I will second AK Raiders comments and add try cod with a herring chaser. Cod is very tough, you don't have to check bait as much, a lot easier on you.Oops, only if your in deeper water does that count. Second, better halibut fishing is generally further out, but I have caught them as close as a 1/4 mile off of Deep Creek,theres a hole off of the radio tower to the south. So they definitely do come in close but knowing where/when in close is key, so I wouldn't want to bank on being able to say"I can catch as many as I want close in, I don't have to go out like those other guys". Definitely a quick trip and hope for some luck kind of thing,up here anyway. Third, I tried two things: the Trophy Torch and Smelly Jelly. They both do actually work. Not like magic, but chances are definitely better on a slow day. So it's not always as easy as pulling up and dropping line(though I have been there). Sometimes you anchor, sometimes you drift and bounce, sometimes you cut bait, sometimes you jig. Always it's about location and timing.
Chris Batin wrote a book called How to catch trophy Halibut. Mostly AK but if I remember correctly there were some Oregon-Washington-California sections in it.
My wife bought a book called Just for the Halibut chock full of good recipes. Both available anywhere in AK or outside you could try Borders Amazon.com WalMArt.com etc. Occasionally the prices on bookstuff at WalMart.com is shockingly lower than Amazon. Check both. There is also a good website called halibut.net you will find useful. I haven't been there in a while, but if I remember, it's a little more west coast oriented than Batin's book, but not as deep.
My wife takes a lot of trips, so sometimes I have to fend for myself. Thank you, Chef Boyardee. However, I use this for a single mans, or is it geographical bachelors, meal. Good for two days.
1 halibut "roast" about 2inches thick skin removed.
Shot with spray butter to taste.
Take aluminum foil and make a pan big enough for th fish. Lemon garlic parseley etc. to taste.
Place fish in pan and lemon garlic etc topside.
Cover with another piece of foil and pinch edges together till they feel airtight.
Put in top rack of dishwasher on "Pots and Pans" cycle. No heated dry.
Remove and eat. Some people tell me you can get that lemon flavor by using lemon scented soap, but I ain't going there.