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Pa d d l i n g T e C h n i Q u e
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R i g g i n g
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s a lt w at e r
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f R e s h w aT e R
a SoCal ‘butt caught on a mackerel.
angleR: jason moRTon//PhoTo: Paul leBowiTz
hunting
halibut
KAyAKING FoR tHE WESt’S
FAvoRItE FLAtFISH
By PAul leBOwiTz
T
O lOnG-TiMe west Coast anglers, hali-
but fishing means 10-ton weights and
power-trolling all the livelong day. Don’t be-
lieve it. For kayakers there are better ways.
Our sneaky little launch-anywhere boats
are ideal halibut-catching craft. For starters,
we’re not going anywhere fast and know it.
we have no choice but to slow down and
thoroughly fish a given area. it’s a tremen-
dous advantage, because halibut are gener-
ally not far-ranging in the scope of a fishing
session. instead, groups of flatties collect
along certain depth contours and structures. tention to sandy patches up against rocks or Artificial baits work too, and they’re always
Find one, you’ve found many. around kelp, and watch for drop-offs that at- available. hungry halibut snap up plastic swim-
Then there are the nooks and crannies tract bait. baits and grubs worked slowly just above the
only the rare power boater visits—exclusive Because halibut tend to cluster in hot bottom. in the shallows, try saltwater plugs.
halibut fishing holes for kayak anglers. san- zones, work a single depth contour at a time. They’re great for covering distance.
dy kelp edges and lanes are prime examples. Once you find one, stay in the area.
They’re fine places to dangle a live sardine or
The End Game
work a plastic swimbait.
One Fish, Many Baits Once hooked, halibut aren’t the sharpest
how about a surfin’ safari? halibut come
in California live bait is a mainstay, account- knives in the drawer. Fight them on a loose
in tight to spawn in spring and then again
ing for most halibut catches. Break out a fiver drag. As long as an angler doesn’t rush a
in fall. Daring kayakers can get them just
and buy it from a barge or jig up a bunch of contest, once at kayak-side they’ll often
beyond the breaking surf. Better keep your
mackerel. The basic live bait setup consists become docile. Keep them calm by leaving
head on a swivel!
of a sliding sinker or three-way swivel, usu- their heads in the water, even when gaffing
Of course, kayak anglers can also venture
ally paired with a two-hook stinger or hali- and securing fish you plan to keep. ‘Butts
into most places the power boat fleet fishes,
but rig. Many anglers feel halibut are touchy are notorious for playing possum. Get landed
from shallow bays to deeper water offshore.
biters, and fish them with their reels in free fish safely secured below decks or tied off,
Just modify the techniques accordingly. let’s
spool. it needn’t be so. use a treble for the because there’s no telling when one will go
take a closer look at targeting these tasty
tail hook and keep your reel engaged. hook- nuts. halibut are all muscle; a large fish can
sportfish.
ups will soar. do significant damage or even escape, and
Fish live bait on the drift or a very slow troll then it’s bye-bye fish dinner.
X Marks the Halibut and with as little weight as possible. Other
halibut are ambush predators that hide natural baits fall more into the previously fro-
PAuL LEBOWITz is a kayak fishing writer and the inaugural president
themselves in the sand. They need structure zen variety, such as sardines or squid. salm-
of the Kayak Fishing Association of California.
too; that’s where the food is. Pay special at- on bellies are an Alaska favorite.
24
…
KayaK angler summer/fall 2008
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