Shark hook method?

Shark hook method? Can someone explain that to a guy that has never landed a big fish on a kayak as I'm sure hauling one on board with a gaff , at least on a kayak don't seam like a good idea. And for the experienced kayakers how does one rig the hook. In laymans terms please I'm an ex garbage man not a professor. 

Only needed for halibut. 

Fish bonker with a large stainless steel hook attached to it.  Short length of cord attached to buoy.

Definitely going to try that method.  I was afraid the hook wouldn't penetrate.  We will see...I hope!

Lee that's a big fish. So non butts net um and knok um?

I pretty much just use the plastic lip gripper for all my big fish. 
Occasionally a little wood shampoo is needed, so the bonker is on hand.
I have only gaffed a few fish and a octopus, and don't usually take it with me much on the water anymore.

A lip gripper and a bonker is about all you'll need for most of the fish we get offshore. 
Salmon however would be better handled with a net though.

Here is my use of a shark hook on a smaller fish that I did need the buoy for. The rope allows you to hang onto a fish while it tires at the side of the boat.

I carry a straight gaff (aka Hawaiian spear gaff). I haven't had to use it yet but check it out (Google).

nets are more a pain in the butt than a help.  I've played around with several ideas, and my current setup seems to work the best for me with buts.

All I carry is pliers (hook removal), lip grippers (pulling in the little ones & handling once on board), and a modified harpoon (for securing those greater than about 25 lbs).

Now many of you say...."geez, why do you harpoon the little ones?".  My answer:  So I know what the #3!! I'm doing once I do get that fish over 50 lbs and actually need the harpoon.  That's what works for me.

Now many of you say...."geez, why do you harpoon the little ones?".  My answer:  So I know what the #3!! I'm doing once I do get that fish over 50 lbs and actually need the harpoon.  That's what works for me.

Good point!

What are people wrapping the cord to the hook with? Is that electrical tape or shrink tubing?

Fred "True" Trujillo

I used electrical tape because I didn't have any shrink tubing laying around. I also ran a piece of stiff metal up the center of the splice to give it a little more length.

Yeah, I'm looking at some type of handle that's a little thicker than just the shank of the hook to hold on to. I may need to work a dowel in there or something...

Fred "True" Trujillo

Most guys add a short fish bonker 12" or so to the hook

Most guys add a short fish bonker 12" or so to the hook

I have a ~12" handle, made from the end of a broken shovel handle, on mine.  I haven't used it yet and am considering shortening it.  I'm concerned with what will happen when I put a 12" billy club the mouth of a really big, really pissed off fish.  I'd imagine it could do a bit of damage to me or my yak.

-Spot- 

Personally I don't think the wood handle is necessary. Most halibut I've caught are pretty chill at the surface until you stick them.

Has anyone ever lost a fish once they had it gaffed with a shark hook??  I lose fish with big hooks all the time...when its attached to my line.  Is the shark hook pretty much a sure thing once you have it in the halibut?

I'm really terrified about what a 50 pound halibut could do while I was attached to it in anyways.  As is, I have already dropped my boca grips a few times (thankfully I have small buoys attached to it)  when I had a 25 pound fish secured with it and it started thrashing. 

After my harpoon bounced off the spine of a decent halibut, but apparently stunned it to the point where it was completely dormant, I am reconsidering something like a small .22 but firearms, me, and a kayak doesn't sound like a good mix!