I HATE SHARK HOOKS or Whiskey Gulch June 6 & 7 report

I baby my mirage drive...but I'm in a world of trouble if she breaks while I am 5-10 miles offshore.  I pray it wont happen!


The 1st Gen Hobie Sport mirage drive isn't compatible with 2nd gen Outback is it?  The sport has the turn lock mechanism, and the outback the drop-in click mechanism.  I never tried to swap them, but I could use my wife's as a backup if it works.

Get a Revo 16 next time  :-)

I baby my mirage drive...but I'm in a world of trouble if she breaks while I am 5-10 miles offshore.  I pray it wont happen!


The 1st Gen Hobie Sport mirage drive isn't compatible with 2nd gen Outback is it?  The sport has the turn lock mechanism, and the outback the drop-in click mechanism.  I never tried to swap them, but I could use my wife's as a backup if it works.

Get a Revo 16 next time  :-)

I've come so close to pulling the trigger on a Revo13 or 16.  I was starting to think the slightly less stability is ok.  But I am rethinking it after talking to a few folks.  There is a noticeable difference in stability apparently and going alone cathing large fish, I'll work a little harder and carry an extra drive for now for the long trips.

Keep in mind, I ABUSE my equipment.  My one drive is 5 years old.  The other 3 years old.  So far, on My old one, nothing has gone wrong (2011 model) other than the fins.  My 2013 (I think) model has broken both arms, an idler cable and an idler pulley. 

If you have an extra fin and an extra Rudder Pin, you are good for 75% of the problems you will encounter I think.

 

Two questions:  why the second drive in the tank well?  And, has anyone considered using a speargun with float attached?  Seems super easy to me.

Spearguns are not designed to be dry fired. They need the density of water to resist the aftershock of the bands. Good thought but a good way to ruin nice gear and fish.

It's not going to ruin the gun or the bands. Yes they are designed for underwater shooting but one dry shot every now and again is fine.  And I don't see how it ruins the fish any more than a harpoon.  It's still a hole, and you actually would have better aim.  Could easily do a kill shot if you know where to aim.  The main issue for me is loading it.  I wouldn't want it loaded for long, and not sure I'd be able to load it with a halibut on the line.  It's a bit of a safety issue.

It's a bit of a safety issue.

I think that's a bit of an understatement.   

-Allen

I baby my mirage drive...but I'm in a world of trouble if she breaks while I am 5-10 miles offshore.  I pray it wont happen!


The 1st Gen Hobie Sport mirage drive isn't compatible with 2nd gen Outback is it?  The sport has the turn lock mechanism, and the outback the drop-in click mechanism.  I never tried to swap them, but I could use my wife's as a backup if it works.

They are compatible but the V2 drives had a tiny bit longer main bolt (or what ever they call the metal bar the clamps into the boat. I ran my '06 drive on my '13 hull for about 6 months before I swapped in the longer metal bar.
One easy way to know is drop it in and see if it fits =)

For landing big Hali's, what rod length and harpoon length do you use? I usually use 6.5' rod but in the videos, looks like most guys are using 7' rods.

I've used 5'10" and 7' rods on big butts.  The shorter version was far superior in my opinion.

-Mark-

It's not just about the length ... I think I'd take a lighter 7' rod over a stiffer 6' rod.  For years, my go to butt rod was a 7 footer rated 12-25#.  I've dropped to a 6 footer, but it's a "jigging" rod, which has a more moderate action than other broomstick-like 6 footers.

-Allen

I should clarify:  The 7 footer was a broomstick.  The 5'10" model is about the diameter of a trout rod with a fairly soft tip and good parabolic bend under load but a ton of backbone.  It feels more like fighting a fish and less like winching in a tire.

-Mark-

  waiting for another "Science of Leverage" lesson 

Yeah, I really wished that 4'6" rod worked out.  The butt was just too short on it.  With a rod that short and putting a shit ton of pressure on it, you really want to shove the butt under your armpit.  And when I do that, and with my long arms, the reel is just too close to me.  I dunno, I gotta pull that rod out of the rafters and give it another shot.

-Allen

I wonder if that's the real, working, end of rod length for this application?. Maybe try a 5 ft oal with a longer butt and grip section and reel seat farther forward ?

60-18=42 so maybe an 18 inch butt/grip/reel seat with 42 inches of working rod in front of the reel?

It's a bit of a safety issue.

I think that's a bit of an understatement.   

-Allen

Yeah, it was an interesting thought at first, but I'm going to try out the shark hook instead.  It looks like a blast.  A cross between fishing and rodeo!

It's a bit of a safety issue.

I think that's a bit of an understatement.   

-Allen

Yeah, it was an interesting thought at first, but I'm going to try out the shark hook instead.  It looks like a blast.  A cross between fishing and rodeo!

I am probably the loudest harpoon advocate out there.  But like you put it, it was a sheer blast being "mano a mano" with the halibut.  My only concern is the consequence of losing that battle could be death.   I may do it with folks around.  We kid Bill but he's an animal if you watch the videos.  He's accepted an challenge to hold on to a 50 pounder or bigger when it takes off.  Talk about extreme sports.  What's halibut surfing?  Oh, ya stick a 100 pound halibut with something and just hold on!  No kayak, no nothing!  lol.