Whiskey Gulch Tournament warm up - video

So back to the terminal tackle ... what are you rigging for bait?  And how?

Pacbutts are not tackle shy ... a banana weight, and a short trace of heavy leader like Kenai_guy stated seems sufficient.  I've seen so many different bait riggings on charter boats for bait fishing for Pacbutts, and other than spreader bars for deep water fishing, all the others involved just heavy short leaders.  In fact even for deep water, more often than not they didn't use spreader bars and just used heavy traces.  I've seen hi/lo dropper loop rigs made out of 400# test.  I've seen heavy sinkers sliding on inline paracord with a 1-2' heavy leader.  I've seen straight paracord from the sinker to the hook.  Or just a heavy leader and a big ol' jighead with a bait pinned on it.  All worked with minimal tangling (as in I don't remember getting tangled!).

-Allen

The major issue is I have never really geared up for halibut.  They have for the most part been incidental catch when I am out King salmon fishing.  Over the last few decades before the kayak, I did get out halibut fishing but maybe once every three years.   So I was using conventional salmon trolling gear with leaders bumped up to 40 or 50lbs fluoro.  When I was out chartering or on friends boats, We would for the most part be anchored or even when we drifted, it was one long drift.  I agree the lines rarely got tangled. 

But on a kayak, I tend to slow troll for 10 to 15 minutes.  Stop.  Power mooch.  Then drift.  I mix up all three techniques and this is where the line tangles.  If the lead bumps once while you are facing or headed the wrong direction, the current is fast enough to wrap your line.  I was hoping the spreader bars would sort of act like a weather vane and keep things correctly. 

Since then, with the King closure, I have bumped my leader up to 200lbs mono.  I like the way the spreader bars make room between the weight and the line.  Not sure how necessary it is though.  I was also considering running a flasher. 

Looking for input and trying new things like always!  Any advice welcome!!!!!

I hate circle hooks but I am trying to use them more.  I've missed too many fish or lost them right at the boat when they have opened their mouth and the hook and bait come flying out.  Apparently the "natural no hook set"' thing from a kayak didn't exert enough pressure to move the hook enough. 

Rudy...I'll bring my setup for making new leaders and show a few ways I've found to work for the halibut.  I'm no expert, but I've managed to put up ~500 lbs of but filets in the freezer since I came up a couple years ago ....all out of the kayak btw.  I just don't know how to edit videos like you do.

Rudy...I'll bring my setup for making new leaders and show a few ways I've found to work for the halibut.  I'm no expert, but I've managed to put up ~500 lbs of but filets in the freezer since I came up a couple years ago ....all out of the kayak btw.  I just don't know how to edit videos like you do.

Sweet! I'm way behind you on halibut. I could use a few pointers. I re watch my videos and it's pretty obvious my salmon skills are much more advanced than my halibut setup and skill set!!

If you get a chance, introduce me the sportsmans warehouse guy. Thx!!

I never really understood why circles hooks are the hooks of choice for Halibut, other than that's what the commercial longliners use.  Even if you are CNR-ing chickens, the big hooks and big barbs  used can do a fair amount of damage.

Anyone have an opinion why?

-Allen

I picked up circle hooks when I first started gearing up for buts; however, I could never bring myself to use them, they seemed wrong to me.  Still got them brand new in the bag.

I opted to instead use gami Big River J hooks.  They look more functional, are easy to rig to bait, and in my limited experience, worked really damned well.

Commercial guys use them and I believe a fair amount of meat boat charters use them too. One advantage is once hooked they are pretty well pinned on. Also when culling through small fish the release is really easy. Personally I like j hooks or trebles for bait fishing.

Commercial guys use them and I believe a fair amount of meat boat charters use them too. One advantage is once hooked they are pretty well pinned on. Also when culling through small fish the release is really easy. Personally I like j hooks or trebles for bait fishing.

Yeah, the release is easy, but I still don't like the heavy guage wire and oversized barb used in the typical  butt circles.  I think they just do too much damage.  Maybe I'd like a thinner wire 16/0 circle.  Know of any?

One fishery I think I would (and have) choose the circle hooks, and that is in a fishery with barbless hook requirements.  The violent head shakes of a butt are just too suitable for throwing barbless J-Hooks.

-Allen

Another great video Rudy!  I know it's mean but I really enjoyed watching alll the in-n-out action with the net.  Been there and done that with salmon.

I don't have a whole lot of Butt experience but the circle hooks I've used did their job exactly as advertised.  Let em chew, tighten the line and it's fish on.  Also, it's a relief to know that if they're pulling drag, there's no way they're getting off.  With a J-hook, it's not a done deal until they're in the boat or on a buoy.

-Spot-

Another great video Rudy!  I know it's mean but I really enjoyed watching alll the in-n-out action with the net.  Been there and done that with salmon.

I don't have a whole lot of Butt experience but the circle hooks I've used did their job exactly as advertised.  Let em chew, tighten the line and it's fish on.  Also, it's a relief to know that if they're pulling drag, there's no way they're getting off.  With a J-hook, it's not a done deal until they're in the boat or on a buoy.

-Spot-

 I have to agree that circle hooks do the job, but I still wonder what advantage they have over J's when fishing Pacbutts.  Honestly, I've caught way more butts on a jig, and I have to believe my loss to hookup rate is <5%.

-Allen

From my experience as a charter guide I firmly believe in circle hooks.  I think they are better for the fishery because they usually hook in the corner if the mouth and very rarely do they ever swallow the hook. 

As for catching and releasing, once you get the hang of using a hand gaff you can release them without harm.  I've seen scarred over ripped out jaws from the commercial fishery using crucifier to release short fish.  That's another subject but my point is that they are a very durable fish. 

We use J-hooks or auto baiters when the fish are small or being picky but those get swallowed a lot.

From my experience as a charter guide I firmly believe in circle hooks.  I think they are better for the fishery because they usually hook in the corner if the mouth and very rarely do they ever swallow the hook. 

As for catching and releasing, once you get the hang of using a hand gaff you can release them without harm.  I've seen scarred over ripped out jaws from the commercial fishery using crucifier to release short fish.  That's another subject but my point is that they are a very durable fish. 

We use J-hooks or auto baiters when the fish are small or being picky but those get swallowed a lot.

OK.  I buy that, and studies support it.

BTW, I know this isn't comparing apples to apples (like circle and J's using bait), but in my experience I get a far higher gut hook rate using circles than using artificial jigs.  I guess if I have C&R in mind, I'll choose artificials.

I do think bait fishing on anchor (or on anchored longlines) presents a different fishing style than drift fishing, especially vs. drift fishing with artificial.  Most of my hookups on jigs come half way through a large sweeping jig.  I believe it is more of a reaction bite than soaking bait resulting in less inhaling of the lure than you'd see soaking bait, hence less likely to gut hook.

-Allen

I heard that commercial guys use circle hooks for both effectiveness and safety.  I guess you're less likely to get a hook in you with that style.  It makes sense to me, but I'm not an expert on this.