How to Use Tide Tables for Halibut Fishing

Halibut are known to bite lures and swim baits.

Tide tables tell you when the ocean waters are rising and receding at the shorelines. The times of high and low tides for a particular date are listed in hours and minutes. The extremes of a particular tide are shown in feet and tenths of a foot. Tables are available in most fishing tackle shops and through numerous online sources that you find by entering the keywords "Tide Table." You increase the chances of hooking into a keeper halibut by understanding this fish's feeding habits and applying the information in a tide table.

Instructions

Surf Fishing

1. Plan your surf fishing trip for the incoming and high tide. Halibut are known to retreat to deeper waters offshore as the tide recedes. The best time to surf fish is early in the morning during the incoming tide. These conditions usually occur twice in a calendar month.

2. Become familiar with an area of shoreline where halibut are known to feed. Typically, halibut favor a sandy bottom, and they browse along shallow ledges or near rock piles when hunting for food.

3. Observe the surface texture of the water during the incoming and high tide. Deep sections and submerged rocks cause the surface to ripple or churn once a wave passes. Uniform bottom conditions cause the surface of the water to flatten out behind a wave. Cast your bait or lure near ripples or churning water.

Offshore Fishing

1. Look at a maritime chart to determine the depth of water where you plan to target halibut. Notice markings or descriptions on the chart that denote rock piles or structure surrounded by sandy bottom.

2. Understand that once ocean waters exceed a certain depth, the tides are no longer relative. Plan your halibut trip to offshore waters that do not exceed 60 feet in depth.

3. Choose the particular section of an offshore spot based on the tide. Fish the inner area, closest to the shoreline, during high tide. Fish the outer area of an offshore spot during low tide.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to local tackle shops to establish which bait and lures are effective at a particular time of year.

• Keep your current fishing license with you at all times when fishing.

• Always observe regulations regarding limits and sizes of fish that may be taken.

• Release undersize fish immediately.

References

• Homer Tides: Homer Alaska Tides for 2010
• Halibut.net: Weather & Tides
• California Sea Grant: A Guide to Central California Beach Fishing

Resources

• Get Bent: Inshore Halibut Swimbait Fishing; Peter Wolf