IMHO halibut is too low fat content for good smoking fish. Black cod is much better smoked than halibut, maybe better than salmon. Sometimes I put halibut or rockfish in the elecrtic smoker and burn one pan of chips. Then I put it in the oven and broil it with a little butter on it. Serve with jojos and beer.
i had some success with just a regular brown sugar and salt wet brine with a little soy sauce.just dont smoke as long as you would a salmon or steely,seems to be a little dry,but it sure is tasty.good luck
I have been using a brown sugar and rock salt dry mix, cutting halibut into strips and smoking it hard, somewhat like jerky. It's very tough but very tasty.
this is a nice sweet brine for the hali. 1 cup brown sugar, 1cup cane sugar, 1/4 to 1/2 cup non-iodized salt. Mix together and cover the hali for 4-6 hours, rise and let glazed or dry for a couple hours. Smoke till done. nice mild sweet brine.