Kayak Halibut Question

Getting ready for some  Yak Halibut, I want to be ready when the weather windows are right. 

I have caught many many Halibut out of a PB and have three Halibut "combos", extra heavy ugly sticks and Penn 113's loaded with miles of 80 tuff.  For near shore (inside 40 fathoms) I will use a lighter lamiglass rod I use for sturgeon (similar to a stand up tuna rod)  But my question is mostly about line.  80 tuff might as well be cable if I were to get snagged, but the 20 or 30 tuff I use for bottom fish just seems to small??  Of course I will use a lighter breakaway line for my weight,  but often the hook gets snagged as you free drift along the bottom and I don't want to have to cut the line at the surface or worse huli.  In the PB we would just wrap the line around a cleat and the action of the boat would break the line or pull it loose from the bottom.  Any of you who have Yak Halibut under your belts care to share what main line worked for you?

I've landed "buts to 40# on 20# braid. There were several runs back to the bottom, after getting the fish most of the way up. The only time I've broken off a halibut, it blew through the bottom of my net first.

I use 20# powerpro.  Caught butts up to 50# with it.  Early on I was using 30# power pro because like you, it seemed small to me.  It didn't take many snags before I figured out it wasn't worth it.

You want to wear them out anyway instead of horsing them green to the surface where they WILL thrash you if you try to handle them.

-Allen

I'm not worried about the line breaking UNTIL, they get near the surface,  that is generally when they get "mad". Every year I have had at least one fish on my tag in the 70-90lb range and I just can't imagine handling them on 20 powerpro.  I guess I need to change my way of thinking and  wear them way, way, way down (more than in a PB) then harpoon them, or flying gaff (in PB I never pooned anything under about 40) but out of a yak I would think of pooning all but a very small ones??.  I have made a cut down (handle) harpoon out of my old PB harpoon.

1. wear them out, way out
2. harpoon/attached "A" ball buoy  (either hold on to float or toss)
3. pull them in and cut a gill(s)
4. let bleed out in water
5. rope though gills then haul on deck then tie tail (hog tied)
6. deep breaths, count lucky stars then paddle home

any insights from your past experiences would be great.  What used to be a simple thing in a large PB now requires some serious planning, not only to land the fish but to ensure your safety.

I'm not worried about the line breaking UNTIL, they get near the surface,  that is generally when they get "mad". Every year I have had at least one fish on my tag in the 70-90lb range and I just can't imagine handling them on 20 powerpro.  I guess I need to change my way of thinking and  wear them way, way, way down (more than in a PB) then harpoon them, or flying gaff (in PB I never pooned anything under about 40) but out of a yak I would think of pooning all but a very small ones??.  I have made a cut down (handle) harpoon out of my old PB harpoon.

1. wear them out, way out
2. harpoon/attached "A" ball buoy  (either hold on to float or toss)
3. pull them in and cut a gill(s)
4. let bleed out in water
5. rope though gills then haul on deck then tie tail (hog tied)
6. deep breaths, count lucky stars then paddle home

any insights from your past experiences would be great.  What used to be a simple thing in a large PB now requires some serious planning, not only to land the fish but to ensure your safety.

You've got it down Ppaddler. Butts are a whole different ballgame in the yak. I, like PP, would go with 20-25# braid. It seems too small but don't forget Howard McKim hooked up with what's arguably a 300# blue marlin on 20# line. HE broke off the fish in the end on purpose. I think being able to make that decision is pretty awesome.

With the smaller butts you could go with a good gaff shot in the gut and that should calm them. Then clip and bleed them. Then again if you have a real scrappy bugger on the line... POON 'EM!!!

Z

 That is a great list,, especially  # 5,,  and the bleed out on the float...
    My X wife had a 200 lb butt come out of a bin on a commercial boat when she spread the ice on it. 30 min. after being cleaned .. Saw one in Homer AK on a block and tackle hanging from a beam at a charter office start flopping and broke the rope. Noto cord nervous system will fire after death, one big strong mussel and they save it all for the last ditch fight,,
  ps,,,, They will lead up to the boat if you don't make them mad, but when the gaff hits or there head comes out of the water, you better have a plan!!

They will lead up to the boat if you don't make them mad, but when the gaff hits or there head comes out of the water, you better have a plan!!

Very true. Actually though, if you get the gaff in the right place (just behind the head) they go limp. It won't last forever but long enough for you to get 'em on the game clip and hopefully pop a gill or two.

Z

First off, halibut have really tough mouths, so tend to stay hooked.  Here's how my firedrill goes.  I like to work a fish hard.  No leading a green butt to the yak (as CBY suggests).  Still, when it gets to the yak I purposefully make it go on another run by pulling it's head out of the water.  Having someone give it a tap on the head makes it even better.  It's like a rodeo at this point, lots of splashing followed by a big run, oftentimes half way back to the bottom.  Next time up I try to carefully lay it out next to the yak without pulling it's head out of the water.  Slip a knife under it's gill plate and cut.  At this point the butt will go on another run.  If you missed the spot with the knife, no worries, repeat as before.  If you don't see a decent blood trail when you get it back to the yak, repeat as before.  When the butt appears calmer, gaff it, and quickly bonk on the gaff.

-Allen

Nice game plan! Thanks for the info!

Here's some much smaller ones but a good lesson in how to pound your butts.. 

Z

I used to use one of those 3lb orange plastic dead blow hammers (the kind filled with lead shot).  You could lay a hell of a licken on them and if you missed it was not as hard on the deck as other options. Not really practical for the yak.  Not going to be swinging a 3lb hammer in my lap any time soon.

First off, halibut have really tough mouths, so tend to stay hooked.  Here's how my firedrill goes.  I like to work a fish hard.  No leading a green butt to the yak (as CBY suggests). -Allen

HUH??, i didn't suggest anything... All good points though, especially the harpoon and float idea. But yea, when i catch one i plan on playing the sucker way out before it even gets near my yak.

Nice vids, too funny ending  

is harpoonses legal in WA WA??

First off, halibut have really tough mouths, so tend to stay hooked.  Here's how my firedrill goes.  I like to work a fish hard.  No leading a green butt to the yak (as CBY suggests). -Allen

HUH??, i didn't suggest anything... All good points though, especially the harpoon and float idea. But yea, when i catch one i plan on playing the sucker way out before it even gets near my yak.

Right you are.  It was RevoRoy that said:

They will lead up to the boat if you don't make them mad

-Allen

is harpoonses legal in WA WA??

YES YES

-Allen