Whiskey Gulch or Deep Creek this weekend

Hubby and I are considering halibut fishing out of Whiskey Gulch or Deep Creek this weekend before we switch gears to silvers in the next couple of weeks... We've both already brought in chickens this year and want to catch a larger butt. Anyone else headed down this weekend and / or any advice on catching big butts?

High tide is around 9:30am.  Low tide around 3:30.  Small tides.  I would hit Deep Creek if you can either drive down the beach...or...going from high to low. (launching from 9am to noon ish).  That way you drift south.

If you are going to be later on the water after 3pm, I'd consider Whiskey gulch.

I've had great luck at Whiskey Gulch this year, but history says Deep Creek holds bigger fish for whatever reason close in.   

I am going to try and be on the saltwater Saturday...or Sunday.  I have guests who want to try this.  But the reds have to be me priority if the run hits.

While I was at Kenai last weekend for dipnetting, I decided to make a quick run to whiskey gulch for halibuts.  I didn't catch anything on Friday but Saturday was different story.  Hit morning tide and immediately caught 10lb butt.  I decided to use bigger jig with bigger bait and hooked something big (I got it on my gopro so this isn't another fish story). This monster dragged me around for 15 minutes and felt so freaking heavy...it got off and I'm blaming j-hook?  So bigger bait, bigger fish.

On Sunday, I went back to kenai for that "magic hour" moment...it didn't happen because it took me 4 hours to catch 50 reds instead of 45 minutes to 1 hour.  That was a lot of work considering how big those fish were (most avg 8-10lb).  I ended up keeping only 32 because my 55gal cooler couldn't hold them anymore.


As I drove back home, I wasn't thinking about how successful my dipnetting was...but pondering when I should come back to catch that 100+ lb halibut.

To be continued....

Ok. As to not sound too hypocritical, my tentative plans are now to try and hit two tides so I'm going out of WG sat. At least that's the plan. Just need to get some first toners hooked up...one at a time.

Just want to share what I used for bait: king salmon belly, large herring soaked in halibut/rockfish nectar.

The jig was Mudraker with double j-hooks.

I saw Rudy using halibut spreader bar with circle hook so I may try this setup this weekend.

Helping friends with dipnetting on Friday and WG and Homer for some Halibut and cod on Saturday/Sunday.

Probably see you guys around down there. I need some of that magic nectar,  mak! Haha.

Nice fish Mak. I would love to catch some fresh reds but can't get catching a big halibut out of my mind.

Really appreciate the advice Mak and Kardinal, as always! Perhaps we will see you down there this weekend.

Mike, as I was reading your report about the hookup on the jig, I was reminded of an incident that happened the other day that could have really sucked. I often use a butterfly jig (or one like it) and they tend to have two hooks on them, one attached by cord to the eyelet and the other down towards the bottom. After reeling in and harpooning a 30# 'but I was pulling the harpoon line to my yak to dispatch the fish. As I got the fish next to my boat, it shook its head and the top hook of my jig hooked into the side handle of my yak. Now this "green" halibut was attached firmly to my yak and started to go apeshit. Finally after what seemed like an eternity it calmed down enough for me to cut the hook out of the nylon webbing on the handle. Had this been a bigger fish, I would have been in a predicament. I promptly removed all double hooks from my jigs.

Argh!!  This waiting game for "the wall of sockeyes" is starting to piss me off.  This is one of the strangest years for sockeye returns.  Should be awesome, indexes and spurts of fish indicate that it's true...but it hasn't happened yet.

Given the forecast and IF the reds don't slam the river Friday late night, I plan to fish Whiskey Gulch starting at 6:30am to 7am on Saturday.  Take one of the guests out.  Then hopefully be done the first trip around noon.  Hit the water for round two about 1pm to 2pm and fish the low slack.

Weather looks like it might blow up thur and Fri.  Could be some residual swell action going on Friday.

Since I am fishing two slacks, I will likely run some really big baits.  Let the guests fish herring to pick up anything that bites.

Oh and Mike, in my past experience a jig will come out of a fish ten times more that a non-weighted hook.  But still they are super productive. ; Nothing like getting SLAMMED by a big halibut.  But a big J-hook ( I use Gamakatsu Big River 12/0) I don't think I have ever had one come unbuttoned after a few minutes.  Circle hooks...yes.  BIG j-hooks...no.  In fact they stick so well I carry extras and don't even bother trying to remove the hooks from a keeper...too hard..too dangerous most of the times!

Kard - I'm with you on Gamu River Runner - guy at Sportmans turned me on to them and think they perform better than traditional circle hooks (my very limited experience, of course!).

Questions/requests: Would you mind posting a pic if your spreader bar rig? How long of a leader do you use? What range of weights do you use (lightest to heaviest)?

Thanks in advance!

I still can't figure out what Rudy does to get circle hooks to come out once hooked.  If they are coming out....then the hook was never set.  Just firmly grasped by fish lips.  J hooks work too, but I've had more of them come out while wrangling a fish at the surface.

Anyways, when it all boils down, the only thing to stick to is fish with what you are confident in.  I'd go out with you guys, but my freezer is full...and has been since the 4th of July.  Guess I'll go chase some reds for smoking

I'm going to sharpen my hooks and gear up for this weekend.  Got fresh reds belly marinating in its own egg juice.  Maybe even stop by Whittier harbor for some fresh herring and dry brine them in ziplock bags.  Sounds yummy, doesn't it?  I'm getting really creative in this bait department.

My google search for halibut bait resulted in some interesting facts about why you cut the herring...it simply releases more scent.  I was hovering around this one boat with multiple fishing lines and you can tell how fast the fish were nibbling/biting the baits.  So maybe we get the group together and create a little scent zone and test out this theory.

The fish I've had come off the hook had never set as you guessed Andy. They come up, open their mouth, and gone. Lot like big ling cod. I think it's because I semi troll a lot. If you watch my Mother's Day video the halibut is 30 lbs but acts like a weed till it gets close. It's weird.

Here ya go.  Spreader bar.
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s28bORTxD0Y/U8c-xkBcgJI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/eee1yYtCmak/s1024-no/IMAGE_769.jpg

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CrLNX6Sb-G8/U8c-5IR3a0I/AAAAAAAAFRA/CIBXIdMTjXU/s1024-no/IMAGE_770.jpg

Just what I needed Kard - THANKS!