Halibut - When am I ready?

I've been jonesing for a trip out of PC for one of these beasts. I've a couple of years under my belt out of PC and Depoe. I finally got a (used) drysuit. I'm pretty comfortable in my Revo 13 west of Kiwanda. I've hauled full crab traps out of 50 feet of water on my own (though it was a pain to do so). I can self right my kayak. My gear is ready. I see that the season is still open for a couple of set weekends within the 40 fathom line. Is this the year? Do I look for a couple of similarly prepared and experienced or veteran halibut anglers? Do I wait for next year and prepare even MORE for next year's season? I mean, I can only prepare for so long, can't I?

When is the right time to do this? How do I know for sure?

Fred "True" Trujillo

Do it, Fred!  You got this!   

Personally I think you're ready. We've been out of Depoe together a few times, and once in some damn sloppy seas. You were solid all the way around. Find a battle buddy with what you deem an equivalent or higher skill set and go get'em!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

You got this!  No question.

-Mark-

Hey Fred, we met at the Garibaldi event a few years ago. I too have been kind of excited to catch a halibut out of PC. I have never caught one from my kayak. Last time out, I tried briefly, but felt like I didn't want to go out much past 140 by myself. I only caught sole out there. The other problem is that you have to pass by such amazing crabbing, ling and rock fishing grounds on the way out that it is hard to stay focused. Anyway, I talked to some old dudes at the fish cleaning station (that had caught halibut that day) and they said that I should start to fish around 170-190ft. That sounds doable, but a little far by myself.
The long and the short of it is that I am going to be on the beach tomorrow at around 5:30am and I will have some halibut gear so if you want to join that might inspire me to go out and give it a try. Otherwise I will probably just limit out on lings, crabs and bass. I have drysuit, chart, radio, some experience and a strong survival instinct. Don't forget that halibut is open 7 days a week within the 40 fathom line until 10/31 or quota.
Cheers, and good luck on your quest.
If anyone has some good intel for us newbie OR inshore halibut seekers, I think we could probably use some advice.
Thanks, in advance.

Hey Fred, we met at the Garibaldi event a few years ago. I too have been kind of excited to catch a halibut out of PC. I have never caught one from my kayak. Last time out, I tried briefly, but felt like I didn't want to go out much past 140 by myself. I only caught sole out there. The other problem is that you have to pass by such amazing crabbing, ling and rock fishing grounds on the way out that it is hard to stay focused. Anyway, I talked to some old dudes at the fish cleaning station (that had caught halibut that day) and they said that I should start to fish around 170-190ft. That sounds doable, but a little far by myself.
The long and the short of it is that I am going to be on the beach tomorrow at around 5:30am and I will have some halibut gear so if you want to join that might inspire me to go out and give it a try. Otherwise I will probably just limit out on lings, crabs and bass. I have drysuit, chart, radio, some experience and a strong survival instinct. Don't forget that halibut is open 7 days a week within the 40 fathom line until 10/31 or quota.
Cheers, and good luck on your quest.
If anyone has some good intel for us newbie OR inshore halibut seekers, I think we could probably use some advice.
Thanks, in advance.

You!  You're not ready!  Get back in the kiddie pool!

 

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You!  You're not ready!  Get back in the kiddie pool!

 
[/quote]
  Yea maybe stick to minnows. I wouldn't want to have to call you the butt-magnet. 

I wouldn't want to have to call you the butt-magnet.

I actually really want him to nail a nice flatty out there.  Just so I can call someone on this forum a butt-magnet.   

When Fred gets his halibut, I want to see his photo on the front page and "butt-magnet" as the caption! 
Get it done, Fred!! 

Ha ha ha! "Butt-magnet!" My wife asked me, "What are you laughing at?"

"Butt-magnet." Sure to be a classic! She just shook her head.

Thanks all for the vote of confidence. It makes me feel a little better about getting out there. I've thought about going it alone, but I know that's foolish. I have a wife and two beautiful daughters that I look forward to seeing and an ex that I still love torturing so I'm definitely going out as a pair or with a group.

I'm going to try and get out next week some time before the ORC. I'll also be out at Chinook Bend a couple of days early and would like to get out on some Hali-grounds the Thursday or Wednesday before the ORC. I'd love to have some company out there when I go. Minnowmagnet, I'd love to be your wingman out of PC or Depoe within the month. What say?

Fred "True" Trujillo