There is a ton of halibut gear out there, and in this article I explain the key halibut gear you should have on your boat. Read on for important tips on how you can gear up for successful halibut fishing. It is not necessary to buy everything all at once, instead buy an additional piece each year. Each additional piece you add will improve your fishing and you will have more successful halibut fishing days.
While selecting the right rod, reel, and line capacity is critical, matching your tackle to the right underwater topography is the real secret. For complete strategies for tracking down feeding zones, see the FishinBC.COM Complete Guide to Halibut Fishing.
Halibut Rods
A halibut rod does not need to be expensive. Many tackle shops and online stores sell halibut rods that are around $50. What you need for halibut is a sturdy rod that can handle the weight of the fish. A sturdy rod will also handle a lot of force when you are snagged on bottom.
On my boat I have 4 halibut rods and have purchased them over the years. I have one Berkley, one Penn, and two Ugly Stick rods. They are all approximately 6.5 feet long. Halibut rods should be short. When you jig, the longer the rod, the further up and down you will lift the weight, and that is harder to do. Also, it will be further from your body and that will make it harder to repeat many times in a row. For small anglers, and those with sore backs, shorter rods will be much easier to fish with.
Halibut Reels
A halibut reel also does not need to cost a lot of money. All of my halibut reels are Penn 330s. These are relatively low cost at around $120. They are simple reels and can be worked on and serviced easily if you are so inclined. They have a strong drag that can handle a halibut. They also hold enough line to get down to the bottom. One recommendation on the halibut reel is to get an oversized crank handle if the reel does not already come with one. Newer reels tend to have oversized cranks because they have recognized that they are easier to use. If you get an old 2nd hand Penn reel it may have a smaller handle. Shop online and order a replacement that is larger.
Other reels can also be used, there are a variety of reels by Penn, Shimano, and others that are all around $100-150 price range. You can find larger diameter single action (knuckleduster) reels like a Peetz or Alvey at flea markets or online in decent used condition. Single action reels hold enough line and are effective for halibut. Starting out I recommend spending a moderate amount of money on your halibut rods and reels but do not worry about spending a fortune. You want to have money available to buy most of the other halibut gear that I will mention in this article.
Halibut Line – 80lb Braid
I load my halibut rods up with 80lb braid, green “Tuff Line”. This line is sold at most fishing stores. It is strong enough for any halibut and is a thin diameter so it can get down to the bottom and not have a lot of drag from the current. It is also reasonably priced. You can have your reel spooled with tuff line at a fishing store, or, you can purchase spools of various lengths of line.
If you buy a large spool, keep it stored out of sunlight because the UV light can damage you halibut gear.
Halibut Spear
The halibut spear was one of the pieces of gear that I bought almost last. There was so much tackle to buy that I always put off spending money on the spear. One of my fishing buddies finally bought me one. Although it was one of the last things I bought, I would say that the halibut spear was one of the most important pieces of halibut gear that I own. When fishing without the spear it was difficult to land larger halibut and we did lose several of them due to failed gaff attempts.
When you are just starting out halibut fishing, you may not have good waypoints yet, so the halibut that you do catch will be critical to successfully land. If you have been able to save money by purchasing the modest price rod and reel halibut gear that I have discussed in this article then you can spend an additional $100 on a quality halibut spear. The halibut spear will allow you to successfully and safely land halibut of any size. For the complete process I use to bring a halibut alongside the boat, secure it with a spear and handle it safely, see the FishinBC.COM post How to Land a Halibut Safely.
Crimping Tools
A crimping tool was one of the later tools that I purchased for halibut fishing. Crimping tools are common on all charter boats in the tropics that fish for marlin and sailfish. After travelling and seeing how they were used I bought a crimping tool, some aluminum crimps, and a spool of 200lb monofilament leader line. I use this halibut gear all the time to rig up my halibut rigs, including circle hooks with skirts, or combinations of j-hook or treble hooks. Most commonly I use circle hooks for halibut gear. I also use the crimping tool to re-rig my downrigger clips and to make rigging to attach dummy flashers to my downriggers.
Halibut Rod Holder
Most people on the west coast have Scotty Rod holders on their boat. I use two types, Scotty Rod Master II for salmon mooching rods, and Scotty Powerlock for halibut rods. The Scotty Powerlock rod holder is critical equipment for halibut fishing, if you have a Penn 330 or similar type of reel. The rod holder has a flat surface on top and this is where you place your reel. Do not put your reel in the half circle cutout which is where you might think to put it. Instead, put the reel on the smooth flat surface. It will stay here perfectly and this will allow you to crank on the reel while it is in the rod-holder, and bring your gear up from the bottom (or even a small rockfish or halibut). Halibut reels tend to swing from side to side when you hold them and reeling up from 300 or 400 feet can be tiring. The Powerlock rod holder is the solution! These can be purchased for approximately $30. I recommend you have at least two, one on each side of the boat.
Here is a link to the Scotty Powerlock Rod Holder
Chart Plotter
A good chart plotter is an important piece of halibut gear on your boat and you require a decent one in order to be successful. I have been fishing for years with a Lowrance HDS 7 on my boat and it has served me well. It was not the most expensive model out there but it does everything I would like to do. It is tempting to think about the newer models. I may upgrade eventually but there is so much gear to get that prioritizing things is important.
Navionics+ is the chart software that I use on my boat. Navionics+ can also be viewed for free on a laptop, through the Navionics WebApp. If you do not have a decent chart plotter, or, even if you do, there is an important iPhone App you can get this is the Navionics app. You can put this on a cellphone or tablet and then you can use it to scan for fishing holes. Navionics does not recommend using their App for navigation but it can be quite handy for researching fishing holes.
Anchor Setup
I catch most of my halibut while anchored. We do catch occasional halibut while drifting, and a few while trolling for salmon the most effective way is while at anchor. The reason is that we stay in one good piece of halibut habitat and set up a bait scent trail over several hours. This draws in large halibut from a greater distance. I commonly anchor in water that is 250′ deep and have anchored and caught large halibut as deep as 450 feet.
To anchor in these depths you need a specific anchor setup. Common anchoring information will tell you to deploy 5 to 7 times the depth of water in rope to have enough rode to stay on the bottom. Considering depths of 300-400 feet, it is not realistic to have 2000 or more feet of anchor line on the boat! Instead, what you need for halibut is a heavier anchor, and, a longer piece of chain between the anchor and the rope. Talk to the folks at the marine chandlery and get an anchor that is one size larger than what is recommended. The length of chain should be approximately two times the length of your boat. With this setup you will be able to quickly get the anchor to the bottom and stick and hold position without having to let out miles of line. It is important to not let out too much line. This way you can hold on top of a small pinnacle, or up against the bottom of drop-off, both of which are good halibut spots.
Halibut Gear Price List
Here is a list of gear and an approximate value that you should be prepared to pay for the halibut gear:
- Rod, reel, and line: Around $200 for a combo setup at a tackle shop
- Halibut spear: Approximately $100
- Crimping tool, crimps, and line: About $150
- Chart plotter: Around $1,200 to $1,500
- Anchor setup: Approximately $500
Halibut Fishing Tackle
For more on the terminal end of the setup, see the FishinBC.COM posts Best Halibut Bait: What to Use for Halibut Fishing and Circle Hooks for Halibut Fishing.
Your Turn: What Halibut Gear Works for You?
Halibut fishing gear tends to evolve over time. I certainly didn’t buy everything on this list at once—most of my setup was built piece by piece as I gained experience and figured out which equipment made the biggest difference on the water.
What gear has made the biggest difference in your halibut fishing? Do you have a favourite rod and reel setup, anchor system, landing tool, or piece of tackle that you wouldn’t head out without?
If you have a halibut gear recommendation, a setup that works particularly well for you, or a question about any of the equipment covered in this guide, leave a comment below. I’m always interested in hearing what other anglers are using and comparing ideas from around the B.C. coast.
Good luck on your next halibut fishing trip, and tight lines!
Y’all that was very helpful. I caught 11 halibut in a day that were over 36 kilograms. Thanks y’all and hope you guys catch some halibut out there! Peace.
Can we fish for halibut using the 3 day license we get online? nonresident.