Halibut

[FISHEYE]

Did a little halibut fishing last Sunday near Anchor Point, Alaska in lower Cook Inlet. We caught about 25 15-20 pound fish and then I got this 80# fish. Its bigger than I normally like to keep. The weather has been perfect for fishing the salt. However, king salmon are few and far between so a few halibut fills the freezer.

[michaeln]

Wow, nice fish! How do you fly fish for halibut, do you use lead core?

[Darian]

Geez Phil,.... You seem to get some large fish everywhere you go. Some great eatin' there. :nod:

As you said, it looks like the weather's good up there (at least for now).... :D

[FISHEYE]

No flies for these since they were caught in 130 feet of fast moving water. My big fish was caught on a 16 oz lead jig with a scampi tail and a chuck of herring. I usually have a fly rod in the boat in case the hooked fish is followed to the surface by some friends. :o)

[PaulC]

Hey Phil,
Do you guys ever target the smaller halibut, small is relative with AK standards, via kayak or from the shore with the fly rod?
I was so fixated with trout and salmon when I was there, I never got a chance to give the bays and beaches a good look.
Definitely seemed to be some fishy looking water around Homer near shore on our way offshore for halibut on conventional gear.
Amazing experience up there. I hope to make it back again sometime.
-Paul

[FISHEYE]

I think there are a few folks that target the chicks this way but not many. Cook Inlet can be dangerous with strong tides and the wind comes up very fast.. I usually target small fish (15-30) because I think they taste better and all the bigger (>40#) fish are females. I have seen kyakers in the inlet but not many and none ever fishing. I fish in a 20 foot boat but there are some boats even smaller out there. There are a few folks who fish from shore near Whiskey Gulch for king salmon with spoons and even fewer of us who fish a fly (usually a clouser). We are looking for no wind, small tides and not much kelp pushed near the shore. I have never caught a king this way but some of my friends have. I think halibut can be caught from shore with a fly (I think there are some guys on Kodiak who do it) but the odds are very difficult. Lots of water and the fish are looking for meat. If you do hook a halibut there is no guarantee it will be a small one. I was fishing for chickens and trolling for kings three weeks ago in 30 feet of water. One of the charters next to me had a fish on for something like two hours on a trolling rod. It turned out to be a 200# halibut.

Many times when we bring up a halibut there are others following it. So I carry the flyrod but I have never been quick enough. I know there is some video out there- probably youtube. Do a search.