There’s no doubt that the popularity of Halibut fishing has soared over the past decade, and for many sea anglers visiting Norway, these giant flatfish have now overtaken the Cod as their primary target. As the number of anglers visiting the country has increased, so has the vast array of methods used to target them. The days of solely fishing giant silvers pirks have gone, and there’s now a multitude of techniques at each angler’s disposal, from fishing with shads, spin fishing, drifting dead baits and even float fishing for them, to mention just a few. However, one area which has increased tenfold is fly fishing for them. Many of the most seasoned Halibut anglers doubted the effectiveness of this method but have been proven wrong, as each year, more and more fish are falling to the flies of adventurous travelling rods.
If you want to experience the thrill of catching a Halibut on the fly, we have a range of locations that will provide you with the best chance. The first is our Nordic Sea Angling camp at Å on the beautiful Lofoten Islands, and the second is our Big Fish Adventures destination on the famous island of Soroya.
Nordic Sea Angling – Å, Norway
Å is undoubtedly one of Norway’s best big Halibut destinations and is responsible for more 2m+ fish than any other. It’s world-famous due to its well-known Moskenesströmmen, one of the world’s strongest maelstroms (where two tides collide). The difference between high and low tides varies by almost four meters, and the water can move up to 6 knots.
Some of the sheltered bays close to the camp average between 5m and 15m in depth and can be responsible for holding good numbers of fish between 20lb and 100lb. These can provide some excellent sport and can often be seen following your fly for many metres, sometimes even to the surface.
As well as being excellent for Halibut, it’s also blessed with some of the best Coalfish fishing in the country, both in terms of the number of fish and the average size. These sleek, streamlined predators can provide some incredible action, especially during the quieter parts of the tide when the Halibut might not be feeding.
Want to know more about Å on the Lofoten Islands? Visit our tour page here.
Big Fish Adventures – Soroya
Soroya is one of the most famous destinations in Norway, primarily known for its early season Skrei Cod fishing but also for its fantastic Halibut fishing throughout the summer and autumn months. The island is home to a vast array of prime Halibut marks, with an almost unlimited number of shallow sandy bays, lending themselves perfectly to attempting to catch these giant flatfish on the fly. This, combined with the fact that the head guide at the camp, Bilal Saab, is a keen fly angler and one looking to explore and push the boundaries of fly fishing in Norwegian waters. Like Å, Soroya also provides travelling anglers with the opportunity to target other species like Coalfish and Cod.
Want to know more about Big Fish Adventures on Soroya? Visit our tour page here.
The Fishing
If you’d like to join us on a trip fly fishing for Halibut, we recommend a few things. Firstly we recommend booking the services of a guide. At both our camps mentioned above, the guides are some of the best in Norway and are experts at fishing and navigating the Norwegian waters. They know the areas you should be fishing and at what state of the tide; they can be the difference between catching and not. Booking a guide also means you have no worries about driving the boat and finding the fish, as they will do both. With all that said, if you’d like to book a self-drive boat and explore on your own, we can offer it.
Secondly, even though our standard Norway sea fishing trips are based on four anglers and one guide per boat, we recommend no more than two. Due to the nature of the fishing and the size of the boats, only having two anglers casting at any one time, will ensure you can fish safely and efficiently.
Tackling Up
Halibut can grow to epic proportions and are well known for their hard-fighting abilities, so with these things in mind, if you’re targeting them, it’s essential to be well prepared. Heavy saltwater fly rods and large arbour reels with a smooth drag are crucial. Fly lines, tippets and hooks all need to match, too. Generally, when fishing for Halibut, you’ll do so in the shallow areas. The sandy bays and coves make fishing easier and offer you the best chances of connecting with a few fish. When enquiring about your trip, we can provide more details about the tackle and flies you may need.
Note: If you book a week of fishing and fancy a break from fly casting or want to mix up the fishing styles, hiring some conventional tackle from the camps and fishing with shads, lures, and bait is possible.
If you’d like to learn more about the array of techniques, used to catch Halibut, aside from fly fishing, read our blog: Halibut Fishing Techniques Norway.
Contact Us
So, if you love fly fishing, pushing the boundaries and want to experience something different, why not join us on a trip to try and target one of these majestic monsters? To learn more about our trips, contact our sea fishing destination manager, Paul Stevens, at 01603 407596 or via email at paul@sportquestholidays.com.
