Halibut and moon phases

[Sangstercraft]

I heard that halibut move in from the deeps to the slightly more shallow waters (100-200' range) as the moon waxes (gets bigger) and then as it wanes, they move back to the deeps. Is there any credibility to this? And is it better to fish them on the slacks between large tide swings? or smaller tide swings?

 

[Last Chance]

Near Victoria you fish them on the slacks, WCVI, it really doesn't matter. You are at the mercy of the tides in the straits because you can't get your gear down with the current much faster then one knot.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
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[Bogman]

halibut follow the feed. when the tides get bigger with the moon the the feed comes in and guess what follows?

"Who would have ever thought it would be this much fun catching them one at a time"

 

[bee15]

personally i dont believe halibut are that complicated they probably just lay on the bottom and feed on whatever comes by.pelagic fish possibly follow feed.but halibut are demersal.and oppurtunists.

 

[reelfast]

no one seems to know why they head for the shallower water from the depths. but up they come and then they become available to you and me. the tides on the strait are what dictate my halibut fishing. on really steep exchanges, the window for fishing is pretty short as getting to the bottom becomes virtually impossible, well maybe with a bowling ball it would work [8D]

 

[reelfast]

just a week ago i hung the bottom with my downrigger ball. snapped 150# cable in an eye blink. the bottoms of the areas that hold halibut in my vicinity are gravel interspersed with rock. having lost plenty of lead, i am not about to hang another downrigger ball in that jumble. i suppose if the bottom you fish is nice smooth sand, that might be a worthy idea.

 

[Charlie]

quote:Originally posted by reelfast

just a week ago i hung the bottom with my downrigger ball. snapped 150# cable in an eye blink. the bottoms of the areas that hold halibut in my vicinity are gravel interspersed with rock. having lost plenty of lead, i am not about to hang another downrigger ball in that jumble. i suppose if the bottom you fish is nice smooth sand, that might be a worthy idea.

Use your downrigger[?]

I do it all the time? Drop it till it hits bottom... bring it up a foot or two and fish downhill? Bouncing bottom. Keep moving to keep the lines from wrapping around the cable!

 

[reelfast]

local knowledge is everything. i always try and check in with local fishermen regarding technique before i use 'what worked' last time, someplace else. i would guess that making a pass over the rock pile outside of PA with a downrigger ball would have you solid to the bottom first time. as i said, nice even, smooth, bottom without obstructions, downrigger might just be the ticket to success.