152# Hali caught last week @ PA

http://www.fhnews.com/articles/2008/04/18/washington/wa08.txt

Holy crap!! That is a big fish. can you imagine hooking that on kayak. now there is a challenge.

Don't think a gaff is the way to approach bringing in a halibut, especially one that big.  Seems like the best way would be to have a spear with detachable point attached to rope with a buoy on the end.

Do any of our members go hali fishing with something different?

Rob.

Holy crap!! That is a big fish. can you imagine hooking that on kayak. now there is a challenge.

You're absolutely not joking. These fish are probably the most dangerous to land IMO. They absolutely go ballistic when you get them to the yak. I found a great little post by a SoCal yakfisherman named Lamb about landing Halis on a yak.

Z

• Make sure your drag is not tight. If the things go wrong, you want to make sure they can have a smooth and controlled run if/when they freak out.
• Have your game clip ready – open and secured to your kayak with a rope, ready to be deployed.
• Don’t panic when you see them below! Keep control, keep the line tight with no slack…
• Don’t get their head out of the water – let them hang and linger by the boat. They’re usually pretty calm. If they decide to make another run down, let them.
• Take your time and identify their lower jaw. Their belly is right below their head on that side.
• Gaff ‘em though the belly. It’s their softest spot yet strong enough to be lifted on board by your gaff. More importantly, in my experience, 9 out of 10 times they won’t freak out when you gaff them thought the belly. They stay calm… like a lamb.  It almost stuns them. Attempting to gaff them though the thick meat on their shoulder is very likely to cause them to start thrashing. On a bigger halibut, it is likely you won’t run a gaff though them – they’ll freak out and probably yank your gaff out of your hand (been there). Don’t gaff them in the head – it is their most boney part. It is hard to pierce though, your head gaff attempt is likely to be followed by a freak out…
• As you run the gaff through the belly, keep the fish in the water, don’t lift her up… Reach for your game clip and run it through the gills.
• Secure it. The game is over, destination dinner table is almost certain now.
• Unlock your spool. The fish is on a leash, all is good. It may save your rod.
• At that point, I cut their gills to bleed them. Some people smack them over their head; that works too, but I haven’t been doing it. You ought to do something, as they may stay alive for a while…
• Be ready for a post mortem freak out - they frequently do that. Move and secure your reels and anything else they may kick in the water if/when they start flopping on your deck.
• I’ll leave it up to you to choose to turn them so you have their toothy jaw between your legs or their mighty tail while you’re paddling back… I hate this part.

Sounds like it would be a fair fight.  Makes me really want to give a try.  But then, I'm funny that way.

Don't think a gaff is the way to approach bringing in a halibut, especially one that big.  Seems like the best way would be to have a spear with detachable point attached to rope with a buoy on the end.

Do any of our members go hali fishing with something different?

Rob.

I think the only way to even have a chance w/ a Hali that big is the spear and float tech, a firearm, or bang stick. Carrying firearms on your yak seem a bit dangerous to me though.

Z

Howard McKim landed a 183 pound halibut by paddling it to shore ... hours later he secured his prize.

I'd never bring on board anything pacific halibut that I thought was over about 30# unless I knew it was dead.

Here's how we play the game up in Alaska.  Like Z said, don't pull it's head out of the water.  First time to the surface, I'd tap the fish on the head sending it on another run to tire it out more.  This is where a good drag comes in handy.  Repeat until the fish is tired.  Then I slip a knife under the gills and cut.  The halibut should go on another run again.  Repeat tapping on head until it doesn't really run.  You know he's beat then.  Gaff and secure.

That being said, I've always though a harpoon and float would be nice to have.  And I have carried a large shark hook (hand gaff sized) attached to a float as well.  But the above method sure is fun with 2 people.   

-Allen

Howard McKim landed a 183 pound halibut by paddling it to shore ... hours later he secured his prize.

Eight hours from hookup to getting that bugger back to shore...

Gotta give a bruddah props!! http://www.yakfishalaska.com
 



And this is what happens to you after wrangling a flattie that big...


Howard: "This is after hauling it up the stairs from the beach into the yard. I really think this was the most tired and delirious I've ever been. I literally collapsed in the yard after finally making it up the steps. After a couple of beers I managed to get it up into the bed of my truck to drive to the scale. This is one of my favorite pics since its not staged at all. "

Pretty sweet!  I'd love to give one of those bad girls a go!!

Maybe this summer...?

-Jesse

As part of the AOTY you just can't pass up an opportunity for a 5 or 6 foot long hali--wayyy too many points.  Port Angeles isn't too far from Seattle--maybe a weekend trip--with the right tides-- verry interesting.

Rob.

You know when you almost die of exhaustion getting your fish home, it's a big one...Wow!! Monster fish. 

I gotta figure out how to target those here, but i'd be happy with a 15-30 pounder