Spring Halibut Derby

February 13th, 2009 - May 10th, 2009!

Fridays

7am – 4pm

Limited Load to 25 Passengers

$59 per person
(No discounts, coupons, senior/military/junior rates)  

$5 FROM EACH TICKET SOLD GOES INTO THE POT

The Winter Derby Pot Reached $1,365!

The Spring Derby Pot is up to $675 and growing!

Buy tickets online here or call (949) 496-5794!

The Spring Derby started February 13th!
Sign up now and win some money!!!

At the end of the derby, the angler who catches the largest halibut (by weight) will receive 50% of the Spring Halibut Derby Prize Money Pot accumulated between February 13th, 2009 - May 10th, 2009.

The remaining 50% of the Spring Halibut Derby Prize Money Pot will go to the winner of the Dana Wharf Spring Halibut Derby Fish Off on May 17th, 2009. The Fish Off will be a free trip for the top 25 anglers who catch the top 25 halibut (by weight) during the Halibut Derby between Feb. 13th, 2009 and May 10th, 2009.

Please read the full rules and eligibility requirements.

The Dana Wharf Spring Halibut Derby will run February 13th, 2009 through May 10th, 2009. The ticket cost is $59, which includes the $5 entry fee. The $5 entry fee will go into the Dana Wharf Spring Halibut Derby Prize Money Pot. Trips will run every Friday during this time period from 7am – 4pm. More dates will be added upon demand.

Derby Results

2/13/09 - 4 shorts released
2/15/09 - Cancelled due to weather
2/20/09 - 3 Halibut Caught (17 lbs 2 oz, 12 lbs 6 oz, 5 lbs 13 oz)
2/22/09 - 2 Halibut Caught (31 lbs 14 oz, 13 lbs 10 oz)
3/1/09 - 5 Halibut Caught (8 lbs 12 oz, 5 lbs 9 oz, 5 lbs, 4 lbs 9 oz, 6 lbs 1 oz)
3/15/09 - 10 shorts released
3/13/09 - 1 Halibut Caught (5 lbs 4 oz)
3/15/09 - No Halibut Derby Today due to Festival of Whales
3/20/09 - 2 Halibut Caught (31 lbs, 6 lbs 15 oz)
3/22/09 - Cancelled due to weather/high winds
4/17/09 - 3 Shorts Released
4/24/09 - 3 Halibut Caught (6 lbs 10 oz, 4 lbs 6 oz, 9 lbs 8 oz)

Here's a recent review from one of our Halibut Derby customers!
March 4th, 2009 "I'm into my 40th year fishing out of SoCal primarily Dana Wharf and some from Newport ans San Diego. Beginning about 5 years ago I have been taking my son fishing where my Dad took me so I guess it is now a tradition. Last Sunday we intended to just take the early half-day but it turned not enough fisherdudes for the trip. We switched over to the halibut trip and not only caught halibut and other species but ended up bagging the jackpot halibut! As usual we have a great time on the boats whether we catch fish or not. Besides, if you were guaranteed to catch fish it would called "catching" so grab your gear and good luck!"

Be sure to check out Western Outdoor News' Just for the Halibut Derby May 1st - May 31st! Dana Wharf is proud to be the official Weigh In Location! The Derby runs May 1st - May 31st with a low, one-time entry fee of $25. Visit www.wonews.com for more info!

Rules of the Halibut Derby

• TO BE ENTERED IN THE DERBY, THE HALIBUT MUST BE CAUGHT ON A DESIGNATED HALIBUT DERBY TRIP!!! Halibut caught on non-derby ¾ day trips or ½ days are NOT eligible for the derby.
• Each paid ticket is considered the angler’s entry into the derby for that day.
• All anglers competing in the Derby and Fish Off must comply with all California Department of Fish and Game laws. 
• Halibut must be caught on rod and reel in order to be eligible for the derby.
• Anglers must hook and land halibut with minimal crew assistance in order to be eligible for the Fish Off or for the Derby Prize Money. The crew may only assist with gaffing or netting the halibut. No hook and hands will be counted. Captain of the boat has final say as to the eligibility of the halibut. All disputes MUST be handled the same day as the halibut is caught.
• We will be targeting halibut all day on these trips. This can include drifting or anchoring.
• The largest halibut of the derby (by weight) will receive 50% of the pot money at the end of the derby on May 10th, 2009. Should there be a tie, the money will be divided equally.
• The top 25 leader board will be visible on the Dana Wharf website. An angler may only have 1 space on the top 25 leader board. The angler’s heaviest halibut will be used in the case that the angler has multiple halibut.
• An additional daily jackpot on the boat will be available just as it is normally and entry is optional.
• All eligible halibut will be weighed and filleted in the harbor.
• Anyone caught cheating in the tournament will forfeit all cash prizes and their position in the top 25 leader board immediately.
• There is a passenger minimum of 10 for the trip to depart.
• If a scheduled Derby day is missed due to weather or other circumstances, it will not be made up.

Rules of the Halibut Derby Fish Off

• The Dana Wharf Halibut Derby Fish Off will take place on May 17th, 2009 from 7am – 4pm and will be a free trip for the top 25 anglers who catch the top 25 halibut (by weight) between February 13th, 2009 - May 10th, 2009.
• This trip will be free for these top 25 anglers and will be on May 17th, 2009 from 7am – 4pm. The trip will be rescheduled if there is poor weather.
• The largest halibut (by weight) caught on the Fish Off will receive the other half of the pot money accumulated between Feb. 13th - May 10th. There will be no daily jackpot available on this trip.
• If no legal halibut are caught on the Fish Off, then the 50% pot money will be split amongst ALL of the Top 25 anglers.
• Position in the Fish Off is non-transferable (meaning if an angler cannot attend the Fish Off, then the angler who caught the next largest halibut will be offered the opportunity).
• In the case of a tie on the Fish Off, the largest halibut will be determined by weight AND length.
• Anglers must hook and land halibut with minimal crew assistance in order to be eligible for the Fish Off or for the Derby Prize Money. The crew may only assist with gaffing or netting the halibut. No hook and hands will be counted. Captain of the boat has final say as to the eligibility of the halibut. All disputes MUST be handled the day of the Fish Off.
• Halibut must be caught on rod and reel in order to be eligible.
• All anglers competing in the Derby and Fish Off must comply with all California and Federal Fish and Game laws. 
• All eligible halibut will be weighed and filleted in the harbor. 

Questions? Please ask! Call
DANA WHARF SPORTFISHING
949-496-5794

Some Halibut Fishing Tips

This seems to be a pretty popular set up among our anglers. There are quite a few variations of this set up. I prefer the reverse dropper loop set-up with a 3 or 4 oz. torpedo sinker. This means short sinker leader with a longer 24" leader to the hook. The "stinger hook" set up is probably the best. Snell in a regular 1/0 hook about 10" from the end of the leader (this distance really depends on the size of the bait that is being used). Then tie a treble hook on the tag end of the leader to act as the stinger hook. You then hook the 1/0 hook through the nose of the bait and the treble hook down by the anal fin of the bait with 2 of the 3 hooks exposed. A vast majority of the halibut I’ve seen caught have jus the stinger hook in its mouth. Pretty effective.

Drifting is typically the best “method” as you can cover some water. But you can however have some success if you have this type of set up and try fishing different areas of the boat and not just fishing in the same spot on the boat.

This picture shows all kinds of crazy stuff like swivels and beads. There are now 3 line connections that can fail. It’s not really necessary. Some people swear by it, I think if you can tie a decent knot on your dropper loop than a swivel is not necessary. If you feel more comfortable with tying the same knot on all the connections to the swivel then go for it. It’s all preference.

Hope this helps a bit.

-Brian (Capt. Of the Sum Fun)