Fishing out of Pedder Bay this weekend (halibut?)

[trendsetter]

Hey all, me and two buddies are heading out to Pedder Bay to fish some pinks and maybe the odd spring this weekend. I've been there many times before over the years, mostly during the big pink run years and fishing has usually been great.

This weekend we are going is supposed to be decent tides for Halibut. I've never fished for Halis before and neither have my friends. Do I need any special gear for halibut in this area? or can I use a regular 7ft heavy action rod with 40lb test?

In the past we have usually trolled out near church island or shelter island with success. Any locals have any tips or suggestions for us? We will be camping at the RV Campground right in Pedder bay and renting one of their boats.

Cheers

 

[Little Hawk]

Think heavy rods and heavy gear. Another must is heavy music - Satriani, Deep Purple, Zepplin etc...

 

[scott craven]

I've wound up lots of Halibut on mooching rods, problem is there's not a lot of them around this year.
we haven't had an incidental hookup this year
you can drag the bottom in whirlbay, there's been a few taken there.
Targeting them usually requires anchoring near pinnacles or humps where they will come to feed.

 

[trendsetter]

Thanks guys! I wasn't sure if halibut like heavy metal but now I know!

I'll let you know how it works out.

Cheers

 

[Cut Plug]

If you check in with us at the office at Pedder Bay, we'll give you the skinny on local halibut action. For maximum success an anchor is very handy - but not advised or safe unless you have experience anchoring your boat in deep water with tidal currents. If you haven't done it here (Juan de Fuca Strait) before, its really important that you head out with an experienced local or guide before trying it yourself.

A fair number of fish have been caught this year by boats drifting\back trolling on small tides with calm winds especially in Pedder Bay itself, as well as the stretch between Albert Head and William Head.

You'll have to wade through a few dogfish in order to get the hallies, but think big baits or artificials and you'll save your arms a lot of work.

There have been some great hallies coming lately - pretty much everyone targetting them is getting them, but most folks have shifted over to salmon now.

Good luck, look us up at Pedder Bay before heading out and we'll offer what we know.

CP

 

[trendsetter]

Hey cut plug, thanks for the tips!

Do you work for Pedder Bay Marina? We are staying there and renting a boat from the marina. Do you know if I can bring my own manual scotty downriggers to use on the rental boats?

I see on the site you can rent them but I'm wondering if the boats already have the mounting brackets in place and we can bring our own.

Cheers

 

[fishspoon]

I have had a long release of very small halibut while trollin' for chinooks off whirl bay before. Without anchor, don't fish at race passage...loose lures and even downrigger balls to the bottom. hope it helps.

 

[trendsetter]

Well I managed to land my first halibut this weekend right out in race passage while trolling for salmon! The line was 75' down and we came up on a rise from 270' to 75', the downrigger ball bounced a couple times then bam fish on. I thought it was a spring at first the way it fought then it went dead weight about half way up. When I saw the big flash of white from it's underside I knew I had a hali.

Brought it to the boat, gaffed it and in he came. We didn't even need to try the back trolling or anchoring techniques!

Grilled a nice piece of it over the campfire with some butter and garlic in tin foil that night. Man was that fish delicious.

Thanks again for the tips guys!