Halibut Tackle and Techniques

Hey All, I get a lot of questions this time of year about how I catch Pacific Halibut so I put together a little video on the tackle and tactics I employ.  Enjoy!

-Mark-

Nice video!  Hope to see you out there this year.

Great video! Excellent information and presentation, thanks a lot.

One thing I do differently is hogtie the halibut. I don’t want any slack at all on your head to tail tie up. Quite the opposite. Put some real tension on the fish and give it a bend so it can’t flop around at all.  They are dangerous like you said in the video. I button them up tight.

I also brain spike a couple minutes after cutting gills. I don’t want any chance of it coming back to life.

White oval marks the brain.

Spot on as always, watched it even though I’ll likely never be halibut fishing. 

Thanks guys and Good info Crash. 

I need to find the brain spike sweet spot.  I used to cinch them tight but I found that as long as they can't bend from one side to the other, they're harmless.  I'm still looking for a way to tie em down to the stern without killing them, so that half their body is still in the water.  It'd be the worlds 1st halibut outboard.   

-Mark-

  I'm still looking for a way to tie em down to the stern without killing them, so that half their body is still in the water.  It'd be the worlds 1st halibut outboard.   

Hahahahaha that's awesome.  When you perfect it, we will need to have halibut propelled kayak races.

Way to go, SPOT.  Fantastic video.

Great video... Great tips. Thank you!

Fred "True" Trujillo

Thanks guys (and gal)!  I plan on putting together more 'mini seminar videos in the future.  If you like em, Subscribe to my Youtube Channel.

-Mark-

Is the 120lb leader necessary because the halibut will eventually chew through a lighter leader?

Is the 120lb leader necessary because the halibut will eventually chew through a lighter leader?

That's exactly what it's for.  The business end needs to hold up to both stretch and abrasion.

Mark

Great video Mark, thanks!  Pac halibut via kayak's been lingering on my to-do list these last couple years...I've only given it a couple half-hearted efforts so far.  Integrating those 40 lb weak links into the rig cannot be stressed enough: I've seen what happens when someone snags bottom with 100 lb braid on a boat, and it ain't pretty  .

Is the 120lb leader necessary because the halibut will eventually chew through a lighter leader?

That's exactly what it's for.  The business end needs to hold up to both stretch and abrasion.

Mark

And don't be afraid to go bigger on the leader.  Sometimes I like to leader a fish for better control.  Bigger is easier on your hands, and gives you more confidence.  Pacific Halibut aren't line shy.

-Allen

Great video, Spot! 

Braining a halibut