Whiskey Gulch Tournament warm up - video

Ok.  Probably more like culling the smaller ones out.  managed two 20 pounders.  Both caught in 35ft of water on herring. 

Tried to use my bigger boat net.  FAIL.  If I posted the video unedited, the title would be "Mistakes to avoid when netting halibut."...well it should still be titled that!  A lot of it was me just being lazy and unfamiliar with the gear.  Using a mega sized deep bagged net mesh is out.  That was a nightmare.  I still can't get the spreader bar and weight out of the net! 

Well I suppose that's why you try new things before the gathering! Not my best video effort but another limit from a kayak documented!

            Damn Rudy,
   That was painful to watch cause I know better.
   Nice butts though......
   Keep 'em coming.

Ain't nothing wrong with watching butts wiggle around.......

Now you know why I don't like to net butts.

Question ... why do you use a spreader bar, especially given that you're fishing only 35 feet of water?

-Allen

Now you know why I don't like to net butts.

Question ... why do you use a spreader bar, especially given that you're fishing only 35 feet of water?

-Allen

First time ever using them. I was having issues with tangled lines. Not sure if it's the bar or thicker leader but it seemed to help.

Not sure if it's the bar or thicker leader but it seemed to help.

Compared to what?  And are you slow trolling or just drifting?  I've been really thinking (probably overthinking) about my butt game lately.

-Allen

Why not just use a gaff or shark hook? Or just lift the little ones into to boat?

Both. I slow troll, I power mooch, and I drift. It's the starting and stopping that tangles lines. I found 24oz and spreader keeps me within 5 ft of bottom at 40ft trolling 1,5knts. So I'm going with that instead of a downrigger.

I was using just a trolling weight and 50lbs leader instead of 200lbs leader.

Why not just use a gaff or shark hook? Or just lift the little ones into to boat?

Yup. I agree now. These 20 to 30 pounders seem in between. I wouldn't lift a 20 pound king into the boat. Too valuable. Maybe given the 200lbs leader that'd be ok. I was using a rubber mesh salmon net and I didn't get tangles. But I'm more confident with a net. But obviously that's not going to work for anything over 40 pounds.   

This area is 97% under 35 pounds. But I'm always hoping I'll hook the big one.

40 pounds and up I like the shark hook with rope. Allows them to get their spunk out before you bring them on board. Under 30, if they are hooked well, l like to just slide them into the boat. 30-40 ... Kinda have to decide how you feel about the fish and how much chance you are willing to take. The shark hook is pretty good for reliability.

Did anyone else notice the lack of $#!+ scattered in his yak?  Nice cleanup job Rudy. 

One thing that might help get stuff out of the way while boating your but is the sail mount ram ball for your FF.  works great for me in the outback.  Allows you to pull the fish right up next to your preferred hand and into the boat.  But out there you don't really even need a FF.  just put something stinky on a hook and drop it.

My setup....12-16 ounce banana (the only bananas ever allowed in a boat) with 2-4 ft leader and hooks.  Tangles can be drastically reduced by slowly controlling your drop by thumbing your spool.

I'll show you some more of my but handling tricks on the beach....you can't share them all on the Internet

Did anyone else notice the lack of $#!+ scattered in his yak?  Nice cleanup job Rudy. 

One thing that might help get stuff out of the way while boating your but is the sail mount ram ball for your FF.  works great for me in the outback.  Allows you to pull the fish right up next to your preferred hand and into the boat.  But out there you don't really even need a FF.  just put something stinky on a hook and drop it.

My setup....12-16 ounce banana (the only bananas ever allowed in a boat) with 2-4 ft leader and hooks.  Tangles can be drastically reduced by slowly controlling your drop by thumbing your spool.

I'll show you some more of my but handling tricks on the beach....you can't share them all on the Internet

Lol.  All really good points.  I usually net my fish on the other side which I keep open for that purpose.  The issue is a shark hook, gaff, or harpoon will likely need the fish on the other side.  I think under 20lbs, I am just going to lift them in.  30 to 40 lbs I have boca grips or a small hand gaff.  Over 40 lbs, I may just 'poon them. 

Butt handling tricks?  Really?  I've always used brute force.  Haha.  Good thing I have never caught anything over 80lbs even from a powerboat.  Hope to change that here real soon!

Boga grips are a great landing tool. Make sure you have a wrist strap or a length of rope with a gill net float at the end. A feisty fish will pull the grip out of your hand. FWI ... The 30 pound boga will only fit over the jaw of a fish 60-80 pounds max.

Great video, super jealous of all of you who have a chance to fish halibut more then two weeks.

So back to the terminal tackle ... what are you rigging for bait?  And how?

Pacbutts are not tackle shy ... a banana weight, and a short trace of heavy leader like Kenai_guy stated seems sufficient.  I've seen so many different bait riggings on charter boats for bait fishing for Pacbutts, and other than spreader bars for deep water fishing, all the others involved just heavy short leaders.  In fact even for deep water, more often than not they didn't use spreader bars and just used heavy traces.  I've seen hi/lo dropper loop rigs made out of 400# test.  I've seen heavy sinkers sliding on inline paracord with a 1-2' heavy leader.  I've seen straight paracord from the sinker to the hook.  Or just a heavy leader and a big ol' jighead with a bait pinned on it.  All worked with minimal tangling (as in I don't remember getting tangled!).

-Allen