This guide covers Pacific halibut fishing out of Sekiu, Washington, for anglers running their own boat: when the fish are here, where boats run, what holds fish and how it is fished locally. Launch and moorage details are on the Sekiu port page. Biology, gear basics and the wider range are in our Pacific halibut guide. The grounds, depths and methods below come from WDFW. Region-wide coverage is in the wider Pacific Northwest guide.
When Pacific halibut are around Sekiu
WDFW says halibut fishing here typically opens in May. The agencies set the opener and the open days; the Regulations section below points to where they are posted.
Where boats run out of Sekiu
WDFW puts the popular halibut ridges in 200 to 400 ft of water off Kydaka Point, Clallam Bay and Pillar Point, with Hoko Flats shallower at 100 to 200 ft. Both are covered on WDFW’s Sekiu and Pillar Point page.
Hoko Flats and Kydaka Point lie west of Sekiu. Clallam Bay and the Slip Point ledges are toward the east end of the bay, and Pillar Point lies farther east.
| Ground | Position from Sekiu | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Hoko Flats | West-northwest of the Hoko River mouth toward the Sekiu River | 100 to 200 ft |
| Kydaka Point ridges | West | 200 to 400 ft |
| Clallam Bay ridges | Clallam Bay | 200 to 400 ft |
| Pillar Point ridges | East | 200 to 400 ft |
| The Caves | West of Sekiu Point | 120 ft |
| Little Mussolini Rock | Westerly troll from the Coal Mine | 130 ft |
West: Hoko Flats and Kydaka Point
Hoko Flats sits in 100 to 200 ft west-northwest of the Hoko River mouth toward the Sekiu River, according to WDFW. WDFW also lists sloping ridges in 200 to 400 ft off Kydaka Point among the popular halibut grounds, and the Kydaka Point reef is named structure off the point.
Clallam Bay and Slip Point
WDFW puts sloping halibut ridges in 200 to 400 ft off Clallam Bay. The Slip Point ledges sit at the east end of the bay.
East: Pillar Point
Pillar Point lies east of Sekiu, and WDFW lists ridges in 200 to 400 ft off it. WDFW also names the local method here, covered in the next section.
Other named structure
Several more named spots sit near Sekiu:
- The Caves: sea caves west of Sekiu Point, 120 ft.
- Big Mussolini Rock: a named rock near Sekiu.
- Little Mussolini Rock: 130 ft, reached on a westerly troll from the Coal Mine.
How halibut are fished out of Sekiu
Method follows the ground. The ridges are deeper and the flats shallower, so the choice of gear, and whether to drift or anchor, depends on where you set up.
Jigs or weighted baits
WDFW says Pillar Point halibut are fished with jigs or weighted baits. Setup for working gear on the 200 to 400 ft ridges is covered in our deep-drop bottom fishing guide.
Drifting and anchoring
WDFW notes that anchoring is possible but disrupts boats drifting the same ground. Keep that in mind when other boats are working a drift line.
Reading conditions
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC station 46087 readings, at Neah Bay, 6 NM north of Cape Flattery. It sits west of Sekiu at the strait entrance and reports conditions there. Before you run, read wind, wave height and dominant period as numbers, alongside the NWS west entrance forecast.
Who fishes for halibut out of Sekiu
Private boats work these grounds, and several Sekiu charter operators list Pacific halibut:
- Outlander Charters: its Outlander Charters rates page names the boats Uitlander and Okvidinn.
- Fat Otter Fishing Charter: Fat Otter Fishing Charter.
- Excel Fishing Charters: its Excel Fishing Charters Sekiu page posts are attributed to Tom Burlingame.
FAQ: Pacific halibut fishing out of Sekiu
When does halibut fishing open out of Sekiu?
WDFW says Pacific halibut fishing out of Sekiu typically opens in May. Exact openers and open days vary, so check the state regulations before fishing.
How deep are the halibut ridges near Sekiu?
WDFW puts them in 200 to 400 ft of water, off Kydaka Point, Clallam Bay and Pillar Point.
What is Hoko Flats?
Hoko Flats is a halibut ground in 100 to 200 ft, west-northwest of the Hoko River mouth toward the Sekiu River, per WDFW. It is shallower than the ridges.
Should I anchor for halibut out of Sekiu?
WDFW says anchoring is possible but disrupts drifting boats. Whether to anchor is your call, but it affects the boats working the drift.
Which buoy should I check before running out of Sekiu?
Check NOAA NDBC station 46087 at Neah Bay, 6 NM north of Cape Flattery. Read wind, wave height and period, and check the official NWS marine forecast.
