How to fish for halibut?
Halibut fishing is often described as the Formula 1 of sport fishing. We spoke to a group of fishermen with thousands of halibut on their conscience, and they gave us some of their best tips and tricks.
In this article we will highlight tips that primarily apply to Western Norway and Central Norway. Some of it will probably apply everywhere, but these are primarily tips we know work further south.
Trick after trick
We didn't have to work long before the tips started coming in continuously from those we talked to, and the tricks eventually came so fast that we had trouble keeping up.
-One of the hottest tips I can give is to follow the tide table. In a busy everyday life with kids and work, you may not have time to spend a whole day at sea. The best time by far is 1.5 hours before high tide and 1 hour after high tide. But preferably only at full tide if you don't have time to fish anymore. That's when we have had the greatest results. I'm not saying that halibut don't take at other times, but that's when the halibut come to hunt.
Photo: Explore the Arctic AS
Peaks near deeper water
Look for places that have peaks of 20 to 40 meters, and are located near deeper water. For example, a peak of 30 meters, but which has deeper water of about 70 meters nearby. Look for steep edges or gentle slopes with varied bottom conditions, rocks, gravel or sand are often a favorite among whitefish.
The best time for halibut fishing is in the spring, and a very good time, at least up north, is the full moon around April. Remember the conservation period, which runs from December 20th to March 31st.
Think color according to weather
When it comes to fishing methods, shad of various types are often used. A favorite is Westin's Crazy Daisy. Choose the color of the shad based on the lighting conditions, if it is bright and nice, choose a shad that has a light underside, if it is dark, you can go for a darker color.
Here in the west, shadders that are 300 grams are often used, Crazy Daisy in the Blue Pearl, Headlight, Robocod and Rainbow varieties are mentioned, but Savage Gear 3D and Søvik Predator also have several nice varieties.
- I often like to use the 300 gram ones as my preferred halibut jig, as the small cod are not so keen.
Jigs and natural bait can also be used for halibut fishing. Whole small saithe or mackerel are often a good idea to try, as they can be fished with a boom or with halibut rigs. When fishing for halibut, don't be afraid to use large shad and whole fish.
-The halibut can eat, to say the least.
When is the best time to fish? Sunshine and nice weather
The time around high tide is often the best time to go after halibut. But unlike many other types of fishing, halibut fishing is often good when the weather is sunny and nice. Halibut fishing is at its best in the spring and summer, but also good throughout the fall. What's better than being out in the nice weather and fishing for the queen of the sea?
Once you have followed YR and Storm for days (weeks), bought fishing equipment for half a fortune, found the fishing spot and chosen a fishing method, it is time to present and fish correctly.
-The most important thing is to give the halibut plenty of time.
If you notice that it is on the shad, you have to release the reel, put your thumb on the spool and let it go with the bait. Anything between 10 and 20 seconds, some might say longer. Then you should give a really noticeable hit. We hear you should not be coy with the halibut.
-You have to hit the nail on the head for man and mouse and fatherland! The halibut is tough in the mouth, it eats crab, so you give it everything you can in the bid.
When it comes to fishing with a shad, you should first find the bottom and lie down one meter above the bottom. Then you fish your way up through the fish layers with calm movements. The halibut really likes the bait to be moving. You therefore often drift around after the halibut and create more movement with the rod. When you have fished your way through the water layer, you must let yourself down calmly.
Sun, nice weather and solid fish
Photo: Explore the Arctic AS
Checking the line and attractants
Another tip we have received is that multicolour braid is very useful when fishing for halibut. You then have full control over the bait and when the halibut is being driven. Multicolour braid has different colours and tells you how much line you have out or reeled in. Different colours per tenth of a metre are often preferred.
Also try adding scent and flavor to the shad for an extra enticing effect after the halibut. It is recommended to add this to the top of the shad and on the tail. It may also be a good idea to marinate the shad in Gobble Sticky.
Halibut are often attracted to halibut jigs with small baits, and they often follow for a long time before taking a bite. It can therefore be a good idea to add an attractant to the fishing gear. Our test fisherman reported that
- For the first time while fishing for halibut, I had more action on the shad than on baitfish when I used attractant.
Then all that's left to do is wish you good luck in your hunt for halibut!
Facts about Halibut
Halibut – Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Fish in the flounder family
Closest relative: Greenland halibut
Popular names: Halibut, halibut, halibut baby, Atlantic halibut
Distribution: Coastal waters on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Minimum size: 84 cm (approx. 7kg)
Maximum dimensions: 200 cm
Spawning protection: From December 20 to March 31, halibut is protected. The ban applies throughout Norway and with all gear.
Lifespan: Halibut can live up to 60 years
How long should a halibut hang? 2 to 3 days. Remember that if it is not completely light-tight, you must use a fly net.
What is the largest recorded halibut in Norwegian waters? The largest recorded halibut in Norwegian waters weighed 314.5 kilograms and was caught in a net off Sørøya in West Finnmark on October 6, 2007 by professional fisherman Tom Richard Kristiansen.
What is the largest halibut caught on a rod in Norwegian waters? The largest halibut caught on a rod in Norwegian waters was caught by the German Reinhard Wuhrmann who caught a halibut in September 2011 off Senja weighing 243 kilos. The halibut was 251 cm long, when the rod broke he had to have help to salvage the halibut.
Other catches worth mentioning are Bjørn Florø-Larsen's halibut in the Trondheimsfjord in 2006. It weighed 161.65 kilograms and measured 219 cm in length.
On 31 October 2014, Erik Traasdahl caught a halibut on a pole off Kvaløya that weighed 180 kilos and measured 230 cm.
