Halibut Seasonality

[Franko Manini]

Guys,

I tried halibut fishing for the first time a couple weeks ago. I took a friend out and he showed me to ropes and taught me how to anchor and retrieve the anchor safely. It was awesome, and now I am hooked.

I have so many questions, but first, I'd like to understand if halibut are seasonal (not in the regulations sense). Are they around all the time or do they come and go? Is there a peak season? I am in Victoria so i will be fishing Constance and Sooke mostly.

Right now I am so stoked I will go out and try for them no matter what, because you can't catch 'em from the couch right?

Thanks folks,
F

 

[SpringVelocity]

Its been harder right now...That being said not as many guys targeting... There are still some nice ones coming in.... Some boats have been doing very well. And last few days has been great tides..We were out Sunday dogfish galore....! No halibut though.

Spring is better I find...

 

[fishchaser]

Halibut migrate to deeper waters in the winter months and come inshore in early spring to spawn. Might need to take a longer run this time of year.

 

[rovingfisherman]

Halibut migrate to deeper waters in the winter months and come inshore in early spring to spawn. Might need to take a longer run this time of year.

Just to clarify, I think you meant to say they migrate to deeper water to spawn, Dec-Feb and then come inshore back to the feeding grounds in the spring.


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[Franko Manini]

Just to clarify, I think you meant to say they migrate to deeper water to spawn, Dec-Feb and then come inshore back to the feeding grounds in the spring.


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And I think I recall somewhere that by "deeper" it could be 1500 feet.

 

[drmadcow]

I've found the bigger ones migrate generally. Towards the end of December I've had awesome luck fishing for Chicken Halibut on Constance, last December we caught 3 a few days before the end of year. One year in January I caught a 50lb on Constance on a hoochie bottom bouncing for Winter Springs, was sad to release a halibut that took that long to reel in on a 10'6" rod but lots of fun.

 

[Franko Manini]

Sounds like there are halis around all year, albeit maybe less large ones in the winter. I'm going to keep pounding them until I get hooked up or my arms fall off.

 

[drmadcow]

Sounds like there are halis around all year, albeit maybe less large ones in the winter. I'm going to keep pounding them until I get hooked up or my arms fall off.

Or until you get your 6...

 

[Franko Manini]

Geese... I am working on number one still!


Franko

MILF (Man, I Love Fishing)

 

[Last Chance]

I have caught them every month of the year, incidently in the winter and in the spring when I target them.. They are around all year but best bet is Feb to May before the mud puppies move in. Lots of them in the fall too but by then most guys move on to winter springs, hunting parkin the boat.