New species for this year: Halibut!

crash was right...

Never done it, but I have spent a lot of time kayak fishing, and commercial fishing in the ocean. You really don't want to be 'figuring it out' multiple miles off shore. Echoing what looks like the consensus here, get multiple trips in the ocean for rockfish then reevaluate whether to do it this year or the sometime in the future.


Fish hard.

One word....... Don’t

The first time I went halibut fishing on a kayak if I remember right I just got in my truck and drove to the coast.

Glad nothing bad happened to you and you're here today to write on NWKA. I prefer to be more prepared, though.

I’ve seen you fish before, 2-3 ft wind chop as “rough conditions” give me a break the sound is a pond compared to 9-12 ft swells and all afternoon fog that are common during the early season. Also the season is actually kind of long, you will be burned out well before the end.

I wouldn't classify a couple feet of wind chop alone as rough conditions. I haven't been out in 12 foot swells, and don't really want to do so at my current experience level. I have been out in 6+ foot swells and didn't really mind them as long as they weren't breaking on me. It made it a bit more difficult to keep my jig right on the bottom, though. A modern sit-on-top kayak seems to handle large swells much better than many fishing boats, just floating right over the top of them. I can see how they would make surf launches and returns difficult, though. That's really my main concern with very large swells.

Never done it, but I have spent a lot of time kayak fishing, and commercial fishing in the ocean. You really don't want to be 'figuring it out' multiple miles off shore. Echoing what looks like the consensus here, get multiple trips in the ocean for rockfish then reevaluate whether to do it this year or the sometime in the future.


Fish hard.

Thanks, workhard! This is much closer to what I was hoping to get when posting this, although admittedly many of the responses have been less helpful than expected. I'm building a plan to work up to halibut fishing from the kayak. I expect it to take at least a couple months and many trips, and I'm fine with it taking a lot longer than that if necessary.

Let me see if I have a few things straight from the replies so far...

• Despite having recreational halibut seasons for Puget Sound areas that I am already familiar with for specific days during the season, to have a reasonable chance at catching a halibut you need to go off the coast multiple miles. This was unexpected and definitely changes the scope of the plan significantly. This also seems to be the disconnect in perception of what I am asking for advice about. I thought by mentioning my location and the few, specific days that I made it clear that I was intending to fish in the Puget Sound regions. From the responses, that wasn't as clear as I thought it was. Point taken.
• Before going off the coast multiple miles to chase halibut, I should get a lot more experience in the ocean fishing for rockfish and lings. To be honest, I don't think I'd go miles off the coast alone no matter how experienced I eventually get. There are just too many things that can go wrong, and I'd rather live to fish again another day.

Thanks to all those who have answered so far!

Never done it, but I have spent a lot of time kayak fishing, and commercial fishing in the ocean. You really don't want to be 'figuring it out' multiple miles off shore. Echoing what looks like the consensus here, get multiple trips in the ocean for rockfish then reevaluate whether to do it this year or the sometime in the future.


Fish hard.

Thanks, workhard! This is much closer to what I was hoping to get when posting this, although admittedly many of the responses have been less helpful than expected. I'm building a plan to work up to halibut fishing from the kayak. I expect it to take at least a couple months and many trips, and I'm fine with it taking a lot longer than that if necessary.

Let me see if I have a few things straight from the replies so far...

• Despite having recreational halibut seasons for Puget Sound areas that I am already familiar with for specific days during the season, to have a reasonable chance at catching a halibut you need to go off the coast multiple miles. This was unexpected and definitely changes the scope of the plan significantly. This also seems to be the disconnect in perception of what I am asking for advice about. I thought by mentioning my location and the few, specific days that I made it clear that I was intending to fish in the Puget Sound regions. From the responses, that wasn't as clear as I thought it was. Point taken.
• Before going off the coast multiple miles to chase halibut, I should get a lot more experience in the ocean fishing for rockfish and lings. To be honest, I don't think I'd go miles off the coast alone no matter how experienced I eventually get. There are just too many things that can go wrong, and I'd rather live to fish again another day.

Thanks to all those who have answered so far!

I'd like to point out that Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 are also open for halibut.  Some dude caught a barn door off Whidbey Island last year in 6. There are opportunities in the Sound as well.

Fish hard.

I'd like to point out that Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 are also open for halibut.  Some dude caught a barn door off Whidbey Island last year in 6. There are opportunities in the Sound as well.

Fish hard.

Yep... this page is the one that I'm watching, and what got me focused on trying for halibut this year.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/halibut/pugetsound.html

If you're really gung ho on the idea, pick a venue and hang out there the day before an opener.  You'll likely meet other kayak fishermen assessing the conditions and shooting the shit.  If they're friendly, ask if you can tag along.  If they say yes, you've probably got some hali-pals for life.  BTW: There are hali spots all along the straight.  The farther in you go, the more calm it gets.

-Mark-

I will say I have done much better in shallow water then 8+ miles out earlier in the season, since you can get to spots boats usually overlook. Honestly I would drive down there when the weather looks good and see who is there. I feel like every year more inexperienced people go from watching YouTube so of course I would be hesitant to tell you it’s easy. All of the good spots are relatively easy surf launch. I found coming back in is difficult in the afternoon when the wind picks up so you want to be watchful. We usually take two hobie TI’s every year and I take people who have never been on the ocean before in a kayak so I think you will be fine if you use good judgement. I would not ignore the strait or areas in the sound I have done really well there but they are high mile days. Keep the line light Incase you get snagged in rough water.

I'm also interested in trying to catch a halibut, but I'm not going to be experienced enough to try it in the ocean this year, and my PA14 isn't really an ocean kayak anyway.  Having said that, does anyone care to share any insights into halibut fishing in the more protected sound and straight waters?

I sent you a pm conquestdz. Jigging with large squid jigs is usually good, tipping it with bait. Just think of a heavy lingcod setup and you will be good. They are not hard to catch and will hit many things.

Thanks.  That looks a lot more like something I can handle safely.

If you want to tag along one trip let me know the first option is amazing, I have a few good spots marked.  I haven’t gone there without limits and relatively calm on most days.

If you want to tag along one trip let me know the first option is amazing, I have a few good spots marked.  I haven’t gone there without limits and relatively calm on most days.

 

If you want to fish for big fish, I suggest you start small. Learn your tipping point of the kayak the hard way and dump yourself. This way you know when you are going over. Practice righting your kayak. Spend time organizing your gear so you know where everything is and how to get to what you need next.  Plan to fail.   Where to go is easy to find out. Look at the weather conditions. If its windy, don't go. If the current is more than 1 knot and you don't have a pedal drive, don't go. If you are wondering if you should go out or not, DON'T GO.  If your gear is crappy, get new gear. Don't run over 10 lbs of drag unless you know what you are doing.  Are you going to use a harpoon? Better figure that out line management system before you go.
Safely, is how you catch big fish. Practice on small fish. If you or anyone else want to go out and fish with me I will show you some ways of managing your kayak gear systems.
The last thing I want to do is spend my afternoon filling out a coastguard report on you.   
The fish in the picture flipped me in a pro angler 14 in 1 foot waves. I lost over a thousand dollars in gear that day.  It is not a big fish.