Introduction

Successful halibut fishing depends on many things, but a core element is the techniques and how well they are performed. A fantastic method for one halibut area may not be effective for another.

In previous posts I discuss halibut hot spots, setups, attractants, and even the migration of pacific halibut. Today I want to talk about halibut fishing techniques. Some popular, practical strategies for Pacific halibut are anchoring, drifting, and trolling.

Most of us read the WDFW fishing pamphlet, and for the most part, do not exactly understand WDFW authority. Fishermen who have been fishing for years have most likely encountered wildlife officers by means of a boat boarding. And if you have had your boat boarded you probably wonder exactly what authority do wildlife officers have. In this series, TITLE 77 RCW, I will be exploring different subjects as they relate to Title 77. I am hoping this series will help fishermen gain a solid understanding of the laws of WDFW and the authority of wildlife officers.

FISHING THE WORLD’S LARGEST FLATFISH

As you may have read in a recent post, the WDFW announced additional halibut fishing days. So I wanted to write a post on Pacific halibut migration. And how the migration lines up to the the WDFW seasons. So here we go……

Alaska’s Right-eye Flounder

Pacific halibut is a popular fish for eating and fishing. Halibut meat is lean and finely textured, versatile for various cooking methods. Their considerable size makes them an attractive target for sports anglers. There’s nothing like it when a big flatty hits the deck!

With various restrictions and regulations in place for fishing Pacific halibut, determined anglers need to be knowledgeable about specific elements of Pacific halibut like traits and migration routes.

For successful fishing, these anglers must first equip their knowledge with an understanding of their prey’s nature. 

Snatelum Point

My absolute favorite place to crab is actually Puget Sound Crabbing Marine Area 8-1, which is off of Whidbey Island near Coupeville, called Snatelum Point. You can literally toss your crab pots out among many other crab pots but still you will be assured your crab pots will be full after only a couple hours of soaking. I’m not sure what it is about this place but the Dungeness crab are thick. I usually only get up to area Marine area 8-1 about once as I am boating up to the Whidbey Island Arts Festival to meet friends. If you’re located in this area that is a great crabbing spot you will limit out for sure. Look for Snatelum Point on your GPS.