Halibut in the Sound

So, who's going out for halibut in the sound this weekend? Another NWKA'er and I are thinking of hitting some spots around Whidbey Island Saturday, as the forecast looks promising. It'll be our first time targeting these species (for me, ever), and for him, from the 'yak.

I'm heading for MA 6, PA/Freshwater Bay area today (Friday) but it's still small craft warning out there until noon. Yeah, I'll push it if there's a window. Not recommending you do the same, everyone should make the call on their own based on your experience level. Saturday I'm doing a clinic at NWPF on Sammamish  that looks like more enjoyable weather.

I was planning on hitting freshwater today but the conditions scared me off. Instead I'm chasing springers on the big c for two days.

About 10 yaks out at FWB today. No Buts landed. Tough conditions. Squally with gust 20 plus. When the wind went W to NW there was no place to hide. Double R and I were the last off the water.

Great seeing everyone again. Gotta feeling Double R is gonna score tomorrow.

Jon and I gave it an honest go today. About 11hrs on the water in Mutiny Bay. Didn't see a single halibut landed by any of the 100 or so boats out during the entire we were there. Sure enough, we heard the phrase every fisherman hates to hear, and loves to say: "ya shoulda been there yesterday," which we already saw evidence of in the form of numerous halibut carcs on the beach at the boat launch, some quite large.

I had 2 or 3 honest, hard takes, but didn't stick anything. Regardless, it was an absolutely great day to be out on the water. Super calm conditions - wind, waves, current, temperate - just perfect.

***To the other NWKA'er I met on his powerboat (whose friend got sick, you didn't get quality bait, etc...), and whose name/tag I admittedly forgot - drop me a line!***

Any tips for avoiding constant bait stealing? Didn't matter what I put down there, how i wrapped it in spidersilk, or hook-size - within two minutes got it down there, it was devoured by sculpin + sand-dabs. I ended up so frustrated I just used live sand-dabs for bait instead, realizing that was the only thing I could use (sans artificials) that would last.

Any tips for avoiding constant bait stealing? Didn't matter what I put down there, how i wrapped it in spidersilk, or hook-size - within two minutes got it down there, it was devoured by sculpin + sand-dabs. I ended up so frustrated I just used live sand-dabs for bait instead, realizing that was the only thing I could use (sans artificials) that would last.

Use a salmon head. Might be able to get one at a seafood store/ grocery store. I like red salmon heads, pinks work good too. Salmon belly is good too. Alternatively octopus or squid stays on there good. Or a filet of some kind of junk fish. We use cod

Good suggestion. I'm guessing with something the size of a salmon head, you're using monster circle hooks?

The octopus, salmon belly, squid, herring and sardines (whole and cut) were devoured pronto. I'm guessing salmon heads, being hardier, would last.

I don't know about monster hooks. I just hook the head through the lips or in the back of the neck. You can whitle the head down too, like remove the upper jaw, cut it lengthwise, whatever makes it manageable. Those gamakatsu big river bait hooks work good too in lu of the circles. The key with those big baits is ya got to let them chew on it till your sure they're hooked. And be patient, you weed through a lot of smaller halibut too so take that into consideration. Your fishing for quality not quantity with a salmon head. I regularly fished with a guy that the only thing he would use was a salmon head.  Somedays it would take hours for him to get a butt, but it was always 80 plus. Course I'd seen him get 20 pounders too on it

appreciate all the advice.

i do think you may have it a bit different up in AK. From what I can tell in my admittedly quite limited experience, here in puget sound, a single halibut is a very successful day, even if it's just 20lbs.

About 10 yaks out at FWB today. No Buts landed. Tough conditions. Squally with gust 20 plus. When the wind went W to NW there was no place to hide. Double R and I were the last off the water.

Great seeing everyone again. Gotta feeling Double R is gonna score tomorrow.

Well, Yaktrap, I hate to hurt your feelings, but I got skunked again.  And blown off the water by 2:00 again - I dont think I've ever drank so much saltwater, crashing thru the chop on Saturday.  And of course, Sunday morning, with halibut fishing closed, the straits were flat and sunny. 

Anyone interested in fishing Mutiny this Saturday if conditions allow?

How much weight are you guys typically using out at FWB? I'm considering giving it a try on the last open Saturday (6/7), but I don't really have much interest in running two pounds of lead from a kayak.

Henney -
I got by with 16 oz. at FWB, but my line seemed to be always  at about a 30 degree angle due to getting pushed by the wind and current.  I  was fishing mainly between 70' and 120' deep.

Do you just mooch the.bait. Or let it.Seton bottom?