have a makeshift saltwater tackle box I put together when I started surf fishing. (Weights, Gama. & owner hooks, swivels, etc.  All stuff to big or heavy for my normal tackle box)  I'll have to check whats in it!
  Forgot about that darn box.  I know I don't have any "Circle" hooks, so those will have to be added to the pile when I go to FW.

Forgot to mention that I have bought enough junk in the last two years that I could easily share with you anytime we hit the water   I think you should try your own back yard for your first outing like Capitola before hitting up Paradise btw.  That way you can get your feet wet, but if you run into any issues, home is not far away

  I'm not to worried about anything going wrong, besides, with over 30 "in so far" chances are I won't be far from someone in the group. (I'll more likely attach myself to some unlucky person like a lonely stray beggin for scraps! ) Home is where my truck is that hour & day!   

  I have the stuff for #1 "Sliding Sinker rig" , from surf fishing.  don't have any torpedo weights, for #'s 2 & 3, and looks like I may need to get some heavier line for leader use.  My Penn Jig master is loaded with 20lb currently (After getting Alan Tani-ized)  I know I have some 3-way swivels I got some time back. (What can I say they looked cool!) Don't have any "hoochi skirts" either  Looks like i might have to go tallk to the guys at FW and load up a hand cart.
  Only concern now is how to hide the shopping from the wife?  Will have to be a cash purchase, is only way (Evil laugh here)

For the bay you're more likely to use 4-8 oz's depending on the drift and depth.  I prefer to use heavier weights letting the sinker drag, kicking up silt and causing comotion.  You can also use a ball shaped sinker instead of torpedo's, this stuff ain't written in stone.

#3 is a trolling rig and hoochies aren't a necessity.  I've caught em with and without. 

On my halibut rigs, I use 40# mono leader, and my dropper to the weight is 12-15# test.  I use the same set up for striper drifting jumbo minnows, could probably get by with lighter leader, but I have a spool of 40 and just use that.  I have seen guys use 20# mono leader, and catch fish, but have also seen butts break/bite through 20# at the moment of truth. Just  my two cents, I like the piece of mind on the heavy leader.

What size of circle hooks to get?
 1 Black
 2 Black
 4 Black
 4/0 Black
 5/

I use size 4 owner hooks for live bait, and trolling, use the same but with a treble stinger.  This has been out of a boat, tomorrow is my maiden ocean voyage in a yak, launching out of Berkeley, leaving sac at 5, tide looks to be outgoing until about 10, then incoming.  Be about right I figured for my one and only shot probably this year to try.  I plan on trolling frozen chovies tomorrow, and staying in fairly close on the flats, in case things get hairy.  Plan on targeting 12-20 foot of water.