Things You'll Need:
- Marine charts
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Step 1
Pick the best place to go fishing and the right time of year. Though they appear in the Atlantic Ocean, halibut have been overfished there, leaving the species severely depleted. The Pacific Coast, particularly Alaska and British Columbia, are better locations.
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Step 2
Charter a boat with experience in deep sea fishing. Sport fishing for halibut is a large industry in the Pacific Northwest and a number of reputable charters can take you to excellent fishing sites. Make sure any charter you hire is properly bonded and obeys all local laws and statutes. Also make sure you adhere to any safety precautions while on the boat and understand the procedures in case of an emergency.
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Step 3
Seek a local area where halibut can be found. The fish is generally a bottom swimmer, especially during the summer months, though they move to shallower waters when the weather turns colder. Marine charts detailing the bottoms of your local area may help you spot good locations for deep sea halibut fishing.
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Step 4
Bait your hooks and use the right line. Halibut will eat just about anything, but they particularly like crabs, herring and salmon or mackerel heads. They are large, powerful fish, so the line should be equally strong, without a lot of stretch to it. Heavy weights will help, as will florescent bait (especially if you're looking for bigger fish closer to the bottom). You probably will want to change your bait every 20 to 30 minutes.
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Step 5
Land the fish carefully and be ready for a fight when you hook it. Halibut can weigh more than 400 pounds and will make you feel every ounce as you reel them in. Some charters will use spear guns or other weapons to finish the catch, since they can be difficult to get into the boat.
