Oregon butts

Here's a research project for you OR guys.  Are there any realistic kayak halibut fisheries off the OR coast?  I know this one in on the AOTY list, but is it a possibility for you all?

I was reading this thread on ifish (http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=183929) and posted the question there if anyone knew any spots withing 2-3 miles of a beach launch.  We'll see if anyone responds.

In WA we have a shot of them in the Straits, mostly in the spring to early summer.  BTW, I think the eastern Straits open April 10th this year.

-Allen

I'm guessing it's going to be one of those low percentage species for both the WA and OR guys.  I'm planning on spending my non-fishing time gathering more intel like this because all of these fisheries are still new to me.

If it turns out that the only real shot I have is to fish for them in WA, I may have to just make a special trip north.

Are there any realistic kayak halibut fisheries off the OR coast

YES!!

Here's a pic of a 'but caught about a mile off the OR coast at Cannon Beach. Took a charter from Garibaldi- http://www.siggig.com/index.htm (Great guy.)

We were fishing for rockfish and lings around the boilers/rocks offshore. I was using a steelhead rod with 20# braid, and a 4-6oz. jighead. From 60-120' deep. Late in the day I broke off another 'but that was at least as big.

Anyways, the area from Tillamook Head down to Cape Kiwanda is the area that I would focus on. I'm pretty certain I have some older posts, on here, that talk of launch and camp sites.

There are a some near shore halibut "hills" in Oregon but they are a closely guarded secret.  Getting someone to spill the info. on one is like asking them if you can see pictures of his wife naked.  
I know that some of the power guys pick them up regularly around the mouth of the Columbia.  I'm not sure exactly where though...yet...
I'm supposed to do a recon trip with a friend who assures me that there's a productive one less than a mile offshore on the central coast.  Again, I don't know the specifics...yet...
So, do any flat fish count toward Halibut points, or is it restricted to Pacific and California butts?

Heres the 2008 Butt regs for oregon:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/halibut/fishing/seasonmaps/regsmaphbt2008.asp

I keep reading this statement below, and i think i may have finally figured it out...maybe.So, you can't have fish on board from another area and go to an area to catch Halibut? and you can't retain say, like a red snapper if you have a Butt on board? Hmm, ok i haven't figured it out..Help!!

"It is unlawful to fish for or take and retain any legal species while possessing on board any species not allowed to be taken in that area at the time. "

coosbay,
just as it reads.
 If you are fishing for Halibut, you are fishing for Halibut. Most folks clear their boats of any other gear during this fishery, as no blame to poaching can be cast.
Yes, we have a very fortunate spot here in Pelican Bay. A quick drift due to the Chetco river, but you can catch them very close to shore, 300 yards and less. drifting south from the mouth of the river to the Ca. border, fishing the sand pockets between the shallow reef rocks. Each year we see a small drift, row or power boat beached from getting too close to the surf chasing these far North Ca. beauties.

Yes, we have a very fortunate spot here in Pelican Bay. A quick drift due to the Chetco river, but you can catch them very close to shore, 300 yards and less. drifting south from the mouth of the river to the Ca. border, fishing the sand pockets between the shallow reef rocks. Each year we see a small drift, row or power boat beached from getting too close to the surf chasing these far North Ca. beauties.

Boxo, are you talking about a California Halibut fishery?

-Allen

So, do any flat fish count toward Halibut points, or is it restricted to Pacific and California butts?

I hadn't been thinking "any flat fish".

-Allen

Are there any realistic kayak halibut fisheries off the OR coast

YES!!

Here's a pic of a 'but caught about a mile off the OR coast at Cannon Beach. Took a charter from Garibaldi- http://www.siggig.com/index.htm (Great guy.)

We were fishing for rockfish and lings around the boilers/rocks offshore. I was using a steelhead rod with 20# braid, and a 4-6oz. jighead. From 60-120' deep. Late in the day I broke off another 'but that was at least as big.

Anyways, the area from Tillamook Head down to Cape Kiwanda is the area that I would focus on. I'm pretty certain I have some older posts, on here, that talk of launch and camp sites.

Nice.  I remember you telling a few stories about this one.

-Allen

As I mentioned when we were out at Neah Bay, I'm actually kind of jealous of the PDX crew. It's not that far to the ocean beaches, and it's a long ways between ports for PBers. I think kayak anglers in OR have better fishing options than we do in WA. I still need a boat that will allow me to go through breaking surf.

My wife's family live in PDX, and we've spent quite a bit of time on the Northern coast, for vacations.

Pole,
 This is an OREGON fishery, unless you drift too far south, past the mouth of the Winchuck River.
 The stretch is only a few miles long, but you can park on south end and launch on North so shuttling is easy.
Looking at a map of SW Oregon, Pelican Bay is cut in half by the State line with Ca. Locally, we call the Brookings-Harbor area, "the Banana Belt" and regionally this area is known as "Americas Wild Rivers Coast" with 6 undamed, naturally flowing rivers.

Boxo, I meant California Halibut, the species ... vs. Pacific Halibut the species.  How shallow are these butts coming from?

-Allen

It's been a couple of years, but we've camped at the Sea Ranch RV park a few times. It's right on the way in to Cannon Beach. They had some decent tent sites, and were right across from the entry to Ecola State Park. There's also Wright's For Camping, and the Cannon Beach RV Resort, neither of which I'd heard of until looking up Sea Ranch this morning. There's also camping at Oswald West State Park (Short Sands Beach) about 10 miles south, although that requires about a 1/2 mile hike in from the parking area. For launch points, I've put in at Ecola State Park's Indian Head beach, as well as Cannon Beach proper. That was for surfing, but on calmer days should be fine for fishing kayaks as well. You can also launch at Short Sands, but the beach is a 1/2 mile past the campground, making it about a mile in total. The trail is paved, so you can use a cart.

On the Cape Kiawanda/Pacific City end, there's a KOA right a Pacific city with tent, RV, and cabins. It's right across the street from the launch area, as well as the brewpub. I seem to recall a channel at Pacific City that would let you in and out fairly easily, even through larger surf.


Brian

Are there any realistic kayak halibut fisheries off the OR coast

YES!!

Here's a pic of a 'but caught about a mile off the OR coast at Cannon Beach. Took a charter from Garibaldi- http://www.siggig.com/index.htm (Great guy.)

We were fishing for rockfish and lings around the boilers/rocks offshore. I was using a steelhead rod with 20# braid, and a 4-6oz. jighead. From 60-120' deep. Late in the day I broke off another 'but that was at least as big.

Anyways, the area from Tillamook Head down to Cape Kiwanda is the area that I would focus on. I'm pretty certain I have some older posts, on here, that talk of launch and camp sites.

On the Cape Kiawanda/Pacific City end, there's a KOA right a Pacific city with tent, RV, and cabins. It's right across the street from the launch area, as well as the brewpub. I seem to recall a channel at Pacific City that would let you in and out fairly easily, even through larger surf.

Camping (or is it Kamping?)-check
Nearby launch-check
Brew Pub-check

This sounds ideal, I may have to check this out this sometime this year.

Brian

Cape Kiwanda would be a great place for an event, as far as convenience goes. Maybe these guys would like to sponser something? http://www.pelicanbrewery.com/default.htm

The downside of Kiwanda is that we wouldn't be the only ones fishing the nearby reefs. http://www.haystackfishing.com/

Oswald West is a cool park, and not all the sites are that far from the parking. Cape Falcon, which is one of the major boundary points for the different marine rules, is just a half mile north of the beach. That can be very convenient, when the areas have different rules. It IS a very busy park, with no reservations, so trying to get a spot on a summer weekend is unlikely. Heck, summer weekends anywhere along the coast are tough. Manzanita and Newhalem Bay State Park are pretty close, to the south. Vacation house rentals at Manzanita are relatively reasonable. I like this area because it's rare to see PBers.