We at Outside Travels recently visited our destination Frovåg Havsfiske in Northern Norway and tried a really exciting style of fishing – spinning for halibut!
Over three intense days of fishing, we managed to land six halibut. Several strikes came in very shallow water, sometimes as shallow as 10 meters. The fishing was intense and unpredictable, and a lot like pike fishing – but with even heavier resistance!
Halibut caught in shallow water while spinning at Frovåg Havsfiske.
How to catch halibut with spinning gear
The key to success is to use your chartplotter wisely. We recommend using the Garmin Navionics Boating app with the Relief Shading feature.
There you can clearly see where sandy bottoms meet harder structures, where reefs and drop-offs are, and what the depth contours look like.
Focus on reefs bordering deeper water, ideally between 10 and 20 meters. Particularly promising spots are passages where the current is forced through “channels” between reefs, where both baitfish and halibut tend to gather.
With Garmin Navionics Boating and Relief Shading, you can find halibut hunting grounds.
Tip: Ebb and flow – the key to getting the timing right
Halibut are strongly affected by currents. Fishing tends to slow down when the current stops. The best time is often just before the current turns. Spinning lets you cover large areas, which is perfect when the fishing is challenging!
Keep an eye on the currents!
The gear and lures we used
We fished with lures weighing 50–150 grams and measuring between 10 and 24 cm. This is still a relatively new style of fishing, so there’s plenty to experiment with! I used a spoon underneath that flashed. Really hot!
Lures that delivered:
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Savage Gear Sandeel V2
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Westin Sandy Andy Jig
Fishing is similar to pike fishing – vary the pace, use pauses in your retrieve, and feel free to fish high in the water column, even in deeper areas.
The best proof of an effective lure – chewed up and tested by halibut.
Recommended gear:
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Hearty Rise SKWalker Norway Spinning Travel 50-150g (4-piece travel rod)
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Daiwa Super Kenzaki Spin Travel 120-250g (3-piece travel rod)
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Reel: DAIWA 20 BG MQ 6000D-H
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Leader: 150 lb nylon monofilament
Book your fishing trip to Norway
Would you also like to try this amazing fishing? We offer fishing trips to Norway where you stay right in the middle of the fishing at our Frovåg Havsfiske camp – perfect for sea fishing in Norway and halibut fishing.
Savage Gear Sandeel V2 with a spinner blade from Betesbyggarkiosken
Frequently asked questions about fishing trips to Norway and spinning for halibut:
Frequently asked questions about spinning for halibut in Norway
How deep do you fish for halibut when spinning?
Usually between 10 and 20 meters. Focus on shallows, edges and channels where the current pushes through, preferably where sand meets harder bottom.
Which lures work best for spinning for halibut?
We recommend jigs weighing 50–150 grams and measuring 10–25 cm, such as:
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Savage Gear Sandeel V2
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Westin Sandy Andy Jig 150 g
What equipment do you need for spinning for halibut?
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Travel rods with a casting weight of 50–150 g or up to 250 g
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Heavy spinning reel, e.g. Daiwa BG MQ 8000-H
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150 lb monofilament leader and heavy braided line
The equipment needs to handle heavy strikes while being light enough for active spinning.
What time of day is best for fishing?
The fishing is strongly affected by the current. The best time is usually just before the current turns (ebb or flood). Spinning also works well during slower periods because you can actively cover larger areas. This applies throughout the day, too. So in summer, you can also fish at night.
How is spinning for halibut different from regular sea fishing?
Unlike traditional sea fishing (jigging or drift fishing), you actively cast and retrieve the lure, often with pauses in the retrieve and changes of pace. The fishing is very similar to pike fishing, but heavier and more powerful.
READ MORE ABOUT ALL OUR SEA FISHING TRIPS