Best Halibut Baits for Southeast Alaska

What is the best chunk bait for big Halibut in Southeast or Southcentral Alaska, That was the question on my mind today.

My conclusion was either chunk herring or chunks of pink salmon. For sheer numbers the herring seem to carch more often, but for size, I have caught more halibut over 100lbs on big chunks of pink salmon then anything else.

Another advantage is that Salmon is basically free if you live in here. You can always purchase cheap whole pinks from the commercial guys, and if you head out to the rivers and catch your limit of pinks in season, you can use the fins, heads, and what not as bait as well, just not the filets.

Cut the bait into large chunks, I also like to slice some slits into it to allow the scent to travel and be more potent. Hook the chunks on to a circle hook, weight your rig as needed, and you are ready to go.

This may seem like a no brainer but I have found many people being lazy. Once you drop your bait to the bottom, be sure to lift it jsut slightly off th bottom. Having the bait a couple to a few feet off the bottom greatly increases its scent cone as well as its visibility. Halibut Fishing in Alaska is not all luck, a skillful Halibut Fishing Guide uses techniques like these to put his clients on the fish.

When a big Halibut comes up to hit your line you will be happy.