Halibut Fishing

 After bottom fishing, halibut is the second season to open each year in Westport. The Westport halibut season begins on the first Sunday in May. We fish Sundays and Tuesdays for halibut.

 Your halibut fishing day begins early. We open the office at 3am and we need you on board your boat by 4am. You can plan on catching a nap on the run out to the fishing grounds: we fish about 30 miles from port. Your trip out will be about three hours in length.

 We use heavy duty gear to fish for halibut. Two-pound leads are used, and you’ll be fishing in about 600 feet of water. We use Penn 114H reels with heavy duty rods, wound with 1000 feet of 80-pound-test line.

 The area we fish is called Grays Canyon. Depth can vary where we catch halibut but generally it’s about 600 feet. To fish, we drop the lead all the way to the bottom. The bait (captains use squid, herring, mackerel, trout or whatever the captain prefers) is strung on what’s called a gannion. The lead rests on the bottom and the leader floats, attracting the fish. We use large circle hooks on the leaders.

 Since we fish at such a great depth, it's important to have synchronized work by the customers! When we get close to the fishing grounds, you'll go to your selected fishing pole on the deck. When the Captain or crew says something like "get ready!," swing the leader/bait out over the water, while hanging onto the lead with your hand. Flip the reel over so it's above the rod. Put your thumb on the line and then release the free spool. Now, with your other hand, let go the lead so it swings out over the rod tip. When the Captain says "DROP 'EM!," lessen the pressure on the line until it starts dropping (the line is heavy duty so it won't tangle). Once you’ve dropped your lead to the bottom, adjust your line so that it’s taught at the top of the swell and loose at the bottom of the swell (at the bottom of the swell your line will form kind of a letter "c"). This may take a little getting used to but you’ll get the “hang of it.” Funny, right.

 When you see the line jiggling, RESIST the temptation to set the hook like you might do in other fisheries. That hook is a LONG way down there. Wait about 15 seconds or until the crew says you’re ready, and then start reeling: keep the rod in the rod holder. Use one hand to grasp the side end of the reel (steadying it) and use your "throwing arm" to slowly crank up the line. Take your time. You’ve got 1200 cranks on that reel to bring up your fish! Once you can actually see the fish in the water below you, signal the crew by calling out the word “color.”

The weather can be rather challenging in the month of May. Bring all your cold-weather clothes for your trip. Insulated gloves and boots are not a bad idea.