| During the summer of 2006 in Larsen Bay Alaska, | | | | unsuspecting halibut. We caught countless fish |
| the staff at Kodiak Island Resort decided to | | | | using this style, in the 20-40 pound range, with |
| experiment with different tactics for catching | | | | our biggest topping out at 87 pounds. |
| halibut. The traditional method using terminal tackle | | | | The one down side from light tackle halibut fishing |
| with 16/0 circle hooks, 2-pound sinkers and | | | | is your inability to control the numerous "barn |
| 130-pound Dacron line that have always produced | | | | door halibut" that like this style of fishing as well. |
| fish. The down side to this style of fishing is it is | | | | On more than one occasion big halibut chomped |
| tiresome holding heavy rods and reels. Fishing with | | | | down on our offerings and refused to return our |
| a fully rigged halibut outfit requires a lot of | | | | gear. In fact they would take the hook, sinker |
| strength and energy we decided to try and | | | | and line (completely dump the reel) without even |
| change all of that. | | | | saying thanks. |
| After various experiments we tried a Florida style | | | | If you don't mind missing a few big ones but |
| grouper rig for halibut and were surprised with the | | | | want to increase you catch while expending a lot |
| results. Fishing thirty pound monofilament, seven | | | | less energy try Florida style grouper tactics to |
| foot Star rod, a three ounce egg sinker and 7/0 | | | | catch Alaska Halibut. |
| Mustad J-hook consistently outfished the traditional | | | | The halibut fishing around Kodiak Island is so good |
| halibut rig. The results were so overwhelming that | | | | you can split your time fishing terminal gear for |
| often times the light tackle would produce bites | | | | the barn doors then switching over to catch the |
| and catches of 4 and 5 times the rate of the | | | | 20-40 pound chickens for the dinner table. Kodiak |
| traditional tackle. | | | | Island Resort will provide you with both |
| We found using an octopus tentacle, about eight | | | | opportunities to catch halibut. |
| inches long, for bait, proved deadly to the | | | | |