IMO, . . .
This time of year the Halibut in SMB are usually a little deeper,
and very likely buried in the mud due to the larger swells in the
WINTER months. I haven't fished SMB for Halibut in a couple months
so it may take a few trips or more to reaquire THE FEELING and SENSE
for how the fish are staging and reacting. What do I mean by reacting?
Sometimes the presentation of your bait can get them to strike
quickly when in the mud. It may be bouncing or banging the sinker
in the mud to kick up the dirt to get their attention, sometimes
it can be a subtle and slow presentation to get their attention,
and sometimes it may be the type of bait they want. In the Spring
I'd put a Smelt in front of them before any other bait, bar none,
but now the bigger the bait the better your chances. Remember this
is JMO. Tomorrow I will look to p/u some bigger sardines if I can
find them at the In-Seine bait dock, and then look to snag some
smaller Mackerel if I can find them, and Spanish before Greenback
Mackerel at this time of year.
There are definately CERTAIN areas I fish, and I fish CERTAIN areas
at different times of the year. Where will I begin tomorrow? I can
definately tell you I'll be fishing NORTH, which is making a right
turn out the harbor mouth entrance.
If you have an account here http://www.terrafin.com/
I'd check the water temps out. Yes I use this site before I decide
and target where to fish for Halibut, and YES it's helped me in
the past dial things in much much quicker, even for Halibut.
Here's a FREE IMAGE sample from the site.
John.
Parker 2320 'FloMar'.