3 Best Lures for Halibut

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

Hey there my fellow fishers and welcome to my post where we will check out my three best lures for Halibut to latch onto this year.  Halibut are also known to fight hard making a challenge to catch, especially for beginners, hence a good lure can be extremely useful.

And as usual there are plenty of options to choose from here so to help you out I have had a good look around and come up with three effective options below.  Let’s check them out.

My three recommended lures for Halibut

I will review these in more detail below however if you just want to get moving without all the carry-on, my recommended products are listed here for your convenience: 

02/19/2024 02:30 am GMT

What are lures for Halibut?

Lures are artificial fishing baits designed to attract the attention of fish such as Halibut. Effective lures use prey-like appearances, movements, vibrations, bright reflections, and flashy colors to entice the target fish into striking.

When it comes to catching Halibut, they are a species that tend to feed on the bottom however they will also swim up to chase a meal so jigging and jumping lures tend to work best here.

best lures for halibut - captured halibut

What should you be looking for?

The following information outlines some factors to consider as you look for a good lure for your Halibut fishing adventures:

  1. Type of lure
  2. Weight
  3. Color
  4. Additions

Type of lure

When it comes to Halibut fishing, the following can be effective:

  • Jigs – Jigs are particularly effective for Halibut as the jig’s head is lead weighted and comes with a hook molded right into it.  The lead weight is sometimes covered with a soft rubber or silicone body and comes with an artificial fish head, sometimes tasseled. Often also referred to as soft plastics, they are designed to look like a small fish or squid and can be fished in various ways, including vertically jigging them along the ocean floor.
  • Artificial squids – Another effective lures for Halibut are artificial squids. The lure can be quite large, and closely resemble real squid.  Built to resemble live bait, they are usually made of a plastic that glows and are about the size of one’s palm. Note also that because artificial squid is designed to look and move like real squid, it is critical to use the proper rigs and techniques to ensure the bait is presented in a natural manner.
  • Grubs – Grubs are soft plastic-bodied lures filled with scents that have been proven to attract a Halibut’s attention. Furthermore, I recommended purchasing those with specially designed crescent-shaped tails that wiggle just enough in the water to attract, but not spook, the fish.

Weight

Most halibut lures will be significantly heavier than your average lure are they are designed to reach the deep where Halibut are found. As a result, you must ensure that the weight of your lure is heavy enough to take you deep.  If not, you may would need to add some cannon ball weights to your lures. 

However it’s not always easy to tell how fast the current is ripping deep below so keep an eye on the line angle at which your setup drops. You have the correct weight if your line is dropping straight down. More weight is required if your setup takes a long time to hit bottom or is angled back behind the boat.

best lures for halibut - lures

Color

Choosing the right colors can also have a significant impact on how effective your lure is. White and green colors are both excellent choices, as is anything with a glow or ultraviolet component as well.  Additionally, many of the metal jigs and plastic grub bodies used by experienced Halibut chasers are two-toned colors such as black/white, blue/white, green/white, and red/white.

Additions

Other potential additions include:

  1. Number of pieces: Some manufacturers include more than lure, which is useful in using multiple rods and reels to catch a halibut or need to change things up a little.
  2. Integrated hook: All ion system that removes the need to attached a hook as well.
  3. Luminescent property: Certain halibut lures have a glow-in-the-dark feature for increased attraction in deeper waters.

My three recommendations broken down

So based on the information above and my own experience, I recommend the following options:

1. Lighthouse Lures Mega Bite Jigs

Lures that resemble fish-like movements are effective in attracting Halibut. For this reason, this first option is a good choice as it matches a live bait commonly chased by them – Shad.  See its specifications below:

  • Brand: Lighthouse lures
  • Type: Swim tail jig
  • Material: Soft plastic
  • Weight: 0.51 pounds
  • Dimensions: 8.27 x 5.35 x 1.34 inches

Other inclusions:

  • Swim-like action
  • Durable VMC hooks
  • Available in eight different colors

Why have I chosen it?

This lure can produce a great swimming action and has a reinforced tail, making it highly durable when battling a large fish. Add to that a strong and sharp hook that will make it difficult for your prized catch to escape. This lure is available in eight different colors from the manufacturer, so you can pick the one that best suits your needs depending on where you are too.


2. Real Fish 10″ Sanddab Lingcod Jig

This next halibut lure option resembles another natural prey of your target fish. It is considered by many experienced anglers as one of the best halibut lures due to its functional design as well.  See its specifications below:

  • Brand: Real fish
  • Type: Swimbait
  • Material: Soft plastic
  • Weight: 0.45 pounds
  • Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 1 inches

Other inclusions it has:

  • Available in five different colors
  • Realistic tail action

Why have I chosen this?

The lure is made of soft plastic with smooth skin, allowing the fish to sink its teeth into the soft lure flesh and hold your bait. It has a lifelike swimming action with its elongated tail that drives the fish to strike and comes in five different colors that effectively attract Halibut.


3. 11 Oz Octopus Jig

This final options has many advantages in that it resembles the octopus, which is one of the natural prey of Halibut. Made from highly-durable material, this artificial bait glows in the dark for extra attractiveness in deeper waters too. See its specifications below:

  • Brand: Not stated
  • Type: Swimbait
  • Material: Soft plastic
  • Weight: 0.69 pounds
  • Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 1 inches

Other inclusions it has:

  • Glow-in-the-dark body

Why have I chosen this?

The manufacturers created this lure out of vinyl, which gives it the strength to withstand a thrashing from large fish. They are designed to look realistic, with a realistic skirt that swims through the water as you cast it into the ocean. To top it all off, the lure has an LED light and glows in the dark, allowing fish to see your lure when fishing in the deep. 

Conclusion

There you have it, my three best lures for Halibut. I would be pleased to know how this article helped you, and as usual,  let me know of your experiences with them.

Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, corrections, or would like me to check anything else out for you.

Until next time.

Have fun

Paul

Beachandfishing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Leave a Comment

Hi, I'm Paul

I am a passionate fishing, camping and four wheeled driving hobbyist who researches, tests and educates around issues and equipment relevant to them.

I am by no means a professional however my passion is to assist you in making informed decisions about buying and using awesome gear that will give you the best chance of success at whatever you are doing for the best price.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Paul