WHERE IS THE BEST HALIBUT FISHING FROM SHORE IN SO CAL

[halibutralph]

I WANT TO KNOW WHERE'S THE BEST SPOT TO FISH FOR HALIBUT ,BETWEEN SANTA MONICA AND SEAL BEACH AND WHAT THEY ARE HITTING ON I ONLY FISH FROM PIERS AND FROM SHORE THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPS []
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[TubeDude]

[cool] Hey Ralph, there's a whole lotta spots where you can hang a butt off a pier or the shore too...when conditions are right. In the next couple of months those wonderful flatties will be coming more shallow, to do their spring fling thing, and they will be in range of shorecasters, on some light tackle.

Rather than burn up a buncha space here, I might suggest a couple of resources for you. First, come over to the float tube section of the BigFish Tackle site. It's new and we have some halibut specialists on the site with lots of info...applicable to pier and shore fishing too.

Even better, check out the website for [url "http://www.baytubers.com"]www.baytubers.com[/url] . Theres some good background on halibut fishing in general, and a lot of specialized info and maps of the areas you are most interested in.

Let us know, also, whether you use spinning or conventional...bait or lures...and any other preferences. Chances are you will get some more specific assistance.

If you strike out, come on back here and we'll download some more details, until we get you pointed in the right direction. Heck, we might even convert you to becoming a float tuber.
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[halibutralph]

I FISH BOTH CONVENTIONAL AND SPINNING AS WELL CATCH MY OWN BAIT I USUALLY FISH BELMONT PIER AND BEHIND THE MARINA AT SHORELINE VILLAGE I HAVE SOME LUCK YOU KNOW HOW THE FISHING IS AT BELMONT PIER IF YOU FISHED HERE BEFORE ALOT OF SHORTIES ,OH YEAH DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THERE WILL EVER BE ANOTHER BARGE IN SO CAL I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT FLOAT TUBING BUT WONDERED HOW MUCH IT WILL COST FOR THE BASIC SET-UP I'M AROUND 260 LBS HECK I WOULD EVEN BE INTERESTED IN GOOD USED EQUIPTMENT
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[TubeDude]

[cool][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] Hey Ralph, Belmont Shore was where I did my first fishing from an inner tube...and it was just that...a plain old inner tube, in about 1956. In those days, I was happy catching what I use for bait these days... smelt, perch and herring (queenfish). It was a few years later that I learned how to send one of them down a line, on a swivel, to prospect for the flatties off the pier. It was a few years more before I had a tricked out tube to go after them in areas not fished by boats, pier casters or shore fishermen...float tube country.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]You're right about the shorts. There are always a lot more of them than the big boys..and the big boys are smarter and harder to catch. That's another argument for tubing them. It makes it possible to present the baits in a silent and finesse approach difficult to equal in any other way. And, when you hook up to a big ol 'butt from a donut dinghy, you are in full hand to fin combat. Even a barely legal can spin you around a few times and tow you a few yards.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]You really need to jump over to Kiyo's site at [url "http://www.baytubers.com"]www.baytubers.com[/url] . They have a lot of good stuff, including pics of some of the craft that make good 'butt chasers. I'll be attaching a pic at the end of this post of the Caddis Navigator II. It can be had for around $150 on special. It is rated for 350 pounds.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]I am about your same size and I have had pretty good success with the Kennebec...about $130. I'm planning to upgrade to an Outcast Super Fat Cat soon...for about $330. Lots of quality features I feel are worth the extra investment.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Chances are, if you hit a couple of tubing websites, where there are classified for sales, you can find a decent deal. Don't overlook the Sportsmans Show this weekend. I've heard of a couple of great buys available there on tubes.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Anybody on this forum know of any "gently used" system that might float Ralph out to the halibut zone?[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Caddis Navigator II...tricked out for halibut fishing[/size][/font]


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[LeapinBass]

Check out my article here at Big Fish.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/Articles/salt37.htm"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/Articles/salt37.htm[/url]

I'm pretty much a lure only angler when it comes to inshore halibut (and white seabass). Bait will work but there's nothing like nailing a nice flattie on an artificial. Personally I find bait to be too much of a hassle for the type of fishing I do the most. I do alot of quick trips down to the beach and don't want to waste a lot of time dealing with buying, making, or keeping live bait.
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[TubeDude]

[cool] Hey, Bro...couldn't get the links to work on the articles. A message about an invalid URL. Would like to ingest the rhetoric.

I concur with the lure business. I make all of my own lures, tie flies, build rods and all that other foolishness. I do buy plastics, however, and look forward to trying some Hammers. I have been making a lot of my jig heads with glitter paints the last few years...and big eyes. Don't know if it raises my fish count, but they look purty and it helps keep me off the streets longer.

I've heard lots of halibut nuts claim that live bait catches more and bigger fish. On some days, that may be true. But, like yourself, I would rather take them on my own stuff, unless they just have a case of lockjaw. Even then, a well presented lure can sometimes elicit a reaction bite, where natural bait won't even wake them up. Seen it happen.

So, like yourself, I'd rather be making casts than making bait. And, I've won more than a few jackpots with artificials.
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[LeapinBass]

Sorry about the link problem. Try this: Click on the "Articles" link at the top of this page, scroll down to "Saltwater Fishing Articles" and click on "Light Tackle Shore Fishing".

"all that other foolishness" - I know exactly what you mean!!!

"I'd rather be making casts than making bait" - Right on!! I'll have to remember that one.
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[TubeDude]

[cool] [font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Hey, Pete...pulled up that article and truly enjoyed it. I think that you and I either went to different schools together...or the same school at different times. We have a lot in common. I'm Pat...you're Pete...and it goes on from there.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Here's the link for others: [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/Articles/salt37.htm"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/Articles/salt37.htm[/url][/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Like yourself, I am light tackle all the way. I have several 10-1 fish to my credit (fish 10 times heavier than line test ratings). Most of them have been incidental catches, taken while casting for fish more closely matched to the tackle I was using. But, as you point out in your article, quality tackle, good fresh line, properly set drags and basic angling skills will enable an angler to whip some big fishies on flimsy gear.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]My biggest float tube fish was a 125# sturgeon, taken on 10# Maxima (one of your favorites), while fishing for stripers in the Sacramento River. Pulled me a couple of miles down the river, and I finally beached it on a sandbar. Put a rope through it's mouth and gills and had to tow it across the river to a spot I could get out and wave down a guy in a pickup going by on the road. We loaded up the fish and my gear and drove back up to where I had left my vehicle. I was done.[/size][/font]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]We'll have to do some personal messages and emails. Probably have some good tricks to swap. After all, we can't just dump all of our trade secrets in such a public forum. Right?[/size][/font]
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[LeapinBass]

Pat,

125 lb. Sturgeon in a tube - that's quite an accomplishment.

I hooked something last fall right at the mouth of the Santa Barbara harbor while fishing for white seabass that I couldn't stop. At first it started taking me out of the harbor which would've been fine but then it turned and went back in. It was heading for all the structure (pilings, etc.) and there were boats coming so I had to buckle down on 'em and that was that. Big white seabass, black sea bass, thresher shark? I'll never know.

My e-mail address is [url "mailto:pete@leapinbass.com"]pete@leapinbass.com[/url] - e-mail me any time.

Here's another similar article written by a friend of mine if you're interested:
[url "http://www.swimbait.com/surfhalibut"]http://www.swimbait.com/surfhalibut[/url]

Pete
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[ROMEROFISHERKING]

[]Give me a Break! Let's Face it,Being limited to the Shore "IS" the best way to catch a REAL California Halibut! not to be cofused with his compa" the pacific halibut, besides they all can kiss my bass,lol lol OOOO I here a Challenge Brewing,Halibut Derby 2nd Annual Float tube.Sat. Feb 22 ,2002....Glendora rod & reel Club..EVENT....Fishing@Island Grissom..see details,I'll Bet "I" and the greenhorn can Catch "MORE" sizeable BUTTS from Shore than A Tube!!!!$$$$$$Got Cash lol lol not MILK Money...yahoooo[][][][][shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked]
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[TubeDude]

[cool] Mighty brave talk for a one-eyed fatman...or is that a fat-eyed oneman? Anyway, that's one of my favorite lines from True Grit. There's also a saying from my old hero Dandy Don Meredith..."If you can do it, it ain't braggin'."

No doubt some decent butts are scored from shore, but my money's on the tubin' fraternity. How 'bout it Kiyo? You guys gonna uphold the honor of the "gorilla flotilla"?
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[Baytuber]

[sly] lol. Hey if my schedule permits I'll have my Tournament Director make our tournament for the same day and we can fish both! LOL. Glendora Rod and Reel guys are a great bunch of guys! Art which I just met last week at Cherry Beach got one of the baytubers to join his club and we have fished with Pac Man and Jessie a couple of times.

As far as catching all the Halibuts from shore! What if they are out deeper? LOL. While your standing and walking we're sitting sipping coffee and relaxing! LOL Romero, are you fishing that tournament?

Kiyo
www.baytubers.com
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[ROMEROFISHERKING]

[]You can bet on it.Please bring your check book,and and fill out,pay to the order of "my best friend" C.A.S.H. lol lol Oh,and by the way,I'll leave it up to you guys to decide to get "spanked" from my Sit&Dive,or my WaterBugDonut,or Rocket Lanching TADY's4/0's from the sand.....Oh My!...team Booyaa,"putting the Word "FUN" back into the word Disfunctional....Yea!!!!!!!!![]
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[es_93_st]

where is the pier in the pic at is it near long beach and how is the fishing there can you give directions thanx[cool]
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[TubeDude]

[cool] I picked that pic off the picture board of the BayTubers.Com site. I don't know exactly where it is. Any help, Kiyo?
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[ROMEROFISHERKING]

[sly][sly[sly]Just Yanking your Strings,Guys No Harm,Intended...[][][][][][angelic][laugh][pirate]Smack-R-us..lol...lol...lol...[crazy]]I'll Be Dunkin Donuts with Yea'
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[TubeDude]

[cool] There goes the neighborhood. Be careful about which strings you be yankin'. Somebody liable to set the hook on your bad self.

Good luck to all in the big fishoff.
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[Baytuber]

That pier in the background is the Cabrillo Beach Pier in San Pedro. There is a couple of bait barges about a 100 yards out where you can get live Sardines or Anchovy's for $5.00 for the whole day. That's where I came up with my baitwell invention to hold the big Sardines! The biggest halibut caught out of there was a 32 pounder!

Kiyo
[url "http://www.baytubers.com"]www.baytubers.com[/url]


Nice and easy launch area also. You have kelp beds to the left that hold Sand Bass, Halibuts and White Sea Bass. Over by the barges you will catch Halibuts, White Sea Bass and Barracuda. Just watch out for the 1/2 day boats getting bait.
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