Hey All,

I am really excited now that I finally have a boat big enough to get out to Swiftsure.  I really want to put a Halibut or two in the boat next year.  What kind of gear should I be looking at buying for next season?  The boat came with a harpoon set up and a gaff.  I have two suitable rods from trips on other peoples boats as well. 

Looking for advice on one more rod/reel set up and all the gear I might need.  On previous trips (just a couple) I used spreaders with octopus chunks.  Thanks in advance!

SR1

80-100 pound braid.....circle hooks, terminal gear, spreader bar, various weights 12 ounce to 3 lbs. Money, lots and lots of money.

Let me first say that I am also new to halibut fishing, this year was my first season.  When I was gearing up, I did a bit of research and a same rod kept coming up.  It was from a brand I've never heard of, but there were quite a few positive online reviews, and in particular as it pertains to halibut.  Since the price was very reasonable I bought two, one for me and one form my son.  I have to say it looks and feels like a high quality rod.  Too early to determine durability, but it sure feels like it would hold up well.

https://www.amazon.com/Fiblink-Saltwater-Graphite-Spinning-80-120lbs/dp/B079C3FMBG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1539651084&sr=8-6&keywords=fiblink%2Bfishing%2Brod&refinements=p_89%3AFiblink&th=1

Pipe jigs and spreader bars with bait.  I would put more focus on studying charts for prime locations.  I don't know your experience level in the ocean, but a capable boat is good.  However it's no substitute for a capable captain.  May can dish out some tough weather conditions with limited opportunities.  Spend time preparing your safety gear and be willing to call off the trip at the last second.

Buddy boating is a good idea out there too.   Just sayin.

 
I've ran out to the canyon 50 miles in my 19 in glassy water running almost 30 mph the entire trip, buddy boating with wedocq.  I've also just left the Neah Bay marina and got into the strait when a buddy who is a very experienced boater got sick from the awful water.  Use your good judgement!!!

If in a spot such as the canyon the water is 5-600 ft I have one word for you... TANACOM!   After a few bait checks pulling a 3 lb. sinker up from that depth the last thing you'll want to crank up manually is a big halibut. 

SR1,

Admittedly my first response didn't answer your questions, so here's some pics of my ling/butt kit.  Nothing special, but works for me.  Covers both inner and outer waters.  Over years I've gotten very lazy.  No canyons for me.  Instead of a Tanacom, I decided to institute a rule that splits catch evenly; thus I can operate the boat and let the young bucks reel like I once did.   

Terminal thoughts:  Bait for butts; live bait for lings.  Lacking those; metal deep, plastics shallow. 

Careful with the Tanacom's they started a deep water mutiny on my boat.  I got a few tanacom 750's this past season.  Now the other guys on the boat stop fishing their manual cranks and take turns on the electric.  It's amazing how many fish you can put on the boat quickly with 4 guys working only two rods. 

No power reel needed here in California. We don't have the big bottom butts like up there

It ain't the size of the fish it's the depth and current and repetition that makes the Tanacom valuable!  Just add a plug that fits into your downrigger connector.

Do the halibut up there move into shallower, warmer water during the springtime?

Different strokes for different folks.  Halibut can be found in shallower water but usually are less numerous (they are taken not far off Makah Bay beach by kayakers).  On my boat it is usually a 2 hour boat ride out of Neah Bay, 30 minutes of fishing to limit (not always that quick), then a 2 hour boat ride back to the dock.  We fish 500 feet down so only 2 lines in the water at a time to reduce snagging each other.  As noted, fishing that deep with manual reels can be tiring and that is one reason we never use bait.   We tired of reeling in dog fish shark who loved the herring we were using for bait.  Now we use only very heavy pipe jigs with very strong treble hooks and swivels on the hooks.  NOTE: The pipe jigs work well where we fish but have been less successful at other locations like Westport where bait may be better.  We pound the bottom with the heavy pipe jig.  In addition to the mentioned equipment above, have a couple bleeding lines to bleed out in the water.  Reeling in the heavy pipe jig is a pain and an electric reel would be nice, however, when we have a fish on it doesn't seem to bother anybody working the pole manually (that is the fun part - right?).

Quote from: Markshoreline on October 16, 2018, 02:08:20 PM

I've ran out to the canyon 50 miles in my 19 in glassy water running almost 30 mph the entire trip, buddy boating with wedocq.  I've also just left the Neah Bay marina and got into the strait when a buddy who is a very experienced boater got sick from the awful water.  Use your good judgement!!!

If in a spot such as the canyon the water is 5-600 ft I have one word for you... TANACOM!   After a few bait checks pulling a 3 lb. sinker up from that depth the last thing you'll want to crank up manually is a big halibut. 

+1 on the Tanacoms. It's like the difference between manual and electric downriggers.
BTW, it's always a good idea to ask people here on how to spend your money. They're really good at it.

I don't know, IMO if you aren't cranking you aren't fishing

I'm gunna crank as long as I am able....

I think I've finally figured out halibut fishing somewhat to put fish in the boat. I've spent tons of money on reels and rods too to figure what's good and works. One word here too Tanacom. I mainly fish the SWC and the Prairie and it's not fun reeling in 500 plus feet. Even out at swiftsure with all the bait checks it's a luxury sure you can reel but why not just sit back and reel it the last 30ft. And thanks to the members here for there input and help every year my success has gotten better. Buddy boat is a must in big water. And a bucket full of copper jigs .. Fish On!!! 

The electric reels were a great investment last season.  We fished harder and more effectively during the short fishable current windows. 

We don't use electric power to bring fish up (well, except for dinks and trash fish).  Here's a picture of Nicole fighting a halibut.  Note in the picture below that I had disconnected the cord so she could move around the deck while fighting the fish. 

I suspect that winching a large halibut up would result in a lost fish, smoked drag, or both.

Nicole kicks Butt. That picture of her next to the Butt belongs on the cover of a fishing magazine.  :bowdown:

What can I say?  She always out-fishes me 

Quote from: HemiGTX on October 19, 2018, 09:06:23 PM
What can I say?  She always out-fishes me 

I have been having that same problem lately  :whistle:

That top pictures shows the leverage she needed to get that slab to the surface.  I would never want to have a disagreement with her she would outleverage your muscle Hemi. Smiling here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That picture was taken pretty early in the fight.  I was laughing at her because the longer she fought the fish the more she had to bend her knees, and the lower she got.  It was kind of like doing the limbo while fishing.  By the end she was practically kneeling on the deck.  Ha ha! 

But she wouldn't let me even touch the rod to help.

To the OP's question:  We always use a spreader bar with a b2 squid and bait.  I built the spiral-wrapped rods using Seeker Black Steel blanks.  80 lb line, though I will likely try 65 lb when I burn through the big spool of 80 lb that I caught on sale a couple years back.  We used to use big Penn Senators before Streamfixer hooked us up with the electrics.  I still bring the Penns as back-ups and the rockfish descender rod.

Quote from: Fishgriller on October 15, 2018, 06:06:00 PM
Let me first say that I am also new to halibut fishing, this year was my first season.  When I was gearing up, I did a bit of research and a same rod kept coming up.  It was from a brand I've never heard of, but there were quite a few positive online reviews, and in particular as it pertains to halibut.  Since the price was very reasonable I bought two, one for me and one form my son.  I have to say it looks and feels like a high quality rod.  Too early to determine durability, but it sure feels like it would hold up well.

https://www.amazon.com/Fiblink-Saltwater-Graphite-Spinning-80-120lbs/dp/B079C3FMBG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1539651084&sr=8-6&keywords=fiblink%2Bfishing%2Brod&refinements=p_89%3AFiblink&th=1

I would look for a rod with a roller tip, or if you like the rod, replace the standard tip with a roller tip.  The braided line cuts into the standard tip over a period of time.  I like the Penn 330 series for reel- manual.

That's a good point.  Penn GT reels were great, reliable reels.  I recall reading somewhere that at some point they were the top selling reels worldwide. The Squall is the successor to the GT,  that's what I decided to put on my rods.  Looks and feels like a great reel, hope it lives up to its predecessor.

Mooch...awesome well organized set up. Thanks for the share.

Awesome shots of Nicole reeling in that huge Hali!  However, I'll bet you had a rather large role in getting it onboard.