Some of Washington State’s best halibut fishing can be found at Middle Bank, right on the British Columbia border. In fact, both sides produce well for halibut anglers. The Purple line in the chart shows the border, which takes a hard left, giving anglers a good area to prospect for halibut. As you can see, the blue water is the shallow area of Middle Bank, while the white water is deeper. Halibut move shallow and deep, depending on tide and bait. Typically though, if the tide is strong, meaning it has lots of flow, go shallow. When the tide is weak, with less flow fish deeper.
Fishing in Canadian waters you will need a B.C. Saltwater Fishing License. These licenses can be purchased online, and are good for these waters. https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm
If you purchase an online license you are prohibited from fishing Areas 23, 121 & 123. Your online license will enable you to fish the inside waters of Vancouver Island all the way to the other side of Neah Bay.

If you do fish Canadian waters, BEWARE! You MUST call 1-888-CAN-Pass (226-7277) at least two hours prior to entering Canadian waters if you are a NEXUS card holder. Non NEXUS card holders, in other words, most of us, MUST call upon entering Canadian waters. After several phone calls today to Canadian Customs, they did confirm that ANCHORING in Canada while halibut fishing is fine. That’s great news for all halibut anglers. FYI, you can purchase a 1 day, 3 day, 5 day or annual B.C. Saltwater fishing license.
Also note, it is illegal to have firearms or mace aboard while in Canadian waters, so be sure to leave your weapons at home. And gangion rigs with two hooks are not legal. You may have two hooks on the same bait or lure though.  Walt, a blog reader and PSA member also points out, “Old misdemeanor incidents that will prevent you from entering Canada when they check the system in Washington,DC. include Pot possession and DUI.” If you aren’t sure if you are welcome and legal to enter Canada just call them. Also note, in some instances they could require you to report to either Victoria or Ucluelet to clear customs. However, my conversations with Canadian Customs officials indicated they rarely would require this. And remember, if you call just before entering Canadian waters, i.e. on the border but still within U.S. waters you should be safe. If they instruct you that you MUST go to either Victoria or Ucluelet, to clear customs simply let them know you will not be entering Canadian waters. Walt says refusing to clear customs when requested will prevent you from entering Canada in the future, and says, “The potential problems far exceed any gain from fishing in Canadian waters.”
​Effective Apr. 1, 2014 until further notice:

• The maximum length is 133 cm. (52.3622 inches)
• The daily limit is 1.
• The possession limit is 2, only one of which may be greater than 90cm in length.
• Annual limit of 6 halibut per license holder as authorized under the 2014/2015 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License.
• For each halibut retained by the license holder, the date of capture, the Fisheries Management Area from which it was caught and its length shall be immediately recorded in ink on the 2014-2015 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License.

​The Canadian side of Coyote Bank sits just 11 nautical miles from Ediz Hook, but often times uncomfortably in the middle of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As you can see, Coyote Bank offers numerous places for halibut to hide. Choosing where to fish, on the U.S. or Canadian side of the border will depend on several factors. First off, to take advantage of the entire bank, purchase a Canadian saltwater license, information below. Once you have your license watch the tides and currents. During an incoming tide, fish the east side of the bank, or anywhere on the bank that offers a uphill slope to the west. Outgoing tides will put you on the west side of the bank.
Halibut put their eyes into current, waiting for unsuspecting baitfish. Knowing this should help you decide the best place to find halibut. Also, some areas only produce during either a high or low tide, so keep track in your fishing logbook.
Depth also remains an important factor where to fish for halibut on Coyote Bank. During strong tides go shallow. These tides push and concentrate bait into the shallow humps, bumps and shallow areas of the bank. Weak tides scatter the bait and force halibut to search for different feed in deeper areas.
Best baits include herring, squid, salmon bellies, sardines, mackerel, octopus or shad bellies if you have them.
Best lures include FAT Squids, Z2 Squids, Brite Bite leaders and leadhead jigs. These lures are available at http://www.halibut.net
I always put a piece of bait on my lure’s hook and fish lures and baits about four feet off bottom.

Best lure colors include ultraviolet, glow, rootbeer, orange/glow and pink/glow.
10-inch FAT Squids come with 9/0 stainless J hooks, but can be switched out for a circle hook.
Anglers that like to hold the rod and jerk to set the hook should use a J hook. For those who like to put the rod in the rod holder and wait will do best with a circle hook. The circle hook should never be jerked. Patience is required when using the circle hook. When you see a bite when using a circle hook let the fish take the bait or lure, wait for the rod to load and bend and line to come off the reel then slowly begin reeling. This should allow the circle hook to do its job.
Here’s a map an current information about fishing the Canadian side of Coyote Bank.

If you do fish Canadian waters, BEWARE! You MUST call 1-888-CAN-Pass (226-7277) at least two hours prior to entering Canadian waters if you are a NEXUS card holder. Non NEXUS card holders, in other words, most of us, MUST call upon entering Canadian waters. After several phone calls today to Canadian Customs, they did confirm that ANCHORING in Canada while halibut fishing is fine. That’s great news for all halibut anglers. FYI, you can purchase a 1 day, 3 day, 5 day or annual B.C. Saltwater fishing license.
Also note, it is illegal to have firearms or mace aboard while in Canadian waters, so be sure to leave your weapons at home. And gangion rigs with two hooks are not legal. You may have two hooks on the same bait or lure though. Walt, a blog reader and PSA member also points out, “Old misdemeanor incidents that will prevent you from entering Canada when they check the system in Washington,DC. include Pot possession and DUI.” If you aren’t sure if you are welcome and legal to enter Canada just call them. Also note, in some instances they could require you to report to either Victoria or Ucluelet to clear customs. However, my conversations with Canadian Customs officials indicated they rarely would require this. And remember, if you call just before entering Canadian waters, i.e. on the border but still within U.S. waters you should be safe. If they instruct you that you MUST go to either Victoria or Ucluelet, to clear customs simply let them know you will not be entering Canadian waters. Walt says refusing to clear customs when requested will prevent you from entering Canada in the future, and says, “The potential problems far exceed any gain from fishing in Canadian waters.”
​Effective Apr. 1, 2014 until further notice:

• The maximum length is 133 cm. (52.3622 inches)
• The daily limit is 1.
• The possession limit is 2, only one of which may be greater than 90cm in length.
• Annual limit of 6 halibut per license holder as authorized under the 2014/2015 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License.
• For each halibut retained by the license holder, the date of capture, the Fisheries Management Area from which it was caught and its length shall be immediately recorded in ink on the 2014-2015 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License.

Bellingham based halibut anglers will have lots of places to fish for halibut this year. Early reports indicate there’s lots of halibut on the inside waters, all the way to Campbell River B.C. While the inside halibut fishery is limited in days to fish, I still suggest trying some new areas. This map of Waldron Island shows a couple areas that have produced halibut in years past and should put some fish on the hook this year. Remember, halibut put their eyes into the current, waiting for bait to come along, so choose your spot accordingly.
Position your boat, either anchoring or drifting, to fish downhill. If drifting, start on the uphill side and drift downhill, or deeper. When anchoring choose the top of the bank or ridge or the bottom of it for best results.
Good luck,
John

Dungeness Bay and Dungeness Spit is one of my favorite places to anchor and drift for halibut. As you can see, the chart above shows several great places to try for halibut. One of my seminar attendees from last year recently called to thank me for showing him where to anchor near Dungenesess Spit. He regaled me with stories of catching a 135, 90 and 70 pound pounder. Wow I said, that’s pretty good. Last season I also caught some nice halibut not far off the spit.
In year’s past I’ve drifted the Traffic Separation Zone, always with an eye and ear trained on approaching vessels. One foggy morning an aircraft carrier appeared suddenly, giving us concern because of our close proximity to the giant warship. So beware and watch out for ships while fishing in this zone. Don’t anchor here, as the ships ALWAYS have right away. When drifting, be prepared to reel up quickly and exit the zone to a safe distance.
The chart shows several great spots to fish halibut while staying clear of the separation zone. In these areas feel free to anchor, but still keep a watchful eye on approaching vessels. On more than one occasion I’ve seen large vessels outside of the traffic separation zone.
Best depths vary, like most halibut fishing areas. During heavy tidal flows try fishing in closer to the spit, from 90 to 180-feet. Or look for the small underwater plateaus that offer shallower depths. When tides are light, meaning not much exchange from one tide to the next, go deep.
The big tides push bait into shallow areas, especially around underwater structure. This also brings the halibut into these zones. Whether anchoring or drifting, the halibut will be most active with a 1.8 to 2.5 mph current. If the current lessens, remember to bang the bottom with your leads or jigheads. This stirs up the bottom, sending sediment down current and puts an enticing sound into the water. The action also brings your bait or lures to life and often causes halibut off the bite to instinctively become more aggressive. During slack tides the halibut will bite more out of aggression or to protect their territory. They will also try to lay on the bait or jig to save it for later, when they go back to feeding. This is why so many halibut get snagged on their white underside. For years I never believed this, but after watching closely while guiding last summer, it continued to occur, mostly during the slack water, when they just did not want to bite.


Regardless of the stage of tide, it is always good to maintain contact with the bottom, by dropping your lead or jighead on the bottom and banging it a few times. Sound travels 11 times farther underwater and is five times louder. The vibrations from banging the bottom reach the halibut’s lateral line, where thousands of tiny microscopic, hair-like nerve endings make up the lateral line. A halibut’s lateral line enables fish to feel without touching, and helps them target in on the noise and right to your baits.
Good luck on the opener,
John

Port Townsend locals love halibut fishing at McCurdy Point. It’s close to Port Townsend and accessible to anglers with small or big boats. And unlike many of Puget Sound’s best halibut fishing areas, McCurdy Point offers anglers shallow water fishing for halibut. Last week I spoke with several anglers who fish the area and ask them how deep they typically fish. They all said 60 to 120 feet is their preferred depth, but they will fish deeper if the shallows don’t produce halibut on their hook.
Over the past few seasons I have fished the spot and am still learning the varying currents and depths. One thing to note, a couple locals like using spot shrimp for bait and say they work great. Most others, however, use large horse herring. This season, instead of hooking the herring head first, try reversing the bait to present it head down and put a skirt over the tail. This presentation gives the bait an enticing side to side action while giving the halibut an irresistible, bite-inducing look at the baitfish’s eye. While fishing in Sooke this presentation worked really well and put some nice halibut on our hooks.
Good luck, and be sure to subscribe to the blog to get updated when I post more Puget Sound halibut fishing maps. And visit Halibut.net for your tackle needs.
John

​Hein Bank is one of the best halibut fishing spots in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This easy to find and easy to fish bank offers anglers a vast area to search for and find halibut. Some anglers opt to drift this underwater bank while others choose to anchor on known hotspots.
If you choose to drift, watch the current and set up your drift to follow the contour lines. Over the years I’ve had the most success in the 180 to 220-foot range, but have taken fish from 220 to 350-feet. Halibut will also move into the shallows, especially on the northern end, where baitfish get pushed onto the top of the bank. When starting in the shallows look for 30 to 60-feet and keep a watchful eye on your depth sounder as you drift from shallow to deep water. And don’t be surprised if you see salmon on your depth sounder, they too are attracted to this baitfish buffet.
​Best baits include FAT Squids, herring, squid, salmon bellies and mackerel. When using FAT Squids or any lure always add a chunk of bait to the hook. This sweetens the lure and gives the halibut something to smell and taste. Adding bait dramatically increases your chances of hooking halibut

Jigging for halibut at Hein Bank can be very productive.
Jigging with Pt. Wilson Dart jigs, Deep Stingers or leadhead jigs also works great at Hein Bank, especially in the shallow areas. When using leadheads put a chunk of bait on the hook. When using baitfish style jigs put some scent on the jig to make it more appealing. You can also add some UV or Glow tubing to the hook shank to increase the jig’s visibility.
Trolling for halibut at Hein Bank also works for some anglers because they can troll along the edge, while maintaining a fairly constant depth. Make sure you have plenty of downrigger cable and a 15-pound downrigger weight. To increase your trolling success, add a two foot length of threaded pipe to your downrigger ball. Drill a couple dozen 1/4 inch holes in the pipe and seal both ends with a screw on cap. Drill a hole through the center of the top cap and install a stainless steel eye bolt that will connect to the bottom of the downrigger ball. Use two to three foot piece 80 to 100-pound mono line to connect the pipe to the downrigger. Before deploying the pipe unscrew the top and fill the pipe with shrimp pellets and then pour some mineral oil, canola oil or herring oil into the pipe, screw the pipe into the lid and deploy.
Lower the downrigger ball and pipe to the ocean floor until it “ticks” or drags slightly. This will create noise, stir up the bottom, create a good scent trail and prevent you from snagging your ball on the bottom. It also keeps your bait off bottom and in clear view of any nearby halibut. Best bait or lures for halibut trolling include flashers and hootchies, flashers and herring, flashers and Squiddy Squids or a dodger and herring. Leaders should be 80 to 150 pound test and measure four to five feet in length.
Good luck,
John

Last year Mutiny Bay produced several halibut for Puget Sound halibut anglers. This year it should be very productive as well. As you can see, one of the best spots is an bowl in the middle of Mutiny Bay. This deeper spot funnels bait and halibut making them an easy target at times. Several Mutiny Bay halibut anglers I know also fish fairly shallow here, in as little as 60 feet of water. There’s also a nice little hump on the south end of the bay near Double Bluff.
On opening day of halibut season you will likely see 50 boats or more in Mutiny Bay. Some will drift while others will anchor. If it were me I would set anchor in the bowl marked with an X. The coordinates listed on the chart will get you close to the center. From there watch your depth sounder and drop anchor when possible. Don’t drop anchor to close to another boat though and be safe when pulling your anchor.
One of the best features of Mutiny Bay is its close proximity to most Puget Sound launches. Anglers who don’t have bigger boats can launch from Edmonds, Mukilteo or Everett and make the run to Mutiny in about an hour or less, depending on cruise speeds and water conditions.
Best baits at Mutiny Bay include horse herring, squid and sardines. While searching a couple tackle stores recently, I noticed some ground up mackerel, which should make a great chum for halibut. Most of the tackle stores also had some large sardines, which would be my first choice of bait on opening day because of their oily content and size. Halibut really like the extra large sardines. If you can’t find and extra large sardines, try the horse herring.
You can rig the sardine right side up or upside down, and then add a skirt over the body to protect the bait and add an enticing attractor.
Good luck,
John

Located just west of the Whidbey Island elbow, Partridge Bank offers a unique place to halibut fish. During an incoming tide the waters can build and create a baitfish zone where halibut like to ambush their meals. The northwest side all the way to the southwest side of Partridge Bank offers the best fish on both tides. And contrary to much of my advice, this can be an uphill fishery, which means fishing it on an incoming with currents pushing up against the shallow bank.
Most anglers here drift, so keep watch of the bottom to avoid hanging up your gear. The other thing to watch is the close proximity to the shipping lanes, which cross the west and south side of the bank.
The east side of the bank can also be very productive, especially for the Whidbey Island locals. I know of a couple locals who do extremely well fishing a couple small areas between Partridge and Whidbey Island, so keep your eyes peeled for boats in the area.
Best baits include herring and squid, with horse herring getting the nod.
Best lures include Point Wilson Dart jigs and leadhead jigs.
If you choose this spot to fish for halibut choose days with decent weather, as it can get lumpy here, especially during opposing winds and currents.
Good Luck,
John

​Port Angeles halibut fishing can be spectacular at times, just ask the locals who launch their boats at Ediz Hook year after year. While some anglers aim for the rock pile farther out into the Strait or to Freshwater Bay, many anglers just head to “The Humps” an area not far from the end of the hook and easy to locate.
The buoy can marks the first of the humps, the first and closest of the halibut spots to try. The second and third humps extend farther into the Strait. The third hump, in my opinion offers the best halibut fishing. Some of the locals will sit on anchor while others will drift. A few halibut anglers I know drop chum bags while on anchor and do extremely well on either tide. A close look at the map above shows the third hump and why it produces on either incoming or outgoing tide. The third hump might require a slightly different anchor position, during incoming or outgoing, depending on your exact location. It’s a big area though, and should provide ample opportunity to drop anchor to put your boat on a flat area or one with a gentle slope down current. If your boat sits over an upward slope it’s best to reposition. Remember, your scent field will travel farther on the flat or down slope than it will up slope.

Best baits: Herring, Sardines, Mackerel, Squid, Salmon Bellies.
Best lures: FAT Squids & Z2 Squids
When fishing bait I like to add a squid, as shown in the picture above. This rig is a gangion rig, which offers two hooks and doubles your chances while putting twice the scent into the water.
If using J hooks be sure to jerk when you feel a bite. When using circle hooks adjust your drag to allow the fish to take a little line and then wait for the rod to load up (bend over) and line to start leaving the reel. Then slowly begin reeling the fish in.
Tip: Don’t leave your bait or lure on bottom. After touching bottom raise it four feet off the bottom. This provides a better line of sight, sends your scent farther down current and forces the halibut off bottom to take your bait. When they move off the bottom to take your bait or lure they more aggressively attack and head back to the safety of the bottom. This provides better hook sets on J hooks and circle hooks turn aggressively into the corner of the halibut’s jaw, where you have the best chance of landing the fish.
​The image to the right shows a gangion rig, made from 500 pound monofilament line. You can also use “tuna cord” or commercial fishing white gangion line, available at LFS. The cord will typically be 350 pound test and easy to work with.
I will post how to make a gangion rig with cord later this week, so stay tuned and subscribe to Halibut Chronicles to get all of my halibut maps, tips, tricks and photos.
Note, two hook halibut rigs are legal in Washington, Oregon & Alaska. They are not legal in British Columbia.
After fishing these rigs for more than 20 years I have noted that the majority of halibut take the top hook and occasionally you reel up two halibut at a time. The top hook proves that having your bait or lure off the bottom increases your chances because of increased “line of sight” and a better scent field down current combined with more aggressive bites.
Good luck,
John

Dallas Bank is one of the more popular halibut fishing spots in eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca. My favorite spots to fish Dallas Bank are any humps, bumps or bowls. Either of these areas will produce halibut. I’m also a fan of anchoring here but have spent hours drifting with high and low tides.
Two years ago I fished with a friend, who insisted on drifting the area instead of anchoring over the hot spot from the day before. We watched a boat anchor over our previous day’s hot spot and continue to catch fish, five of them by day’s end. Meanwhile we did not catch a fish or get a bite.
Best bait: Mackerel, Sardines, Herring, Squid and Salmon Bellies. On Saturday, may 17th I will use a combination of my 7.5 inch FAT Squid and a piece of herring.
Best lures: FAT Squids, Z2 Squids, Double Skirts over whole herring, sardines or mackerel.

Remember, to add a piece of bait to your lure and pinch down those barbs.
Sharpen your hooks too, to get that extra easy hook penetration.
This photo shows a 10-inch UV FAT Squid.
Saturday I’m going to use a 7.5 inch FAT Squid tipped with herring.
Keep your bait or lure two to four feet off bottom, but maintain contact with bottom by dropping your lead to the bottom every couple of minutes.​
​Circle hooks work great, even with pinched barbs. Take a close look at the photo to the right. Even with no barb on the hook, it would be close to impossible to lose the halibut while fighting it to the surface. Conversely, barbless J hooks will often shake lose from a halibut’s mouth.
So make your hook decisions wisely. If you like to feel the bite and then set the hook, choose J hooks. But remember, you will lose more fish.
If you like to watch your rod bounce up and down and practice patience, use circle hooks. When you see the bite, let the rod begin to load and bend, then count to three and slowly start reeling the fish to the surface.
Good luck this Saturday, May 17th. I’ll be on the water part of the day, with FAT Squid & bait four feet off bottom, with fingers crossed hoping for a bite.
John