Biggest halibut I've caught was surf fishing with a sand crab!! It was from ground level to top of my waist! I was doing the happy dance!! So many yummy fish tacos!!
Aww man what a bummer. But it happens to all of us. I think what happened with me was my braid got hung up on the connection...I think I left the tag end of the fluoro a little too long. Live and learn. Tight lines!
100%, sometimes they're hitting from the get-go but other times we have to put in our time. I don't invite those grinding days but they sure are super rewarding!
I finally caught a 16" Halibut last week and I was trying to unhook it and it bit my finger. Even the small ones are mean and strong and those teeth are real.
Congrats on your first!! That's a significant accomplishment!! haha, and yes they have very sharp teeth. Gotta be careful cuz they'll spazz for no reason sometimes. Tight lines!
Last Saturday I played with my LCs at my beach.. I skunked but was nice to just try to stick with it instead of switching back to Crig.. Next time I get back to Cali will do the same thing til I catch a fish with them.. I wanna graduate to LCs.. 🤙🏽
Since you practice CPR So how about changing out all the treble hooks for single hooks on the lucky craft lures or file/pinch down the barbs on those treble hooks. It would be alot easier to let them go. Happy Fishing!
Haha yeah boi!! Good session. It looks just like reeling but you truly are a specialist. Always like to watch that rod load up right before the hookset. I’ve gotten better at surf fishing the LC but this type of fishing is soooo faaaar from easy. But good thing we have the best to teach us how to do it. 🦅 🦅 🦅 🦅🦨 🦨 🦅 🦨 🦨 🦨 🦨 🗑️ 🔥 👍🏻 💪🏻 🤙🏻
Always appreciate seeing your comments, thank you! I'm no different than everyone else....going out there and trying to learn and figure things out each time. Wishing you a great weekend!
Guys don't ask what beach, your wasting your "breath". Your lucky if he will even mention the county. He's a good watch but don't think for a second he will give locations.
haha thanks Eugene, it was indeed painful. But that's all part of the game. Playing it back, my drag was too loose for fishing that kind of structure. Should have had it close to locked down when fishing the edge. Hope you're well!!
Great halibut Benji. Living in Vegas i don't get to surf fish much. Since i have family in So. Cal. I want to get into it. I've never fished braid only mono though i know braid is excellent. Is 15 lb. mono a good choice ?
Hi Joe, thank you for the comment. 15 lb mono is more than fine and will work great. The main reason I don't use mono myself is because I'm lazy and mono goes bad fairly quickly and I don't want to deal with constantly respooling. Tight lines!
Howdy Benji!!!! Been following your channel for a bit; I had a rodeo in January in San Diego so I drove down from Vegas and decided to surf fish for the first time at Torrey pines and walked away with only 5 surf perch in two days. Is there a beach that you find is consistent for halibut from shore
Hi there! Thanks so much for the comment and the support, really appreciate it. Bummer on the slow bite that you experienced. The truth is that even the best beaches have ebbs and flows and while I wish I could say that there's a beach that's truly consistent ie hitting like fire whenever we go out...that's simply not the case. Torrey Pines, while it is a well known stretch of sand, is actually an outstanding option for SoCal surf fishing...halibut included. Some weeks can be absolutely wide open. Other weeks it can seem completely empty. This is the reality for every single stretch of sand. And if there is a beach that is ALWAYS hitting, I'm definitely not aware of it. It's really tough if you're from out of town because you're basically at the mercy of whatever the bite might be when you're there. I experience the same conundrum when I fish up north a couple times each year. I've had epic bites as well really, really tough weeks. I do hope that you're able to give it some more shots whenever you're near the sand...perhaps that next one will be one for the memory books. I apologize that's not too much help, but hopefully it provides a little insight based on my personal experience. Tight lines.
@@BenjieKimFishing THANKS BENJIE!!!!!! So it’s not that Torrey pines isn’t a productive beach it’s just like any fishing and it’s whether it’s the right time. I’ve fished my whole life and considering it was my first time surf fishing I’m happy that I even walked away with those 5 little surf perch. And yes it does put a damper when I live 5 hrs away in Nevada but maybe next time I’ll get lucky and get maybe a Corbina or even a halibut
How much casting distance should you be getting on the lucky craft? I have an Okuma SST 8'6" and feel like it doesn't travel far enough. I'm guessing my cast can be improved but is there a better rod that would help launch it further?
Not sure which 8'6" you have but if you're throwing within the proper specs, the SST is a super legit option and I'd say is at least comparable to every other option out there across all brands. My preferred rod for the LC is the Okuma Rockaway SP 10' M+....Not sure how much more distance I get compared to the SST but my guess is that it would be at least slightly advantageous simply because it's a longer rod.
I almost had my first legal halibut this morning but while i had it within 20ft of me in 12" of water, my power pro 10lb fluorocarbon leader broke (not at the knot, but about 6 inches from the swivel/clip that joined the leader to the 10lb power pro braid)) and the fish got away along with my brand new LC FlashMinnow 110 metallic sardine. It was a brand new leader with two casts on it too, all stretched thin and kinky. After that expensive experience, i think i'm going to switch back to mono leaders especially after seeing a stretch test on another channel which showed mono not only does better in relation to its pound rating, it breaks at a higher point after being stretched near breaking and relaxed, then stretched till breaking. strange, but the test was repeated multiple times.
Ahhh man what a bummer on the lost legal. That hurts. Hopefully that motivates you to keep going out there and making sure the next one doesn't get away! Yes, I've read and watched similar tests. Honestly, I don't get too far into the nitty gritty when it comes to line. I have zero issue with mono and I actually like having the stretch that mono provides. I still use fluoro as leader mainly for abrasion resistance, but I know that can be debated too. The main reason I don't use mono as my mainline is because it goes bad so quickly and I don't want to constantly have to swap out line. That doesn't apply to using it as leader tho. Just a suggestion that you can possibly consider is bumping up the pound test when hunting game fish like halibut. Smaller one's won't matter but might be beneficial to use 15 or even 20 pound when hoping for bigger fish. Hope you keep getting out there, would love to hear when you get legal landed! Tight lines!
Ahhh major props for getting out there and giving it a shot. Fishing is a journey and process (at least for me) and unfortunately losing lures is a process. The better you get, the less you'll lose! Tight lines!
I don't know who has them but I'm pretty sure they're out there...maybe call the Longfin in Orange or Big Fish in Seal Beach...they typically have the most robust selection of LC's. Good luck!
As a someone who lives in southern california, obviously always looking for a good location to surf fish with my boys, it's not easy and often a waste of time, it's pretty sad how he purposely won't show any landmarks so you can't see where he's fishing. Don't even say where you are, just show the surroundings and let people try and figure it out, give us a shot! We've all bought the lucky crafts from his link, and fishing is all about fun for people and their families and kids. Trust me, it's not like 500 people are going to be blowing up his spot, it's just off putting. Other than that, like watching the videos.
I won't ever expect you to understand my position but I'd like to at least attempt to explain where I'm coming from. "Spot Burning" is an industry term that has existed forever in the fishing world. In my opinion, it's extremely inflammatory and divisive regardless of which side of the fence you stand. When I first started getting serious with this 6 or 7 years ago, I had no idea...especially when it came to the surf. Who cares? There's sand everywhere! But the deeper I got into it, and the more people I met along the way, the issue of spot burning is indeed alive and well in every form of fishing whether it be local ponds, bigger lakes, offshore tuna fishing, etc. Do I wish that the issue of spot burning didn't exist? Yes. But does it exist? Yes. If you're not involved in the industry, you may or may not see it. But it's something I deal with as a fisherman on social media. Do I handle it perfectly? Of course not. I'm just doing the best I can with what I know. There's 2 main reasons why I do it the way I do it. First, it's because I'm no longer new to this world and I've spent many, many miles walking, skunking, failing, and figuring out what works for me along the coast. That process and that journey is my favorite part of fishing. Catchings cool too don't get me wrong haha, but while I'm not a great fisherman by any means, I'd like to think that I've put in the time to learn and get better on my own. I try my best to teach based on my own experience, and I want everyone to experience the rewards of their own process and journey. The most hardcore side of the spot burn police won't even share with you what they're using and how they're using it. That's where I draw my line...I'll teach what works for me down to the very detail. Believe it or not, one of my primary goals is to help everyone catch more fish. Again, I don't expect you to agree with me here...I'm just sharing where I'm coming from. Secondly, and this is by far the most significant reason why I do it how I do it, is that there are many, many "old timers" ie guys that have fished way longer than me, that are way better than me, who have walked the same sand that I've been lucky to walk. It is my way of showing respect to them for their years of effort and time on the water. Don't get me wrong, some of these guys are downright mean...I hear stories of old school guys slashing tires from people who burn spots. And as a TH-camr, I've got a big bullseye on my back from some of these guys. I don't agree with that mentality, but it is what it is. So maybe there's an element of fear there for me too. But there are also a LOT of incredible old school guys who are extremely kind...who have taken me under their wing, and taught me so much about our wonderful sport. I do this to respect their desires as well because I want to be a proper ambassador of the older generation (I'm actually old now too though lol). I'm in a lose-lose situation with this regardless. If I choose to disregard the fishing industry and culture that comes with it, I will be black balled from that community...especially from those who have spent the most time in it and have spent their lives in that world. And whether you believe it or not, I will receive a lot of hateful comments. If I choose to respect the "rules" of spot burning, then I get flamed by angry people who call me selfish (generally those who are more casual fishermen or are newer to the sport). And trust me, your comment is one of the nicer ones expressing this train of thought. I'm actually very liberal in giving out information from those who take the time to message/email me privately. Because while I know I'm not giving you what you want here in my videos, I'd like to think I understand the struggle of work, family, etc. Not everyone is able to fish freely whenever they want and time is super limited. Trust me, I have a job too...I don't make very much money doing this, and I've got 3 kids. Making the time for me to get out and film is not an easy task. One of the benefits of being a content creator is that I can make videos the way I want to make them. No one is forcing anyone to click or not click. Some people love my content. Other's hate it. It's all good either way. Everything about this is free for the viewer. If they don't like it, they don't ever have to watch. I will say that I'm extremely grateful for subscribers and members who are so loyal and enjoy my work for what it is. I make my videos for them, as well as for my creative freedom. Again, I don't expect you to agree or understand. But I wanted to at least attempt to explain my position and where I'm coming from. I do wish you all the best in every facet of life. Many blessings to you.
How far do you usually get in the cast? I don’t have a great rod for the flash minnow but been trying to push it out deeper but can’t seem to do it without adding weight. Any suggestions?
![My Top 3 Techniques to catch HALIBUT [SoCal Surf Fishing 2023]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hRi0EUySynY/mqdefault.jpg)
![Legal Halibut after Legal Halibut!! [SoCal Surf Fishing LUCKY CRAFT]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XF_iGSpdP9o/mqdefault.jpg)
0:42 you said it brotha. This is what keeps me sane
100% fishing is just an opportunity to clear the mind and for me it's one of the healthiest things I can do get some therapy. Tight lines!
Biggest halibut I've caught was surf fishing with a sand crab!! It was from ground level to top of my waist! I was doing the happy dance!! So many yummy fish tacos!!
Oh yeah get'em benjie
Thank you Greg (I think?) haha. Appreciate your support and stoke, thank you so much!
Way to keep grinding brother!
It's the one thing I"m good at lol! Tight lines Marco, appreciate you man!!!
Looks like a really fun roller coaster of a session!
Always stoked on fishing! I watch your videos before my sessions to get hyped up😄
This is awesome, thank you for sharing the stoke!
ah nice one bro! nice to see halis still bitting tight lines!
Thank you, still a grind out there for me but picking em off here and there. Tight lines!
Way to work at it! Congrats! Great Video!!!
Much appreciated Chris, thank you! Looking forward to checking in with you soon!
2:04 dang just did that on a brand new one, no its going to beak the bank but still stings. Thought u broke off
Aww man what a bummer. But it happens to all of us. I think what happened with me was my braid got hung up on the connection...I think I left the tag end of the fluoro a little too long. Live and learn.
Tight lines!
Thank you for posting !!!!
I appreciate it, thank you for the support. Gonna keep doing my best to get content out for everyone! Tight lines!
A few times now Ive had that keeper hali come on the last few casts after hours of walking with zip. Man does it feel good when that happens.
100%, sometimes they're hitting from the get-go but other times we have to put in our time. I don't invite those grinding days but they sure are super rewarding!
Awesome!🤙😎
Thank you always Ralph!! Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Just watched and checking in. Ron
I finally caught a 16" Halibut last week and I was trying to unhook it and it bit my finger. Even the small ones are mean and strong and those teeth are real.
Congrats on your first!! That's a significant accomplishment!! haha, and yes they have very sharp teeth. Gotta be careful cuz they'll spazz for no reason sometimes. Tight lines!
@@BenjieKimFishingthat's much better. Stay away from Pyramid Lake if you want to keep your gear
Last Saturday I played with my LCs at my beach.. I skunked but was nice to just try to stick with it instead of switching back to Crig.. Next time I get back to Cali will do the same thing til I catch a fish with them.. I wanna graduate to LCs.. 🤙🏽
Since you practice CPR So how about changing out all the treble hooks for single hooks on the lucky craft lures or file/pinch down the barbs on those treble hooks. It would be alot easier to let them go. Happy Fishing!
Good video! You gotta try free spool when the fish gets stuck in structure, at least just give the fish some slack
you are 100% correct. That was user error on my part with this one, I should definitely know better. Tight lines!
Haha yeah boi!! Good session. It looks just like reeling but you truly are a specialist.
Always like to watch that rod load up right before the hookset.
I’ve gotten better at surf fishing the LC but this type of fishing is soooo faaaar from easy.
But good thing we have the best to teach us how to do it.
🦅 🦅 🦅 🦅🦨 🦨 🦅
🦨
🦨
🦨
🦨
🗑️
🔥
👍🏻
💪🏻
🤙🏻
Always appreciate seeing your comments, thank you! I'm no different than everyone else....going out there and trying to learn and figure things out each time. Wishing you a great weekend!
Hey brotha, when is your next show or expo? I’ve never been to one before.
I’m sure it never really gets Real until you see one.
Guys don't ask what beach, your wasting your "breath". Your lucky if he will even mention the county. He's a good watch but don't think for a second he will give locations.
why not? why not share? plenty of fish out there
@@jaes8173 half the fun is finding your spots:)😊
That was painful to see the fish get pulled. 😔 But great finish to the session!
haha thanks Eugene, it was indeed painful. But that's all part of the game. Playing it back, my drag was too loose for fishing that kind of structure. Should have had it close to locked down when fishing the edge. Hope you're well!!
No wing knot on my Shimano Vanford 3000 XG even using Maxima Green 10lb test
Love the videos, any ideas on wader alternatives never fails they leak.
Great halibut Benji. Living in Vegas i don't get to surf fish much. Since i have family in So. Cal. I want to get into it. I've never fished braid only mono though i know braid is excellent. Is 15 lb. mono a good choice ?
Hi Joe, thank you for the comment. 15 lb mono is more than fine and will work great. The main reason I don't use mono myself is because I'm lazy and mono goes bad fairly quickly and I don't want to deal with constantly respooling. Tight lines!
Howdy Benji!!!! Been following your channel for a bit; I had a rodeo in January in San Diego so I drove down from Vegas and decided to surf fish for the first time at Torrey pines and walked away with only 5 surf perch in two days. Is there a beach that you find is consistent for halibut from shore
Hi there! Thanks so much for the comment and the support, really appreciate it. Bummer on the slow bite that you experienced. The truth is that even the best beaches have ebbs and flows and while I wish I could say that there's a beach that's truly consistent ie hitting like fire whenever we go out...that's simply not the case. Torrey Pines, while it is a well known stretch of sand, is actually an outstanding option for SoCal surf fishing...halibut included. Some weeks can be absolutely wide open. Other weeks it can seem completely empty. This is the reality for every single stretch of sand. And if there is a beach that is ALWAYS hitting, I'm definitely not aware of it.
It's really tough if you're from out of town because you're basically at the mercy of whatever the bite might be when you're there. I experience the same conundrum when I fish up north a couple times each year. I've had epic bites as well really, really tough weeks.
I do hope that you're able to give it some more shots whenever you're near the sand...perhaps that next one will be one for the memory books. I apologize that's not too much help, but hopefully it provides a little insight based on my personal experience. Tight lines.
@@BenjieKimFishing THANKS BENJIE!!!!!! So it’s not that Torrey pines isn’t a productive beach it’s just like any fishing and it’s whether it’s the right time. I’ve fished my whole life and considering it was my first time surf fishing I’m happy that I even walked away with those 5 little surf perch. And yes it does put a damper when I live 5 hrs away in Nevada but maybe next time I’ll get lucky and get maybe a Corbina or even a halibut
How much casting distance should you be getting on the lucky craft? I have an Okuma SST 8'6" and feel like it doesn't travel far enough. I'm guessing my cast can be improved but is there a better rod that would help launch it further?
Not sure which 8'6" you have but if you're throwing within the proper specs, the SST is a super legit option and I'd say is at least comparable to every other option out there across all brands.
My preferred rod for the LC is the Okuma Rockaway SP 10' M+....Not sure how much more distance I get compared to the SST but my guess is that it would be at least slightly advantageous simply because it's a longer rod.
I almost had my first legal halibut this morning but while i had it within 20ft of me in 12" of water, my power pro 10lb fluorocarbon leader broke (not at the knot, but about 6 inches from the swivel/clip that joined the leader to the 10lb power pro braid)) and the fish got away along with my brand new LC FlashMinnow 110 metallic sardine. It was a brand new leader with two casts on it too, all stretched thin and kinky. After that expensive experience, i think i'm going to switch back to mono leaders especially after seeing a stretch test on another channel which showed mono not only does better in relation to its pound rating, it breaks at a higher point after being stretched near breaking and relaxed, then stretched till breaking. strange, but the test was repeated multiple times.
Ahhh man what a bummer on the lost legal. That hurts. Hopefully that motivates you to keep going out there and making sure the next one doesn't get away!
Yes, I've read and watched similar tests. Honestly, I don't get too far into the nitty gritty when it comes to line. I have zero issue with mono and I actually like having the stretch that mono provides. I still use fluoro as leader mainly for abrasion resistance, but I know that can be debated too. The main reason I don't use mono as my mainline is because it goes bad so quickly and I don't want to constantly have to swap out line. That doesn't apply to using it as leader tho.
Just a suggestion that you can possibly consider is bumping up the pound test when hunting game fish like halibut. Smaller one's won't matter but might be beneficial to use 15 or even 20 pound when hoping for bigger fish.
Hope you keep getting out there, would love to hear when you get legal landed! Tight lines!
Absolutely no reason to fish 10 pound on the luckycraft.
My first time surf fishing last weekend and I lost my Super Glow OB Sexy Smelt on structure 😭. Had a lot of fun tho, it was worth it.
Ahhh major props for getting out there and giving it a shot. Fishing is a journey and process (at least for me) and unfortunately losing lures is a process. The better you get, the less you'll lose! Tight lines!
@BenjieKimFishing Thank you Benji. I will keep trying for that halibut, I'll let you know when I achieve this goal! Until then tight lines 🤙
@@coldpinguen1394 love your positivity and motivation!! Stick with it, so rewarding when it works out!!!
Are there fish or sharks to be caught during winter off the socal beaches?
Great job man! What beach is that?
Hi Hector, I don't specify beaches on social media but this was in San Diego County. Tight lines.
@@BenjieKimFishingoh, ok
Way cool video clip. you ever fish alamitos bay off Bayshore?
Looking for a flash minnow 110 in the sand crab color do
You know where I can find one
I don't know who has them but I'm pretty sure they're out there...maybe call the Longfin in Orange or Big Fish in Seal Beach...they typically have the most robust selection of LC's. Good luck!
As a someone who lives in southern california, obviously always looking for a good location to surf fish with my boys, it's not easy and often a waste of time, it's pretty sad how he purposely won't show any landmarks so you can't see where he's fishing. Don't even say where you are, just show the surroundings and let people try and figure it out, give us a shot! We've all bought the lucky crafts from his link, and fishing is all about fun for people and their families and kids. Trust me, it's not like 500 people are going to be blowing up his spot, it's just off putting. Other than that, like watching the videos.
I won't ever expect you to understand my position but I'd like to at least attempt to explain where I'm coming from. "Spot Burning" is an industry term that has existed forever in the fishing world. In my opinion, it's extremely inflammatory and divisive regardless of which side of the fence you stand. When I first started getting serious with this 6 or 7 years ago, I had no idea...especially when it came to the surf. Who cares? There's sand everywhere! But the deeper I got into it, and the more people I met along the way, the issue of spot burning is indeed alive and well in every form of fishing whether it be local ponds, bigger lakes, offshore tuna fishing, etc. Do I wish that the issue of spot burning didn't exist? Yes. But does it exist? Yes. If you're not involved in the industry, you may or may not see it. But it's something I deal with as a fisherman on social media. Do I handle it perfectly? Of course not. I'm just doing the best I can with what I know.
There's 2 main reasons why I do it the way I do it. First, it's because I'm no longer new to this world and I've spent many, many miles walking, skunking, failing, and figuring out what works for me along the coast. That process and that journey is my favorite part of fishing. Catchings cool too don't get me wrong haha, but while I'm not a great fisherman by any means, I'd like to think that I've put in the time to learn and get better on my own. I try my best to teach based on my own experience, and I want everyone to experience the rewards of their own process and journey. The most hardcore side of the spot burn police won't even share with you what they're using and how they're using it. That's where I draw my line...I'll teach what works for me down to the very detail. Believe it or not, one of my primary goals is to help everyone catch more fish. Again, I don't expect you to agree with me here...I'm just sharing where I'm coming from.
Secondly, and this is by far the most significant reason why I do it how I do it, is that there are many, many "old timers" ie guys that have fished way longer than me, that are way better than me, who have walked the same sand that I've been lucky to walk. It is my way of showing respect to them for their years of effort and time on the water. Don't get me wrong, some of these guys are downright mean...I hear stories of old school guys slashing tires from people who burn spots. And as a TH-camr, I've got a big bullseye on my back from some of these guys. I don't agree with that mentality, but it is what it is. So maybe there's an element of fear there for me too. But there are also a LOT of incredible old school guys who are extremely kind...who have taken me under their wing, and taught me so much about our wonderful sport. I do this to respect their desires as well because I want to be a proper ambassador of the older generation (I'm actually old now too though lol).
I'm in a lose-lose situation with this regardless. If I choose to disregard the fishing industry and culture that comes with it, I will be black balled from that community...especially from those who have spent the most time in it and have spent their lives in that world. And whether you believe it or not, I will receive a lot of hateful comments. If I choose to respect the "rules" of spot burning, then I get flamed by angry people who call me selfish (generally those who are more casual fishermen or are newer to the sport). And trust me, your comment is one of the nicer ones expressing this train of thought.
I'm actually very liberal in giving out information from those who take the time to message/email me privately. Because while I know I'm not giving you what you want here in my videos, I'd like to think I understand the struggle of work, family, etc. Not everyone is able to fish freely whenever they want and time is super limited. Trust me, I have a job too...I don't make very much money doing this, and I've got 3 kids. Making the time for me to get out and film is not an easy task.
One of the benefits of being a content creator is that I can make videos the way I want to make them. No one is forcing anyone to click or not click. Some people love my content. Other's hate it. It's all good either way. Everything about this is free for the viewer. If they don't like it, they don't ever have to watch. I will say that I'm extremely grateful for subscribers and members who are so loyal and enjoy my work for what it is. I make my videos for them, as well as for my creative freedom.
Again, I don't expect you to agree or understand. But I wanted to at least attempt to explain my position and where I'm coming from.
I do wish you all the best in every facet of life. Many blessings to you.
where can i get chika chika bp not on that amazon link you have in the description box
How far do you usually get in the cast? I don’t have a great rod for the flash minnow but been trying to push it out deeper but can’t seem to do it without adding weight. Any suggestions?
Use 30 lb braid. Way less wind knots, if any at all.
What happened to the Okuma Rockaway sp ML? Would the medium light fare well to this weight of halibut?
Do you change the stock hook? If so, what size? Thanks
I only change them if they start corroding or bend out. Owner Stinger x2 st-46 size 6.
I want to get into surf fishing. What do y’all recommend for a rod and reel?
Nice vid bro...what type of reel are you using..?
How far are you casting ?
On this day it was probably 40 to 50 yards on average. Every day is a little different depending on wind direction and stuff.
Hi Benjie. Do you happen to guide?
Do you de barb your hooks?
I do not.
Metal jig?
Tide look calm what beach?
I don't specify beaches on social media, but this is in San Diego County. Tight lines.
What beach is this
It's Victor Salty wolfie
Well I was wrong, thought you were holding it by the lip in the shadow picture