Huge halibut like this 58-pounder produced hot action off Santa Rosa Island last year.Courtesy Ventura Sportfishing
Alan Kikuchi
Calamari Lovers
Squid fished on one of several different rigs account for most halibut catches near the Channel Islands.Jim Hendricks
The Rigs
There are two effective rigs for drift-fishing, says Cavanaugh. One is the traditional reverse dropper loop, with a torpedo sinker on an 18-inch leader above a 28- to 30-inch leader for the hook. However, reversing the hook and weight in this setup (as shown here) has proven even more effective when drift-fishing for halibut, he says. “It sounds counterintuitive, but it works.”
Consistently Large
Most of the halibut caught in the Channel Islands squid grounds last season were over 25 pounds.Courtesy Channel Islands Sportfishing
Jig It
Live or fresh-dead squid pinned to a jig head are cast far from the boat and then hopped along the bottom. Bites occur as the squid drop after being hopped.Jim Hendricks
