Launched at Dana Point this morning. Was being very lazy and was just going to fish jigs for whatever was biting. Doheny was flat and inviting, but...walk across sand? Like I said, lazy.

However after an hour of getting nothing but a nibble or two, I started to get serious.

I got out a "Sabiki" rig for the first time, thinking I would catch a smelt for bait, or at least catch something. I didn't have my bait holder with me, so I couldn't buy bait.

I put a trap rig on one pole, the sabiki on another and started watching the fish-finder for a school of bait. Sure enough one comes along so I stop trolling and toss out the sabiki (with a three inch big hammer on the bottom instead of a weight) and count it down about 10 seconds, since the bait were metering at 10' deep. BANGO! I get a perfect size smelt! I put it on the trap rig and then catch another smelt and put it on the rod I was trolling with.

I immediately start kicking over to where I *know* lots of halibut are and WHAM..ZZZZZZZ great hookup!

So cool, I eventually fought in a 30" halibut on the 6# line...

So now I have made my own bait and caught a halibut on a trap-rig I made myself, I am a BAYTUBER!

Quietman

PS. I was planning to release the gal, but then started thinking maybe I'll keep her. While fumbling for my creel the halibut went nuts, and jumped out of the net (she didn't quite fit in anyway) and snap, she was gone

I then found the 1/0 circle hook all the through my waders by the knee, but happily also found the trap hook stuck in the net, so she got away clean! Good for her!

Gotta learn how to PATCH a wader, then I will REALLY, REALLY be a baytuber ;-)