Halibut Terminal Tackle

What does everyone use for terminal gear on their Halibut rig?

Don't know about everyone, but last year I used a spreader bar, a 6-8 oz ball, and a B2 Squid.  I'm looking at the Z2 Squid this year to get the scent ball.  BTW, I got skunked, so hopefully, YMMV.

50# braid, 150 mono 6-24 oz 10/0-16/0 either circles of J-hooks depending on your preference. Bait of choice...
In AK we just used an 8 oz jig head and a Kalin's BigN 10" in glow.
With halibut it seems to be more important to put it in their face and it really doesn't matter what the offering is.

In AK we just used an 8 oz jig head and a Kalin's BigN 10" in glow.
With halibut it seems to be more important to put it in their face and it really doesn't matter what the offering is.

I'd prefer to use this method.  My worry is that 50# mono won't do well against their teeth.  So I'm thinking 65# braid mainline, 50# mono, then 100# mono.  But it seems a little over-complicated, so I'm looking for easier solutions.  Maybe a 12" section of wire tied directly to the jig.

50 or 65 braid to a short 1'-2' 150 mono leader, cork screw swivel to the jig. Howard uses a 18" 400 pound leader to the jig. I watched a 35-40ish halibut bite off 100 mono.

I used 65 lbs braid mainline attached to a Med-Lrg Corkscrew swivel, at times i used a spreader bar with a 6-10 oz. weight/12-18 inch 100lbs florocarbon leader double cirle hook mooching rig when fishing herring.  Later last season I went directly to 65lbs braid mainline to large swivel to 18-20 inch 100 florocarbon leader to a Kodiak Custom bottom fish jig. (no halibut, plenty of Ling's).  This year I plan on sticking with the direct rig using again the Kodiak Custom Jig and Big Jigs.  Hoping I can land that Big hali, though I had a blast killing the Ling's last year.

In AK we just used an 8 oz jig head and a Kalin's BigN 10" in glow.
With halibut it seems to be more important to put it in their face and it really doesn't matter what the offering is.

I'd prefer to use this method.  My worry is that 50# mono won't do well against their teeth.  So I'm thinking 65# braid mainline, 50# mono, then 100# mono.  But it seems a little over-complicated, so I'm looking for easier solutions.  Maybe a 12" section of wire tied directly to the jig.

I use 30# braid to a swivel, then ~3' of 150-200# leader material.  I have caught a lot of halibut off the yak using this outfit, on a fairly light rod as well.  I don't have a problem with breaking the 30#, either on a fish or when I snag up.  And yup, Kalin BigN in glow on an 8 ounce jig head, smeared heavily with your favorite herring oil.  There is a reason I named my son Kalin.    Although last summer I also used the Sumo 6X (7.5 ounce) with a glow back and had good success.  I guess I'll have to name my next son Sumo.     The reason for the big leader becomes fairly obvious when you pull up a halibut that has completely inhaled your offering.

-Allen

When I ran halibut charters off Neah Bay all the charters ran a similar rig to the one shown in this thread...

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=116244

I used 65 lb power pro as a mainline and 100 lb crimped wire leaders attached to the tuna cord.  For bait or lures I would usually use B-12 squids or salted herring zip tied to the hooks.  For weight I used 2-3 lb. of lead attached to the tuna cord.

Of course, my favorite way to catch halibut are pipe jigs.  Less parts and pieces plus the ability to directly feel the savage grabs.

Chris

Of course 2-3 pounds of lead is a PITA off a kayak!

-Allen

Of course 2-3 pounds of lead is a PITA off a kayak!

-Allen

of course that much weight is, but how often are you fishing 450-550 ft deep in the kayak?  put 1 lb on for shallower water.

just wanted to let people know that tuna cord imo works far better and is much less of a hassle than a metal spreader bar.  to me, simplifying rigs is a good thing for kayak fishing and not having to carry spreader bars certainly simplifies fishing.... even on a larger boat.

chris

What are you guys using the spreader bar for? Moving the weight away from the bait?

What are you guys using the spreader bar for? Moving the weight away from the bait?

yep, and keeping the bait from wrapping around the mainline during drops to the bottom.

Do you guys use fluorocarbon leaders? Or will the 100 to 200 lb in mono suffice?

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No need to pay the extra for flouro.  Shoot, halibut will bite straight tuna cord leader to the hook.  Nothing to hide here.

I'm not much of a spreader bar guy.  But if you already have 200# mono and a crimper, you can crimp a decent spreader rig with it, literally by just visualizing and crimping a large 3 ways "T".

-Allen

No need to pay the extra for flouro.  Shoot, halibut will bite straight tuna cord leader to the hook.  Nothing to hide here.

I'm not much of a spreader bar guy.  But if you already have 200# mono and a crimper, you can crimp a decent spreader rig with it, literally by just visualizing and crimping a large 3 ways "T".

-Allen

got a recommendation on brand of mono? I do have a crimper I brought from Guam. I think I have some 10 yr old 100 & 200 lb mono that I used for making trolling rigs might still be good

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