What kind of live bait?

Different bodies of water will call for different baits, thats why you're getting a mixed response among the replies.  The best answer is to, "match the hatch," with, "use whats available," as a close second.

On the sf bay, depending on availability, its anchovie/sardine, shiner perch or jaksmelt/topsmelt. Right now your options are calling around to find live shiner perch.  Cast netting yor own shiners and/or jacksmelt/topsmelt......but this is an art in iteslf.  Buy a sabiki rig (cut it down to 3 hooks) and drag it around fishing up your own bait.

Having no experience I think your best option is to go to a baitshop and buy tray herring (or chovie if you can find it) and a sabiki rig.  When you get to your launch, rig up the sabiki on one rod (cut it down to 3 hooks) and a 3 way live bait rig on another rod. 
Troll the sabiki around until you score some bait, if it ain't happening after a half hour your better off rigging up a tray bait on the other rod and having at it.  Halibut will bite the dead stuff too.  I'd take any one of the above mentioned options over using minnows.
   

Mid sized smelt are hard to beat, and hardy if you can catch some. Sardines and herring are next best and very hardy as long as you hook em though the nose. Chovies are next, but fraglile and die quickly in captivity. Shinners are the last and often the only option depending on where you go. Because of the shape and the relatively small mouths of a halibut. I believe they prefer a long narrow bait to a short wide one. Also "matching the hatch" ie. local bait, is always something to consider.

Different bodies of water will call for different baits, thats why you're getting a mixed response among the replies.  The best answer is to, "match the hatch," with, "use whats available," as a close second.

On the sf bay, depending on availability, its anchovie/sardine, shiner perch or jaksmelt/topsmelt. Right now your options are calling around to find live shiner perch.  Cast netting yor own shiners and/or jacksmelt/topsmelt......but this is an art in iteslf.  Buy a sabiki rig (cut it down to 3 hooks) and drag it around fishing up your own bait.

Having no experience I think your best option is to go to a baitshop and buy tray herring (or chovie if you can find it) and a sabiki rig.  When you get to your launch, rig up the sabiki on one rod (cut it down to 3 hooks) and a 3 way live bait rig on another rod. 
Troll the sabiki around until you score some bait, if it ain't happening after a half hour your better off rigging up a tray bait on the other rod and having at it.  Halibut will bite the dead stuff too.  I'd take any one of the above mentioned options over using minnows.
   

Listen to Agarcia. Thats the same strategy that I usually use. It's often hard to jig up some live bait and it's always great to have options if you blank on the sabiki. I've caught more fish in the bay drifting frozen anchovies than anything else. Just remember to let them chew on your bait a bit and don't set the hook hard. More of a smooth lifting motion seems to work best.

Good luck out there!

-Eliot

does anyone ever use surf perch as bait. The smaller guys that has to be part of there diet.

Mid sized smelt are hard to beat, and hardy if you can catch some. Sardines and herring are next best and very hardy as long as you hook em though the nose. Chovies are next, but fraglile and die quickly in captivity. Shinners are the last and often the only option depending on where you go. Because of the shape and the relatively small mouths of a halibut. I believe they prefer a long narrow bait to a short wide one. Also "matching the hatch" ie. local bait, is always something to consider.

+1 Exactly
This early in the year I find a herring trolled in an RSK tough to beat. When it gets warmer smelt are my favorites.

On the sf bay, depending on availability, its anchovie/sardine, shiner perch or jaksmelt/topsmelt. Right now your options are calling around to find live shiner perch.  Cast netting yor own shiners and/or jacksmelt/topsmelt......but this is an art in iteslf.  Buy a sabiki rig (cut it down to 3 hooks) and drag it around fishing up your own bait.

 

   

More than one rod and more than 3 sabiki rigs on the ocean, correct?

1 at a time, I believe. but would not be the first time i was wrong.

I prefer sardines over anchovies since they're hardier. Also spanish mackerel are real good, maybe a little better than sardines. Jacksmelt are the hardiest of them all. 

Live sardines produce. Plastics? Phoooooey.

didnt u guys get 3 limits trolling fake bait?  you gotta be a believer

On the sf bay, depending on availability, its anchovie/sardine, shiner perch or jaksmelt/topsmelt. Right now your options are calling around to find live shiner perch.  Cast netting yor own shiners and/or jacksmelt/topsmelt......but this is an art in iteslf.  Buy a sabiki rig (cut it down to 3 hooks) and drag it around fishing up your own bait.

 

   

More than one rod and more than 3 sabiki rigs on the ocean, correct?

Yes, on both accounts so long as you're fishing halibut.  The rules change once you keep or change targeted species.   

cant believe no ones mentioned Bullheads or Mudsucker/Gobi  Hard to beat a medium sized Topsmelt. I dont think they are that  picky, tho they may be keyed into a local abundance of one type or another..