Home Cookie's Corner Hali Hunting Hot Spots
Hali Hunting Hot Spots
To follow along with the hot spots in this fishing tip, download our interactive Langara Island fishing map for Google Earth.
Langara Island has long been a destination known for large Chinook and Coho salmon while bottom fishing was considered secondary. Lately, however, we’ve noticed an ever increasing passion from our guests to get into halibut of all sizes. When a guest asks, we’re glad to deliver, so we set off to study the art of halibut fishing around the island. Here are some of the hotspots we have located over the past 25 years.
While “chicken” halibut (typically 8 to 25 lbs.) can be found all around the island there are certain spots that have much higher concentrations. There are always halibut right off of Cohoe Point (Area H on map) — 170’ is the ideal depth. This spot is convenient as you can catch them with salmon gear dragging near the bottom. The halibut here are usually 10 to 15 lbs. with a few 50 lb. plus fish taken every year.
One of our longtime favourite spots on the east side of Langara Island is called the Chicken Ranch (areas I and J). We’ve seen concentrations here gradually moving from I to J over the years and the really fast action last year was straight out from Pillar Bay in 180’ to 200’ of water. By the time you arrive this year we’ll know exactly where they are. Area G in Explorer Bay and off of McPherson Point has been very productive as well. Last year it was hot in Explorer Bay all season in 150’ to 220’ of water with a high incident of larger fish being taken as well.
The west side of the island in spots C, D and E has great mixed-bag fishing with a lot Lings and yellow eye to go with the 15 to 60 lb. halis. There are 100 lb. plus fish taken here quite often as well. 275’ to 320’ of water produces the best fishing here.
Last year we did a lot of shallow-water hali fishing in June around the shoals in areas A and B. In these areas we fished around the outside of rock piles and shoals when the bottom started to flatten out in 80’ to 120’ of water. These are areas where you don’t catch large numbers of halibut, but they always seem to be slabs (35 to 300 lbs!). Last year between the MV Marabell and MV Charlotte Princess we had several hali over 75 lbs. and quite a few Masterfisherman catches (100 lbs. and up) come from these shallow-water lunker lounges.
We are always researching and finding new untouched spots every year so ask your Fishmaster about any new hotspots when you arrive. We look forward to making your halibut dreams come true.
