Surf Fishing For Big Halibut In Just Inches of Water!
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some really cool moments fishing the surf. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet and fish with some really knowledgeable anglers. I believe it’s a common misconception that bigger fish and specifically [today] bigger halibut can be caught only in deeper waters on far casts. In this article I’ll be telling the story of a recent surf fishing session that resulted in some really nice catches really close to shore in shallow water.
I’ll be doing my best to tell this story in a way that elicits the key learning points as to make it educational and applicable to future tactics.
Surf Fishing Conditions
It was late February and I decided to go surf fishing for halibut with a buddy of mine. We hit the sand around 3pm and began testing the waters. The tide was falling until around 4pm and we had until around 6ish before daylight would fade away.
The surf was small and winds weren’t an issue. Skies were mostly cloudy/overcast for the evening and kelp conditions were extremely manageable. Bottom line… everything looked good.
Gear and Tackle
My setup for the day was the usual shown below.
- Rod: Okuma SST-S-902HA – 1/2-2oz | 10-30lb | 9ft | H | MF
- Reel: Penn Spinfisher VI (3500 or 4500)
- Main Line: 30-pound braid
- Leader Line: 30-pound mono
- Lure Options:
My exact lure choice was a 4.75 inch pearl flash biospawn paired with a 5/0 Gamakatsu 1/8 weighted swimbait hook. This was Texas rigged with a 1/4 oz bullet weight.
The Story Of The Session
As we arrived on the sandy shoreline, we began scanning the waters for notable structure and any zones worth targeting. We’re typically looking for sandy troughs and holes or hard structure created by reefs and rocks.
Before we could develop a thorough analysis of the beach in front of us, a legal halibut breached the surface and splashed back into the water. If that wasn’t a sign we’d be in for an awesome session, I don’t know what is. Danny wasted no time, making his first cast, and within moments, his line went taut. A quick fight later, he beached the first legal of the session – a halibut measuring 23.75 inches. The tone was set.
If The Bite Dies… Move On
Danny continued casting, landing a shorter specimen in the same promising spot. After those two fish, the bite seemed to slow, so we decided to explore further down the beach, in search of some new zones.
We stumbled across what looked to be some interesting structure. The waters were calm and shallow behind what seemed to be a bit of a rock ledge.
From conversation with some experienced fishing buddies of mine, I’ve heard the bigger halibut will often spend much of their time in shallower waters. I’ve caught big halibut in shallow waters before, but this was one to remember.
Side note
I cast my line, let my lure sink to the bottom, and began reeling. As I continued my retrieve, I felt a subtle bump, followed by a momentary snag and release. “Was that a bite?… perhaps I bumped a rock.”
When my lure crept closer to me and I finally caught a glimpse of it, I slowed my retrieve to inspect how it was swimming and if any vegetation might be stuck to it. Suddenly, a shadow loomed in my peripheral view, and just as I realized that shadow was actually a good-sized halibut, it engulfed my lure.
I set the hook with precision, bracing myself for the ensuing battle. The fish took off, engaging my drag. Between some solid runs and sketchy headshakes, I played it as smoothly as possible fearing a pulled hook.
Focusing on the structure in front of me and using the little water movement there was to my advantage, I maneuvered the fish over the rock ledge and onto the soft sand.
Danny was between 20-30 yards down the beach from me now. I waved him down for a quick measurement, snapped a photo, and we set her free. She taped in at 26-inches and she filled out every bit of her length.
The Fish That Would Cap Off The Session
It had been a heck of a day so far, but our adventure was far from over. We wandered further along the beach, exploring new zones in search of a monster. Along the way, we landed a handful of various species, from rockfish to calico bass, and even to a surprise cabezon.
As the sun began to set, we worked our way back to the shallower section where I’d landed my 26-inch halibut. I began walking toward the water as Danny made his first cast into the zone. Before I could even wet my line, Danny’s rod bent with the weight of another solid fish.
This one was big though… bigger than mine.
After the first few runs had subsided, he began to back pedal, navigating the structure as to not get snagged. Pulling the fish from deeper water into shallower water, and eventually onto the sand, the size of the fish seemed to grow exponentially. It looked massive.
We snagged a quick measurement and I took a couple photos. At 28.25 inches in length, she was chunky. Better yet, and she’d live to see another day and grow even chunkier.
Best months for Halibut in San Diego County?
March – June ish
Awesome!
As always, enjoyed the read………..Verne
Thanks, Verne!
That’s nice, but we don’t have halibut in FL.
You’ve got plenty other top predators though!
I think it was a “Fluke”, that you caught that fish !!
I caught mine on a Texas rig swimbait. My buddy got his on a fluke.
Great article. I will never forget my first legal cali hali, a 24 incher that hit maybe 20 feet from my toes in a small bowl right where the waves were breaking on the beach. A little 3” fluke on a drop shot… working it like ringing a little dinner bell… ding ding DONG suddenly a dead weight and ripping drag. What a rush. Legal hali from the surf is a real hunting and sporting type of fishing. Many casts to get one of those flatties….