Since the bite was decent on Friday we organized a mission for memorial day. Ben Kronberg, Ben Hallock, Brian Long, my Dad, and Pete (we saw ya down there) all launched out around 2pm. Brian and I were the first to get out and I picked up 2 short halibut right away. Seemed like the bite was going to be pretty good but then it slowed down. Ben Hallock did hook up with a nice 24"'er on the old school grey ghost fish trap. Not bad for your first halibut of the season! Brian and my Dad each caught a short over the next few hours, but it was just here and there. Around 5:15 I started to work my way slowly in. I threw by a little kelp string and got the heavy thunk I had been waiting for. After a good battle and a good net job a-la Ben K I put a 32" 14lb flattie on the stringer. Best halibut I've ever caught in my tube! So that made it all worthwhile on an otherwise so-so day. The swell was up a bit as was the chop but we hung in there. All of my fish were taken on the 4" sardine fish trap. Gotta hop those puppies. <P>Photography - this one was worth 2 pictures<BR><img src="http://www.calfishing.com/images/daily_reports/5_29_00_rob_32inch_halibut.jpg"><P><img src="http://www.calfishing.com/images/daily_reports/5_29_00_rob_32inch_halibut2.jpg">

Yeah I was there and in hind sight maybe should've been there earlier or joined you guys. I ended up with 3 shorts to 20 inches and a 16 inch white seabass.<P>Rob,<P>What kind of digital camera do you use for your pictures? They are all beautiful, crisp, and clear.<P>Pete<P>You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.

Pete,<BR>The camera I use is a Nikon Coolpix 800. It shoots at 1280 x 1024 and the resolution, like you said, is really nice. Sometimes I wish it were waterproof so I could take it out with me but I guess you can't have everything.

Thanks Rob - I've been considering a digital camera for a while now. I wonder if any company out there is thinking about making a waterproof (or even water resistant - keep in a ziplock bag) camera.<P>Pete<P>You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.

HELLO, <P>I AM NEW TO THE AREA. I HAVE BEEN CATCHING HALIBUT IN BELMONT SHORES FROM MY TUBE FOR YEARS. WE USUALLY USE LIVE SMELT CAUGHT FROM THE PIER, THE GO OUT IN THE TUBE. I AM WONDERING IF YOU FISH THE LIVE BAIT OR PLASTICS. IF PLASTICS WHAT TYPE, WEIGHT HEAD, AND TECH? IF YOU COULD HELP OUT I WOULD APPRECIATE.

Howard,<P>I've only been float tubing for halibut since last October so I'm far from being an expert. Most people use lures (primarily plastic swimbaits) for many reasons - cleaner, more fun, more challenging, more satisfying, easier to deal with, etc. Quite a few guys fly fish for them. Krocodiles work well at times.<P>The weight of the head and size of the lure basically depends on the depth of the water. In 6 ft. or less I'll use 3/16 - 1/4 oz. with 3 - 3.5 inch plastics, In 7 - 15 ft. I'll use 1/2 oz. with 4 - 5 inch plastics, and 3/4 oz. with 4 - 6 inch plastics for deeper water.<P>Read the halibut page on this web site for more information on how to fish for them up here. Rob really knows his stuff.<P>Pete<P>You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.

howard,<BR> pete pretty much covered everything. i tend to stick with 1/2 oz. leadheads on green sardine colored 4" plastics for halibut most of the time. it's basically rob's and mine go to bait at goleta. rob describes the retrieve in the halibut article. basically just a series of quick handle turns to hop the bait off the bottom will get em. rob and i have a little challenge going with the rebel fastrac minnow vs. green sardine plastics (so far he's winning). one of these days i'm gonna tie a rebel fastrac minnow on a leader with like a 3/4 or 1 oz. egg sinker above a swivel and twitch it along the bottom for halibut. give it a try and let me know how you do. there's got to be some way to beat green sardine... tight lines.<BR> -Brian

Sardine fish trap.<BR>4 inch, 5 inch, 5.5 inch, 6 inch. They are all excellent. For leadheads, just use your head (no pun intended). 1/2 oz to 1.5 oz are all appropriate in different conditions.

along with depth, current and wind play a part. When I'm drifting along fairly fast I need more weight to stay near the bottom. I might even go to a curly tailed Wham Fisheeze that doesn't rise as much as the swim baits do. It seems to slide through the water easier.

HEY THANKS FOR THE INFO.<P>IN BELMONT WE HAVE BEEN USING THE BROKEN BACK RAPALAS IN THE ANCHOVY TYPE COLORS. WE USE ABOUT A 3/4 TO 1 OUNCE EGG SINKER WITH A LEADER. THIS IS DEADLY AT TIMES. KEEPS THE LURE ON THE BOTTOM, AND THE WEIGHT SEEMS TO GET THERE ATTENTION MUCH LIKE DRIFTING LIVE BAIT. MY BROTHER GOT A COUPLE OF TEN POUNDERS USING THIS TECHNIQUE. WE THOUGHT OF IT AFTER WATFCHING PERCH FISHERMAN FISH THE LITTLE MOTOR OIL JIGS.