With the arrival of spring the bay waters begin to warm and its clarity improves dramatically. As the water clears bait schools swarm across the flats and into deeper water. And like people who have nothing better to do than hang around on city corners all day, many of these bait schools which can be a mix of anchovies and sardines will often form huge clouds as they suspend near channel edges.
As the bait schools continue to disperse and spread throughout the south bay system the stage is set for attracting a host of finned predators. Striped bass immediately comes to mind, but in more recent years another rising star has been gaining in immense popularity especially with the boating crowd.
The California Halibut in some areas of the south bay has become the primary target, and it’s easy to understand why. Besides showing up with predictable regularity, flatties from 8 to well over 20 pounds can be taken and once in a great while a 30 pounder is boated. And although one may think these bottom fish are like couch potatoes, some of the bigger specimens upon feeling the bite of the hook can take off on remarkably hot runs. But also seeing what looks like a piece of the bottom looming up from the depths just before you net or gaff it in itself presents another exciting dimension, and it will test your nerves as well. Yes, going after south bay halibut can provide a unique experience, especially if you have not done it before, but best of all should you score, the rewards are simply mouth watering. Freshly grilled halibut along with your favorite salad is the perfect way to end the day with family and friends.
Trolling
Live bait drifting has been a popular technique for taking halibut for many years, but more anglers are beginning to realize that trolling is also efficient and effective. And in many cases because of varying conditions and the nomadic nature of this fish, trolling can easily be the more productive method and it’s easy to setup.
A big majority of anglers are not aware of the fact that halibut are extremely aggressive and will go out of their way to chase and attack bait once they bust off the bottom, and as they adopt this active hunting mode they disperse over huge areas of bottom. Thus, trolling is very productive for two basic reasons: it presents a lively active bait halibut find hard to resist, and it allows the boater to cover big stretches of water effectively. The more property you cover the better, because it greatly increases your odds substantially in finding and crossing fish. Another big advantage with trolling is that when algae blooms take place on the bay bottom, this green and brown gook collects only on your sinker, and so your gear glides above this mess and more importantly continues to work. You can see the obvious problems should you be slowly drifting a bait tight to the bottom.
Tackle And Gearing Up
For trolling and the fact that I will cover a wide range of depths, and will utilize relatively light to heavy sinkers, and I want an outfit that can take the punishment that may be dished out during the course of the day, I favor heavier tackle.
Regarding rods a the Fenwick SSGC 1270 seven foot 1-piece stick with a medium light action and rated for 12 to 30 lb line would be good. On reel selection Penn’s 320 GTI or 112H will get the job done. Load the reel up with 65 lb test Berkeley Big Game Braid Line. Braids are perfect for halibut trolling. Besides being tough their non-stretch properties and thin diameter allows one to lay out less line when maintaining contact with the bottom, you see every bite, and it cuts through the water easily.
Trolling leaders rigged with bait is almost the same concept utilized in salmon fishing, except that a treble hook is used as a stinger. Setting up the trolling leader begins with a 3/0 to 4/0 stainless steel split ring. To the split ring I’ll add two 1/0 barrel swivels and then one 2/0 ball bearing swivel.
To the ball bearing swivel I’ll connect about 4-1/2 feet of 50 lb test fluorocarbon line. Next a small flasher or 0/0 Dodger is connected. From the butt end of the Dodger or flasher 3 feet of 50 lb fluorocarbon is placed. At the business end of this line a # 2 Owner Treble hook is knotted on. Depending on the size of your bait a single 2/0 or 3/0 Owner SSW hook is snelled a few inches above the treble. The treble hook acts as a stinger on short hits, and it does catch those short biters.
To the two remaining barrel swivels on the split ring your braid line is tied on and your dropper line to the sinker. The dropper line itself can measure about 20 inches and go with 30 lb test. To the end of the dropper line add a snap. Since conditions will vary from day to day where one may work bring cannon ball sinkers from 6 ounces on up to 2-1/2 pounds.
Rigging The Bait
Anchovies are an ideal trolling bait for halibut, and I prefer to use the large tray baits such as Grey Harbor or Tom Brown because besides getting a quality bait, they’re of a consistent size. When rigging the bait pass the single hook point through the tip of the lower jaw and push until the hook point protrudes completely through the tip of the baits upper snout. Next slightly bend the bait and impale the treble hook half way between the dorsal fin and tail. Rigged in his manner the bait spins during the troll.
You can also set up a troll rig minus the Dodger, and all you have to do is add a five foot section of 50 lb fluorocarbon line to the ball bearing swivel. The same hook rig is used at the end, but in the center of the leader and to prevent line twist add a bead chain swivel.
South Bay Halibut Spots
On the west side of the bay productive bottom lies from Hunters Point south to Oyster Point. South of here fish can also be caught off the San Francisco International Airport. A bit east of here the San Bruno Shoals will hold fish. Looking further south action can be had right on the flats outside of Coyote Point Harbor.
On the east side flatties can be taken right off the Alameda Rockwall and out to deeper water beyond 20 feet. Traveling further south more productive flats lie off Bay Farm Island and the Oakland Airport.
Tides
You can get action on both sides of the tide, and as far as halibut are concerned they don’t have to be big tides. However, halibut tend to bite best when the tide is just beginning to perk or speed up or as the tide slows down. Also of critical importance, you’ll also do a lot better when the water is clear.
Where To Start
Halibut do scatter, but they will localize in a certain spot where bait is abundant. They also congregate along channel edges where it just begins to drop, or they can also be located on firm bottom or slight mounds created by shell banks. If you have all these conditions, you’re in prime halibut territory.
Working The Water
If you can get extra bodies on board this gives the boater the legal advantage of laying out more lines, and this is a huge advantage when covering big water. If I can drop four lines, I’ll set up the Dodger or flasher rigs up front. To keep the rigs staggered and to prevent tangles always set up the front lines with heavier sinkers. Your back lines will be rigged with lighter sinkers. How much lead to use of course will be determined by depth you are covering. To give one an idea during the early spring I focus on depths from 12 to 25 feet, and I always target gradual bottom changes particularly where old shell banks occur.
Troll Speed
Two to two and half knots will generate action, and many times when I’m trolling uphill against a heavy chop due to afternoon winds I’ll kick it up to a bit over 3 knots. As mentioned I like to work gradual bottom changes, so for example if I’m working near a channel edge I’ll troll along its length, but at the same time I’ll execute a gradual weaving tach that allows me to cover the changing depths typical when working the upper slope of a channel edge.
At times you’ll have to reel up or drop more line to compensate for the changing depths. In other scenarios if I’m working a hard section of bottom and it’s a big piece of property, I’ll troll back and forth over the area.
During the troll watch your rod tips closely. Short hits can be indicated by a sharp rap tapping the rod tip once or twice, and if you’re not watching you won’t see it so it pays to stay alert at all times. Depending on what side the hit occurs I’ll gradually turn the boat to that side. Many times as you arc the gear into a slow circle you can get the other lines to load up. In the event nothing comes back after you’ve received a short hit, reel up and check your baits, and re-rig if you need to.
Anytime you begin to get hits in a particular spot, don’t work away from it, but instead pound it hard because there are more fish there. Eventually, when they start to bite it happens in a quick flurry. During these brief snaps, you may get two or three fish out of it or more before it stops. When the action dies move on to another area.
Halibut are funny fish in that if you keep the pressure light on the hookup, they’ll actually glide up to the boat very easily. To do this just work the fish up with very slow gentle pumps of the rod. As the fish comes into view, keep its head just under the surface. By following this practice the fish does not panic and thus a target that sits still is much easier for the net or gaff man to land.
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