i am going into salty water this saturday.  my wife demands a Halibut for her investments.  haha.

 

i am going to try to dropshot one  with a Zoom Super fluke, or Reaction Innovation skinny dipper.   it will be a crazy dropshot rig, since i may have a 4oz weight dragging it down.  i talked to a guy super familiar the area and he said to expect a fast tidal current and about 9 feet of water.  9-feet?  that got me thinking.  i deep diving crankbait rooting around in the sand would get smashed!

 

i need to keep my kayak light and relatively empty in case i fall out, flip or something.  i know how to flip it back over and slide back in.   i think some of my bass skills could translate to the ocean.  

 

you all know any deep longer profile, sardine/anchovy looking crankbaits?

I've used the big lipped Rebels, either jointed or solid for many years and everything bites them.

Yozuri makes diving cranks for the salt. Great hooks and salt baitfish finishes.

The Mann's Stretch series is a go to on the Mid Atlantic for trolling for everything from striper to bluefin tuna. I don't see why it wouldn't work on the left coast too. 

Carolina rig with live anchovies or sardines  is your best bet for halibut. 2 oz* egg weight swivel size 1/0 nose hooked. Second would be fresh squid in a jig. Third paddle tail jig. Halibut are usually bottom feeders and tend to chew on bait before swallowing it so delay hook sets are good. Casting lures on a charter boat is frowned on by the crew. A Tady or Salad  jig (iron)ir paddle tail Jig is your best bet.

Tom

* 2 oz weight for every 25’ depth; 40’ =4 oz etc.

Some of My new dropshot weights.  Haha. 

 

Here's a link to "EASY Halibut Fishing with Live Bait - Setups & How to Find Them! (San Francisco Bay)":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23wv7MFMeSA

 

The KVD deep jerkbaits will drop to 12’ easy.  I’ve watched them on live imaging at that depth with just a couple cranks and then jerking them.  On a long cast and straight reel (or against any current) they will definitely hit 12’.

On 5/21/2025 at 12:30 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

i am going into salty water this saturday.  my wife demands a Halibut for her investments.  haha.

 

i am going to try to dropshot one  with a Zoom Super fluke, or Reaction Innovation skinny dipper.   it will be a crazy dropshot rig, since i may have a 4oz weight dragging it down.  i talked to a guy super familiar the area and he said to expect a fast tidal current and about 9 feet of water.  9-feet?  that got me thinking.  i deep diving crankbait rooting around in the sand would get smashed!

 

i need to keep my kayak light and relatively empty in case i fall out, flip or something.  i know how to flip it back over and slide back in.   i think some of my bass skills could translate to the ocean.  

 

you all know any deep longer profile, sardine/anchovy looking crankbaits?

 

How did this go? Catch anything good? What did you end up using? 

 

On 6/10/2025 at 6:51 PM, FishTank said:

 

How did this go? Catch anything good? What did you end up using? 

 

nothing I could legally keep.   I did a bounce ball rig with a tattered anchovy.

 

I am doing a party boat Saturday, which I dont love..but I get to hang with people which Is cool.  rockfish harvest for my wife.  

 

next week, I'll try for rock fish off my kayak.  should be interesting.  

19 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

nothing I could legally keep.   I did a bounce ball rig with a tattered anchovy.

 

I am doing a party boat Saturday, which I dont love..but I get to hang with people which Is cool.  rockfish harvest for my wife.  

 

next week, I'll try for rock fish off my kayak.  should be interesting.  

Sounds like fun. Enjoy.