Hook or Harpoon for Halibut?

I'm getting cabin fever thinking about big fish - specifically, halibut. What do you suggest to subdue them when you bring them up to the 'yak? Hook or harpoon? I'm thinking about getting an 18/0 Stainless Alligator hook or using on of Demonick's harpoon contraptions. Thanks for the feedback!

Fred "True" Trujillo

Here are a couple of threads from the past that talk a little about your question to get you going.  There are a couple more out there but I don't feel like finding them right now.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=4965

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=8233

Short answer is that there are people who like harpoons, and there are people who like some type of a flying gaff system.  It seems that more recently the flying gaff concept has brought in more fish, but that doesn't mean the harpoon doesn't work.  It just means that we've seen more reports of fish being contained using a flying gaff.

Thanks, rawkfish!

Fred "True" Trujillo

You don't need either until fish top 80 pounds or so.
I am a shark hook/ flying gaff fan because it is easier to deploy and you have the rope in your hand right after you make connection.

The tricky part is catching one in Washington or Oregon.
Good luck ....

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

I've got both....but for now I prefer the harpoon.

I modified one I bought to make it easier to use in the yak.  Cut the handle off just short enough to make it easy to handle,but long enough to reach out and touch one when it's within ~4 ft.

I haven't had any problems getting a halibut close enough to use a flying gaff... You just have to be a little quicker and more accurate with it...IMO

I've yet to use either off a kayak.  My big King Salmon net seems good for anything upto 50 pounds or more.  I think the harpoon is going to be better since the two times I have had a halibut up to the kayak and was going to try the big hook, it didn't work out since the halibut was on the wrong side of the kayak.  I am COMPLETELY worthless with my left hand.  With a harpoon I could have hit it from either side. 

In my powerboat days,, I recall tying once and was a bit surprised to see how hard it was to penetrate the halibut with a big shark hook.  Of course you can alleviate that with a little sharpening. 

We used to run halibut charters, for halibut I have used both a large flying gaff and harpoons.  I only used the flying gaff one time for halibut as the harpoons are so much easier to use on halibut.  From a kayak your operation is going to be one handed as you will be solo, the flying gaff is going to be difficult to apply this way due to needing to maintain pressure on the rope to the shaft as you pull the hook and barb into the fish.  The harpoon can be easily and accurately driven with one hand.  Please don't think I don't like flying gaffs, they are the  hot ticket for many fish, especially large sharks when fishing from a boat- with another person to apply it.

There are different harpoons types available, the easiest operating harpoon that I have used, has a harpoon that looks like a super heavy duty needle as opposes to the traditional harpoon shape.  This harpoon goes thru the fish very, very easy no matter if you hit the fish good or bad. 

Keep in mind though that when using a harpoon to gain control of a halibut you're needing to deploy it from a sitting position where you may not have as much leverage to drive the point home as you would when you're standing.  I've never tried to stick a halibut in the head with a harpoon so I don't know how difficult it is, but the point is that it standing on a boat vs. sitting on a kayak isn't the same ball game. 

I've only had one opportunity to use a flying gaff but I learned a lot. 

In a nutshell what I learned is that the whole process is dynamic.  A decent size halibut won't just float on the surface so you need to guide them thru a drive-by and sink the hook as they're moving past you.  (They don't like this much)
The backs are nearly impenetrable. 
The gills aren't strong enough to hold the fish by.
The belly is the sweet spot!
The hook becomes a great handle to control the fish with while you hog tie it

I'd like to try a harpoon but I don't know where the leverage would come from to sink it.  I've been playing with the idea of a 90 degree harpoon with a weighted tip to carry momentum into the fish.  (Think baseball bat with a nail driven thru it.     )

-Spot-

We used to run halibut charters, for halibut I have used both a large flying gaff and harpoons.  I only used the flying gaff one time for halibut as the harpoons are so much easier to use on halibut.  From a kayak your operation is going to be one handed as you will be solo, the flying gaff is going to be difficult to apply this way due to needing to maintain pressure on the rope to the shaft as you pull the hook and barb into the fish.  The harpoon can be easily and accurately driven with one hand.  Please don't think I don't like flying gaffs, they are the  hot ticket for many fish, especially large sharks when fishing from a boat- with another person to apply it.

There are different harpoons types available, the easiest operating harpoon that I have used, has a harpoon that looks like a super heavy duty needle as opposes to the traditional harpoon shape.  This harpoon goes thru the fish very, very easy no matter if you hit the fish good or bad.

Please raise your hand if you have caught a halibut from a kayak over 50 pounds. I know of three members that have.
The truth is both methods work but you have to be ready to use them. If you are using a harpoon you want the handle to be short and have something to hold the tip on when you go to use it. I have seen the tip slide off as a kayaker went to harpoon a halibut.
If you want to see a shark hook in action you tube "71 pound halibut"
Landing is not the hard part .... Hooking one is.

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

I have a Kage that I made last year (inspired from our brothers at NCKA) that I could easily convert to a harpoon. You've all given me a lot to think about - great insights, everyone!

Fred "True" Trujillo

I found one just like this last year at Mazamas right before I went to GS7 NCKA tournament. Very innexpensive. http://www.allinonemarinesports.com/product/danielson-bullet-halibut-harpoon-58834.htm

The ss tip is held in place by an O-ring so it doesn't just slip off. I tied on a short piece of para cord to a crab float that threads over and fits and holds perfectly over the end of the wooden part leaving the tip exposed. Once the harpoon punctures the Hali, the tip along with the float pulls off. I am yet to have an opportunity to use it, but at least I can say I'm prepared.

Erik

I haven't caught a 50 pounder from a kayak yet, BUT I can say a 70 pounder WAS landed from one of my outbacks...Thanks SPOT!!!!!  I hope to join the club soon!!

Where we fish its just so random on the size.  90% under 25 pounds but fish to 300 pounds have been caught in the area.  A picture was posted of a 100 pounder from a kayak but it doesn't describe how it was landed.  I do know people who fish huge baits (head from a 35 pound king or whole pcod) but they are the exception.  Though I do have all of my king heads saved up for this year!! I've done it before but I admit I get bored and switch to herring after about an hour of soaking and feeling the pecks but no monster.  Gotta put in more time!!

I really like the bat with a 90deg spike idea.  Club it, stab it, all in one stroke!  I wonder how that would work out?  They are very powerful fish.  One time we just about flipped a 18 ft boat when a rookie tied it off to the side of the boat instead of the stern.  Of course all of us idiots were standing on the same side of the boat admiring the fish...Fish gets hit with the harpoon, takes a dive and the boat was within a degree or two of vertical for about 3 seconds.  It wasn't even a very large fish.

Here's how I hold my harpoon.  Of course I learned the hard way as I just about lost a hand trying to boat a 50 pounder from a power boat.   On a boat we just cleat off the rope for "normal" fish.  On a kayak I plan on just letting everything go and maintainig connection through the rod and reel and let the buoy do its thing. 

I like that set up right there. can you show how the tip is set up a little closer?

I think the most important element is you need to be able to ditch your gear if the fish takes off. Once a halibut turns its head it can generate a ton of force ... The other option is to not allow the fish to get its head back underwater. This is tough to do with anything over 40 pounds but not impossible.

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.