Definitely not too far north to catch halibut. A few years ago I was at a conference in Monterey for work. We were staying at the Monterey Plaza Hotel which is on Canery Row right on the water (boy I miss that place!). Anyways, in the mornings before the conference and at lunch I would go out to the beach (off the back of the hotel and to another beach down the road a bit) and throw the 3" Big Hammers and caught lots of short halibut. I never caught any legals but it was a fun, quick way to get a little fishing in "while at work" :)