I live in Cambria and do alot of surf fishing around here, but all this talk of Halibut coming into the Avila Bay has me interested. I am new to Halibut fishing and I dont have a boat. Does anyone have any suggestions on rigs or techniques? I was also wondering if anyone is into fly fishing, because I have been reading the message boards and noticed no talk of FLY FISHING! Anyway any help on the Halibut would be greatly appreciated!

Joe,
I am also excited about the halibut moving shallow up here. I caught some last year inside Morro Bay. It wasn't until around the end of may, but it seems that they're moving up a little earlier this year. The surf in Avila is calm and shallow, so it's very "fishable" from shore and there are also some rocks to fish from. I hear alot of shore fishermen get some nice halibut with frozen anchovies this way. I would also stock up on Rebel fastracs and 3-4 inch swimbaits in sardine and anchovie colors. I got almost all my halibut on the fastrac last year and I know that lure would really shine in avila. One more thing to remember, don't forget about fishing right there in Cambria. All those calm sandy coves surrounded by rocks are halibut magnets. Give that area another month and it will start kicking out some good ones. I can't wait! -Phil

what is your method for fishing a rebel fastrac in the surf?

Hey Phil thanks for the reply! Do you have any suggestions on how to set up my rig? As I have not done much fishing for the flatties! I will definately take your advice on trying to hit them up this way.

Sorry it took so long to reply, i've been very busy. I heard about the fastrac last year from Brian Long. I ordered a few and gave them a try and they worked very well for me. I have done best with the
5-1/2" version in silver with black back. I haven't used them in the surf as I usually fish in the bay. I think this lure is better suited for calm shallow beaches like Avila or cambria than the bay so I know it can only do better. I fish them on medium baitcasting gear with 8-10lb line. A spinning rod would probably work as well. As for working them, I just cast and reel. I've even had good luck trolling them from my kayak. One other thing to note is how effective swimbaits are for halibut. Get with leapin'Bass on this forum and he'll get you set up with the swimbaits. There is some great info from him at this website http://www.swimbait.com/ a must read if you're serious about catching halibut.

I'm not exactly sure where you are fishing but from the surf in Santa Barbara I've always found the Fastracs dive a little too deep and scrape the bottom - picking up a lot of garbage. Don't get me wrong, in the right conditions (like from a float tube just offshore in 7 feet of water or more, at steeper beaches, or dropoffs they are deadly). In the surf you should also find a bait that dives about 2 to 3 feet and one that dives just under the surface (for those really shallow fish). I have found the perfect bait that dives 2 to 3 feet but it's been discontinued and is hard to find. It was the Excalibur Long A. Bomber still makes a Long A but the colors aren't nearly as good although it would probably still work. The regular jointed Rebel minnow (looks just like the fastrac but with a different lip) is great - it has a very erratic action. Seeing the halibut slam that Rebel minnow swimming just under the surface is a blast!

Just casting and reeling is normally all you need to do but there have been days when giving a good hard twitch of the rod tip every 3 or 4 cranks was what it took to provoke a strike.

Never forget the 3 inch Big Hammers. There are days when they are the only thing that will work. Then there are days when only the minnows will work. Then there are days when both work. For the Hammers you should always have at least one dark, one medium, and one clear (or light) bait. Chovy and Bleeding Olive Herring are good dark colors, Prizm Pepper Trout and Silver Sardine are good medium colors, and Clear Red is probably the best clear water bait with Kei Lime a close second.

Try www.fliflicker.com and www.garybulla.com.

Just use clousers and you'll catch halibut.

Hey just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info on hitting the flatties. As for the canoe, I don't know how much you are willing to spend but Wal mart has a pretty cheap canoe that works well, kinda of heavy though.

Cambria Joe

>Hey just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info on
>hitting the flatties. As for the canoe, I don't know how
>much you are willing to spend but Wal mart has a pretty
>cheap canoe that works well, kinda of heavy though.
>
> Cambria Joe


Speaking of Walmart, I was there yesterday shopping and I came across an inflatable boat/raft for 37 bucks. Has anyone here purchased one of them and if so what is your opinion of them? How can one lose at that price. Comes with oars and the box said it could accomodate a small light weight outboard. Just curious.