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Premium Halibut Fishing Off Vancouver Island
- Published Date: August 28, 2025
- Fishing
- Vancouver Island
- $385 - $1,160 price range
Summary
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Hauling in Halibut
Partly cloudy skies set the stage for epic deep sea action in Sooke!
Partly cloudy skies set the stage for an epic deep sea adventure!
Partly cloudy skies set the stage for epic deep sea action in Sooke!
Partly cloudy skies set the stage for an epic deep sea adventure!
Partly cloudy skies set the stage for epic deep sea action in Sooke!
Land a Monster: Full Day Halibut Fishing off Vancouver Island
Get ready for the big leagues with this 8-hour halibut hunt on the rich waters off Vancouver Island. Guide Wayne Sarak knows these grounds like the back of his hand and he's itching to put you on some serious fish. We're talking Pacific halibut that can tip the scales at over 100 pounds – the kind of catch that'll have you grinning for weeks. With a full day to work with, we'll hit the prime spots and give you the best shot at hooking into the halibut of a lifetime.
What to Expect on the Water
We'll push off early, loading up Full Melt Charters' fully-rigged fishing machine. As we cruise out past the breakers, Wayne'll break down the game plan. He's got a few honey holes in mind, but we'll play it by ear based on recent reports and conditions. Once we reach the grounds, it's all hands on deck. We'll be dropping baits down deep – sometimes 300 feet or more – where the big girls hang out. It's a waiting game, but when that rod doubles over, you better hold on tight. Halibut fight like tanks, and bringing one up from the depths is a full-body workout. Between drops, soak in the rugged beauty of Vancouver Island's coastline and keep an eye out for whales, sea lions, and other marine life.
Techniques That Hook the Big Ones
Halibut fishing isn't for the faint of heart, but Wayne's got the methods dialed in. We'll be using heavy-duty rods and reels spooled with braided line to handle the depths and the power of these fish. The go-to rig is a spreader bar setup with a weight to get you down where the flatties feed. For bait, we'll use a mix of fresh herring, salmon bellies, and maybe even some octopus – halibut aren't picky eaters. Wayne's a pro at reading the sonar and finding the underwater structure where halibut like to hang. He'll show you the ropes on how to work your bait along the bottom and detect those subtle bites. When you feel that thump, it's game on!
Why Anglers Keep Coming Back
There's something addictive about halibut fishing off Vancouver Island. Maybe it's the anticipation as your bait sinks into the abyss, or the heart-pounding fight when you finally connect with a barn door. Whatever it is, anglers who try it once tend to get hooked themselves. The sheer size of these fish is mind-blowing – imagine reeling in something as big as you are! Plus, the meat is some of the best-eating fish you'll ever taste. White, flaky, and mild, it's prized in restaurants worldwide. But there's nothing like grilling up your own fresh-caught halibut steaks after a day on the water.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Pacific Halibut are the stars of the show on this trip, and for good reason. These flatfish are the largest in the world, with the biggest specimens pushing 500 pounds and stretching 9 feet long. Most of the halibut we catch are in the 20-100 pound range, but there's always a chance at a true giant. Halibut spend most of their time on the ocean floor, using their camouflage to ambush prey. They're opportunistic feeders, gobbling up everything from herring and salmon to octopus and crabs. What makes them so exciting to catch is their sheer power – when hooked, they'll often make blistering runs that'll have your drag screaming. The best time to target halibut off Vancouver Island is from May through September when they move into shallower waters to feed. Landing one of these prehistoric-looking fish is an experience you won't soon forget.
While we're focused on halibut, don't be surprised if we tangle with some other hard-fighting bottom dwellers. Lingcod are aggressive predators that put up a great fight and make for some fantastic eating. We might also hook into some rockfish species like yelloweye or canary rockfish. These colorful fish are a blast to catch and add some variety to the day's action.
Time to Book Your Spot
If you're looking for a world-class halibut fishing experience, this full-day trip with Full Melt Charters is tough to beat. You've got the proven expertise of Guide Wayne Sarak, prime fishing grounds right offshore, and a solid 8 hours to make it happen. Whether you're a seasoned angler chasing that personal best or a newcomer looking to test your mettle against one of the ocean's toughest fighters, this trip delivers. Just remember – halibut fishing can be addictive, and you might find yourself planning your next trip before you even get back to the dock. Don't miss out on your chance to battle these behemoths of the deep. Grab your spot now and get ready for some serious rod-bending action off beautiful Vancouver Island!
Learn more about the animal
Pacific Halibut
Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) Fish Description
The Pacific Halibut is one of the largest flatfish in the world (2nd biggest, next to its close relative, Atlantic Halibut). It’s a saltwater fish that thrives in deep cold waters. It has a muddy brown color and dark-brown spots. Its body is more elongated than most flatfishes and shaped like a diamond.
They’re strong swimmers and eat a variety of fishes from the bottom of the ocean - cods, turbots, pollocks, octopi, crabs, and shrimps. They also sometimes eat fishes from the pelagic - salmon, herring
Interesting Facts About the Pacific Halibut
- Pacific halibuts are called demersal fish, these are fish that stays in the bottom of the ocean, just like stingrays.
- Almost all halibuts are “right-eyed”, which means they are facing up with the “right side” of their face and the left side is the bottom.
Pacific Halibut Size
The Pacific halibut is a large fish that can grow up to 8 feet long and 5 feet wide and weigh up to 500 lbs. Their average weight is 20-40 lbs, but catching 100 is pretty common. As of now, there is no average length of the Pacific Halibut. They mature at the age of 8 for males and 12 years old for females.
Habitat & Distribution of the Pacific Halibut
The Pacific Halibut mainly lives in the deep waters of the northern Pacific region. They usually prefer depths 20-1000 feet, but they can go as deep as 3,600 feet. They prefer the cold temperatures of 37°-46°F and are mostly found on or near continental shelves.
In the U.S., their range is from California up to the Chukchi Sea. Good fishing spots are the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. You can also find Pacific halibuts in nearer areas such as the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.
Pacific halibuts migrate in a clockwise manner, from northwest to southeast. A good time to catch these fish is in summer, where they are more active in their feeding grounds and are closer to shallow waters. During winter, they go to deeper waters to spawn their eggs.
Fishing Techniques for the Pacific Halibut
Being bottom-dwellers, make sure you equip yourself with gears for deep fishing. Try to aim the sweet spot for fishing Pacific Halibut which is 150-500 feet. They like to stalk their prey from the bottom and being strong swimmers, it’s good to make a chase with your baits to tease the halibut. To send your baits to the bottom, use a 1-2 lb weight. Slightly cast your line forward to get the fly down and retrieve it fast every once in a while to check. Just leave the rod attached to the rod holder slightly bounce the rod up and down attracting the halibut. It’s a waiting game for this fish.
Fly fishing for Pacific halibuts is rare but it’s doable. For Fly Rods, use a 50-pound monoline with fast sinking heads and a 12-15 heavyweight rod with a 16-lb snippet. Recorded fly fishing for Pacific halibuts can go as heavy as 138 pounds. For spinner rods, use a 6-7 feet heavy rod with a 60-lb line and 1-1.25 lb lead.
Recommended baits are pink salmon heads and bellies, squids, herring, and octopus. To further catch the attention of the Pacific halibut, use some fishing attractants. For lures, use jigs or spoons that make some noise to attract them They’re known to use their sight and hearing in more shallow waters but in deeper waters, they hunt with scent.
About the Full Melt Charters
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Vehicle Guest Capacity: 5
Manufacturer Name: Yamaha
Maximum Cruising Speed: 40
Number of Engines: 1
Horsepower per Engine: 300
