Catching Surf Halibut: Our Favorite Lures and Tips from Tackle Express

Hey there, fellow surf anglers! If you've ever chased California halibut from the beach in SoCal, you've probably heard the magic words: Lucky Craft. Seriously, mention a minnow-style lure to any surf fisherman down here, and they'll instantly know you're talking about those iconic Lucky Craft 110s. They're practically the gold standard for a reason—they just flat-out catch fish.

Why Lucky Crafts Rule the Surf

The secret sauce? These lures don't dive too deep. And that's exactly what you want. A lot of folks think jerkbaits need to sink way down to reach the fish, but with halibut, it's the opposite. You want the lure up high so the halibut comes up to smash it.

On calm days especially, halibut love hanging out in super shallow water—sometimes just 1 to 4 feet deep. If your lure is plowing the sand, you're missing bites. Save the deep-diving stuff for offshore or when you're targeting deeper trenches. For classic beach halibut, keep it shallow and let them hunt it down.

Our Lucky Craft Tweaks (Because We're Picky Like That)

Straight out of the box, Lucky Crafts are awesome, but we like to make a couple small upgrades:

Hooks: Swap the stock ones for Owner ST-46TN trebles (size #4 or #2). They're razor-sharp with a wide gap and needle point—perfect for solid hooksets.
Split Rings: Go with smaller Owner Hyper Wire Split Ring #2 rings up front. Trust us, those front hooks love to tangle on the stock setup. This little fix saves a ton of frustration.
Quick Clips: We swear by Kicker's 25lb clips. They're dead simple—one push and the lure's on. No fiddly cross-locks that can pop open at the worst moment. Plus, the little storage tin is great for keeping other small goodies organized in your tackle box.

Color Choices: Keep It Simple, Friends

Lucky Craft makes like dozens of colors, but you don't need them all. Start with these winners:

White with pink belly – Classic for a reason. Pink is huge for surf halibut (big in Japan too, where a lot of these techniques originated).
Blue sardine or black/silver – Killer on overcast days.
Clear or reflective – Great when the sun's out and water is clean.
Solid white – Our go-to reaction color in dirty water or low light.

Pro tip: Instead of buying every color under the sun, try different styles of plugs to cover more depths. A sinking version can be handy for deeper channels or strong current spots like river mouths.

Safety First—Those Trebles Are No Joke!

Hard baits catch fish like crazy, but those three treble hooks can turn landing a thrashing halibut into a risky adventure. Experienced folks know the drill: long pliers, stay calm, wait for the right moment. If you're still building that experience, take it slow and be extra careful. Getting “married” to a halibut (aka hooked in the hand) is zero fun. Long-nose pliers are your best friend.

Fun fact: Halibut almost always hit these lures from the side or below, so they usually get the front hook in the corner of the mouth. That leaves the back treble swinging free—another reason to stay cautious!

When Structure Calls: Go Soft Plastics

Hard baits shine in open sand, but around kelp, eelgrass, or reefs? Switch to weedless soft plastics. Our favorite setup:

Warbaits Neck Breaker head paired with your favorite swimbait (we love the Kicker Pickle Kick).
Owner Flashy Swimmer teamed up with a Submission Fluke, Zoom Fluke, or 5" Big Hammer swimbait.

Why? It casts ridiculously far, comes through junk clean, and the weedless design saves lures (and sanity). Whites, pinks, chartreuse, and mint are all money colors. And yeah—solid white is tough to beat. Our theory? From below, halibut see the white belly of baitfish silhouetted against the sky. A big white lure screams “easy meal” and triggers aggressive strikes.

Long-Distance Options: Metal Lures

Need max casting distance on a glassy low tide? Metal is your friend.

Classic Crocodile-style spoons still work.
But check out Major Craft Jigpara (JP) Standards and Micros. The micros (10-15g) flutter beautifully on the retrieve and stay shallow. The standards have a tight wobble and stay upright—perfect for controlling depth with your rod tip.

Depth Control Hack: Rod tip low = deeper run. Tip high = stays shallow. Works for metals, plastics, hard baits—everything. Master this and you'll avoid snags while keeping your lure right in the strike zone.

Secret Weapons We Probably Shouldn't Share

Bassrix Hover Tricks on a chatterbait or scrounger head. That hovering, darting action drives halibut nuts, and the big single hook is way safer on bigger fish.
Mini A-Rigs (like the Warbaits version). These get halibut fired up and chasing. Key tip: Start FAST and aggressive. Burn it, pause, burn again. Don't crawl it slow first—you'll miss the reaction bite.

The Core Setup: Surf Rods and Reels

To effectively fish the surf, you need a rod that can handle long casts and a reel with a smooth drag for those sudden halibut runs. Here are the top picks available at Tackle Express.

Top-Rated Surf Rods

Okuma Rockaway SP Surf Rods – A fan favorite for its balance of power and sensitivity.
Major Craft Ceana Spinning Surf Rods – Excellent for those who prefer high-quality Japanese design.
Phenix Trifecta Lite Spinning Rods – Lightweight and perfect for long days on the beach.
Daiwa Ardito TR 5 Piece Travel Rod – The ideal choice for the angler on the move.

Reliable Spinning Reels

Shimano Stradic FM Spinning Reel – Renowned for its durability in saltwater environments.
Penn Pursuit V Spinning Reel – A rugged, budget-friendly workhorse.
Shimano Nasci FD Spinning Reel – Smooth performance at a great price point.

To wrap up our guide on SoCal surf halibut, we’re diving into the specific retrieval techniques and "secret weapons" that Shannon Gallagher uses to trigger aggressive strikes. Master these movements to make the most of the gear we’ve already covered.

Mastering the Retrieve

The way you move your lure is often more important than the color you choose. Here are Shannon’s top tips for a successful presentation:

Depth Control with Your Rod Tip: Use your rod to manage where your lure runs. Keeping your rod tip high helps the lure stay shallow and avoid snags in the eelgrass. Lowering your rod tip allows the lure to reach its maximum depth in deeper channels.
The Reaction Strike: For lures like the Bassrix Hover Tricks, start with a fast and aggressive retrieve. Burn it, pause briefly, and burn it again to trigger a halibut’s natural predatory instinct.
Don't Plow the Sand: Halibut usually strike from below. Keep your lure 1 to 4 feet deep so the fish has to come up to smash it. If your lure is constantly hitting the bottom, you’re likely missing the strike zone.

There you have it—our favorite ways to chase surf halibut from the beach. Whether you're slinging Lucky Crafts in the shallows, bombing metals for distance, or working weedless plastics around structure, the main thing is getting out there and having fun.

Tight lines, stay safe, and we'll see you on the sand!

— Chad Curtis

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