Baits and Rigs for Halibut and Salmon (Kings in Saltwater)

I know a guy who swears by fried chicken for halibut bait....


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Give me a 4-6 ounce crescent sinker, 5 feet of leader to double 4/0 hooks with a plug cut herring on it, and I'll catch pretty much every species available in the northwest salt.  Troll it, Mooch it, Trooch (troll/mooch) it.  Just saying ...

-Allen

Give me a 4-6 ounce crescent sinker, 5 feet of leader to double 4/0 hooks with a plug cut herring on it, and I'll catch pretty much every species available in the northwest salt.  Troll it, Mooch it, Trooch (troll/mooch) it.  Just saying ...

-Allen

  That's a pretty bold claim---but it's probably true.
   I like "Trooching" it too.

Give me a 4-6 ounce crescent sinker, 5 feet of leader to double 4/0 hooks with a plug cut herring on it, and I'll catch pretty much every species available in the northwest salt.  Troll it, Mooch it, Trooch (troll/mooch) it.  Just saying ...

-Allen

  That's a pretty bold claim---but it's probably true.
   I like "Trooching" it too.

Sorry, not meaning to be bold.  But pretty much everything will take a plug cut herring.  Now, you might adjust the weight up or down, or the leader up or down, or the hooks up or down, or the bait up or down ... in order to target specific species, but a "basic" plug cut rig will do the job.

Hmmm ... hand me a buzz bomb and I'll do the same.     Now that's bold!!!

-Allen

I'm with Polepole - simple mooching rig.  I like to use a Slido style sinker slide, with a cannonball sinker - easy to change weights depending on the current.  Behind that I put a rubber bumper bead and a Sampo swivel.

If you are specifically targeting halibut I would go at least 80 pound leader. I have seen halibut bust 100 pound at the boat. I fish with 150 to 300. Even above a jig.

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With halibut too, big baits catch big fish... At least that's the rumor... Hehehe

Great discussion and excellent feedback - thanks to all. "Trooching" - love it! I'm guessing only someone fishing out of kayak would understand.

kardinal_84  - thank you for the very thorough advice/suggestion. Have to say seems spot given my initial request - fishing for two species in a particular place at a specific time of year. So for clarification, most of the hardware is for kings, with the assumption that halibut will hit just about anything - right? Any idea as to why a simpler technique will not work on Kings? (Not questioning you - I get the sense that catching kings in the inlet is not easy).

Kenai_guy - most of the fishing I've done in Cook Inlet is exactly what you describe, 99% of which has been with a halibut charter (did troll for kings off of a creek outflow). I prefer that rigs be as simple as possible, with the understanding that halibut don't seem to care about diameter of leader, but want to make sure I have the right hook size and necessary weight.

Akfishing - have a friend who swears by a whole salmon head as bait for halibut. He even made me keep a few in the freezer from last summer. I'll try anything once.

All - regarding circle hooks - I am a true believer and feel I have mastered fishing with them. To this day, I am still amazed at how consistently the hook is set in the corner of the mouth and the ease to which the hook can be removed, especially with a hook removal tool.

So I do plan to fish for both halibut and salmon with circle hooks, but could be talked out of it, especially for salmon, as another style of hook may be better for "trooching."

Thanks...

akfishergal - the "corkscrew" swivel is exactly what I was asking about - thank you. Appreciate feedback on leader and weight as well - nice to see you and Kard in sync on weight for inlet.

akfishing - 16oz to 24oz? Please tell me that is not necessary in Cook Inlet!

I hate to say it but I use less weight everywhere but cook inlet.  1-2 lbs is pretty standard if you're soaking bait. Out in the sound I use less... Even though it's deeper, current just rips more in the inlet.  Start light and work your way up.  Closer you get to slack, less weight you'll need. 

Drifting you can always use less provided you aren't outrunning your gear or vice versa. 

Went on a charter and they insisted on 3lb cannonballs.  That sucked ass, but I don't blame them. They can't drift with inexperienced people, would loose too much gear.

I've had luck with 10-12 oz lead heads jigging.

Simple technique is to follow polepole's advice.  Banana sinker to a herring.  I prefer whole herring but cut plug works great too.  I just add a flasher.  For kings, too many hours in between strikes to not maximize every aspect you can.  Premium leader, hooks, swivels, everything.  Halibut, you can catch on anything. 

And yes my suggestion the gear is targeting kings plus land 99% of halibut you are likely to hook in that area. Like everyone else says, go heavier if you are specifically targeting halibut.

I'd love to hear how the circle hooks for you, especially salmon.  I will say I've hooked at least two of my kings in areas a circle hook would have missed...under the jaw.  I completely understand the concept but for me I'm still unconvinced off a kayak and maybe I'm old school but half the fun is a hard hook set where the rod just bends and the fish doesn't move. 

Oh. Look into the halibut fishing off the mouth of the Kenai and Kasilof rivers.  Surf casters hit nice ones when the hooligan and herring are running.  I bet you'd slay them from a yak.  Just be aware of he tides. 

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I must admit I don't target kings often.  Too few and far between compared to my childhood. Fishing has drastically changed over the years up here.

If you are specifically targeting halibut I would go at least 80 pound leader. I have seen halibut bust 100 pound at the boat. I fish with 150 to 300. Even above a jig.

Where you trying to release it when the 100 pound was busted?

BTW, I generally agree with you.  If I'm specifically targeting halibut, I use 150# mono and up for leader, whatever I have handy.

-Allen

Simple technique is to follow polepole's advice.  Banana sinker to a herring.  I prefer whole herring but cut plug works great too.  I just add a flasher.  For kings, too many hours in between strikes to not maximize every aspect you can.  Premium leader, hooks, swivels, everything.  Halibut, you can catch on anything. 

Whole herring works well too, if you can rig it to spin, for the salmon that is.  The halibut may not care as much, although it wouldn't hurt.

I'd love to hear how the circle hooks for you, especially salmon.  I will say I've hooked at least two of my kings in areas a circle hook would have missed...under the jaw.  I completely understand the concept but for me I'm still unconvinced off a kayak and maybe I'm old school but half the fun is a hard hook set where the rod just bends and the fish doesn't move. 

Down here in CA, if we're mooching baits, we must use circle hooks.  I think my hook up rate is worse ...

-Allen

I'll second the opinion that you should not scrimp on tackle. Premium everything! And check your leaders often and make sure your hooks are sharp! I lost a few kings last year to rookie mistakes thinking I could use lightweight non premium hardware.