Western Outdoor News and Dana Point are pleased to present the first annual “Just for the Halibut” Derby, which will run during the month of May, 2009. The relaxed format of the “Just for the Halibut” derby offers a chance for anglers of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to compete for prizes without the pressures of a hardcore tournament type format.

Running from May 1st through May 31st, the derby is centered around the active springtime halibut fishery in Southern California. Anglers may fish on their own terms from a Party boat, Private boat, Kayak, or shore. Participating anglers are allowed to weigh a maximum of 3 legal (22’) California Halibut per day. All California Fish and Game rules must be followed in the pursuit of your quarry and a listing of complete contest rules can be accessed by clicking on the “rules” button below.

Once the angler has bagged their flattie, they need to take the whole fish into Dana Wharf Sport fishing, the official weigh station for the contest to have the catch weighed and recorded. Filleted, gutted, or mutilated fish will not be eligible. Fishermen who are weighing their catch will need to present their “Just for the Halibut” Angler I.D. card which is issued at the time they sign up for the contest in order to have their catch recorded.

Anglers will have their photo taken and all fish submitted into the contest will be featured in a weekly listing in Western Outdoor News and on-line at www.wonews.com. Weekly prize drawings will be held each Friday starting on May 8th and ending on May 29th for all anglers who enter a fish on that corresponding week.

In addition to these weekly prize drawings, other prizes will be made available to all during the contest. The angler who catches the largest halibut of the contest fishing on a party boat based out of Dana Point will receive a Dana Wharf Sport fishing 1 year pass. The fisherman who catches the largest halibut of the contest fishing from a private boat will receive a Lowrance electronics package. The fisherman who catches the largest halibut of the contest on a Kayak will receive a Hobie Kayak. Finally, all anglers who enter the contest, whether they catch a halibut or not throughout the duration of the contest will be entered into a drawing for a Yamaha generator to be given away on June 1st 2009.

Prize packages will be awarded to the top 10 biggest fish caught during the run of the derby. Second through tenth place prize packages are valued around $1,000 and will include products from the following sponsors:

• Cal Star GG1967 series rod
• Avet SX series MC casting reel
• Costa Del Mar sunglasses
• Plano Tackle Box
• Lowrance hand held GPS unit
• Assortment of Seaguar Fluorcarbon lines
• Assortment of Berkley Saltwater Gulp baits
• Assortment of Berkley Big Game fishing line
• Assortment of Spiderwire Braided fishing line
• Big Hammer lures
• $100 Owner saltwater hook assortments
• Woody Wax
• 1st – 10th place plaques

In addition to these prizes, the first place winner who catches the overall biggest halibut during the Just for the Halibut” derby will receive an East Cape trip for two to Rancho Leonaro Resort valued over $1,000. This trip will include a day of fishing and accommodations. Airfare and ground transportation will be the responsibility of the winner.

At the end of the event, Western Outdoor News will produce a special “Just for the Halibut” event wrap up feature that will feature catch photos of the top 10 anglers as well as a complete contest listing of all fish submitted to the contest.

According to the California Department of Fish & Game, halibut are active along the Southern California Coast in the spring and summer months and aggressively feed on anchovies and other smaller fishes. Recommended techniques include drift fishing with live baits such as anchovies or or brown baits. Artificial lures including swimbait type plastics also work well when fished near the bottom.

Entry fee for the “Just for the Halibut” derby runs an economical $25. Participants can sign up at prior to the contest or any time during the event up until May 31st. Fishermen can sign up at Dana Wharf Sportfishing or the Western Outdoor Publications office in San Clemente. You can also print an contest entry form from the PDF file on this website by clicking on the entry form button below. Fill it out and mail it in to W.O.N. to become a part of the festivities.

For more information on the “Just for the Halibut” derby or to enter over the phone, please contact Ashley Reynolds at (949) 366-0030 ext 38. It’s time to go fishing “Just for the Halibut”!

• Website
• Rules
• Entry Form (PDF)