ALASKA HALIBUT FISHING

Alaskan halibut fishing is in a league of its own. Halibut are world renowned as a premium fish to eat, but many people take for granted what it takes to get one of these behemoths into the boat. The average size of a sport caught halibut in Alaska is usually between 10 to 40 lbs, but these flat fish have the capacity to reach 100's of lbs, with the biggest sport caught halibut tipping the scales at 459 lbs!

The halibut's lair is typically on the bottom of the ocean's floor. Down there, they can take advantage of their flat body and camouflaged topside to stalk their prey. Halibut congregate around the ocean's shelves bordering deep drop offs and rocky outcroppings where bait fish are drawn to.

Halibut are opportunist and when hungry will eat just about anything; however, some of their favorite baits are herring, shrimp, cod, squid, and octopus. A halibut bite usually begins with just nibbles, until finally the fish swallows the hook, increasingly pulling and jerking the fishing rod down. Once hooked, it takes more than just muscles to pull a monster halibut off the bottom of the ocean; it takes perseverance and a strong resolve. A fish like this can bring you to your breaking point, making you want to give up, but just when you think you can't reel anymore, someone says they see color and out of the deep depths appears your halibut. It's up to you to give one last ditched effort to get this thing in the boat while the captain readies his harpoon or gaff hook in order to try and secure the fish.

Once the halibut is subdued, it is bled and put on ice to keep it fresh. It sometimes looks brutal, but if you think you got what it takes to slug it out with one of these flatfish…then you are ready for Alaskan halibut fishing.

Halibut Fishing Techniques
Halibut fishing most often takes place in depths anywhere from 150 to 400 feet deep. Anchoring is the usually the most effective way to fish for halibut, but drifting is done as well in order to find where the fish are congregating. Getting down to these depths requires the use of 24 to 32 oz leads. Along with the leads we use 14/0 to 16/0 circle hooks and 7/0 to 9/0 double hook rigs. Jigs in the shape of squids and grub tails can be extremely effective as well. These jigs move through the water with life like motion, triggering tentative halibut to strike. While many fishermen use a gun to disengage a big halibut, we use a harpoon attached to a rope and buoy. Once the halibut is attached to the buoy, he is unable to swim back down to the bottom of the ocean. The fish becomes worn out and our final step is to bleed him.

Learn more about Alaska Salmon Fishing