Halibut Report 9/17 from the left side

[DaGoose]

Finally got back on the water yesterday with my friend Herbert on his sweet 31 Tiana. The local tuna bite near Dana Point has been spotty at best, so we went to old reliable Plan B and bounceballed (slow trolled) for halibut just around the corner from the harbor on a few honey holes in 65 feet of water.

Long story short, ended up with 3 legal fish, the biggest going 18lbs with the others around 10 and 7lbs. It's pretty nice to not get up dark and early, burn heaps of fuel, and still put some quality slabbage on the table.

It was a great flat calm sunny day on the water with a good friend.

Bounceballing will whack the flat ones on the right side too. If anyone has questions, will gladly help out however possible (I know, I keep throwing this out there, really hope more folks take me up on it someday).

Tight Lines,

Rick

[fishinmagician_IV]

That will make a meal or two. Thanks for the pic & congrats.

[WAHOONBOX]

LOOKS LIKE AN OLD SALTY FLASHER TOO...


KEEP THE LEFT COAST COMING TO US BRO..... I FOR ONE HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN A LIVE HALIBUT

[DaGoose]

..... I FOR ONE HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN A LIVE HALIBUT

Box,

Get your butt over here and we'll fix that!

Rick

[merry marlin]

Nice Fish! How many days a year do you have a flat ocean like that???
MM

[JIG JERK]

Good eats. Broil it with lots of butter. So good it will almost want to make you chase your grandmother down the street.

[DaGoose]

Thanks for the kind words!

MM,

Off the top of my head, I'd say it's this flat maybe 5% of the time. Sept-Oct-Nov can be really great for flat seas. Plus we were inshore in 65 feet of water. The California bight up north blocks it for us pretty good until you get outside.

JJ, that's sounds really good.
It's fish tacos tonight. We roll it in seasoned mayo then dredge in Panko and fry quickly in a cast iron skillet. Throw it in a fresh hot flour tortilla and top with cabbage, cheese, cilantro, and tapatio picante sauce, then drizzle with fresh lime. Maybe some guacamole too

It's all good so long as you don't overcook it!

Rick

[Capt. Pete]

Just curious. Have you tried drift-jigging for halibut, especially in calm water as shallow as 65 ft? In June of 2008, I was jigging in 60 ft of water with a 1oz hot pink (cerise) Crippled Herring metal jig off Kodiak Island. 32 drops produced 32 consecutive halibut. Largest was 55 lbs...not big by Alaskan standards but big fun on a light jigging rod. Many years ago, I started jigging for halibut, and everything else, and have never looked back. I'm 72 now and wish I started jigging even sooner.

[DaGoose]

Hi Capt. Pete,

I had a similar experience in Alaska in 2007 jigging them up in 250 feet on a big 16 oz lead head. It was way too much fun and more productive than sitting on the hook.

There aren't nearly as many flatties down this way so we pound heaps of sand slow trolling to get them. The fish do stack up in small areas. I probably should try jigging them up once that pattern is evident.

It's always fun to try new things to coax them into biting. That's the beauty of fishing eh?

Rick

[Fishshep]

MAN!!! That is one GREAT lookin slab
right there!!! Way out of my class!!!
Being that can only surf fish for the
buggers!!!
Here is my best one out of Bolsa!!!

34inches