Landing Halibut

I know we address this with some frequency come this season. Bill says "grab jig, pull in lap", other say stick with harpoon, and other create the shark hook flying gaff. I want to know... Why not just sharpen up a bathroom with your grinder and whack that sucker like a bail of hay?  You could tie whatever you wanted to the handle... A buoy... your kayak... Hook it to yourself... Your buddy... Thoughts?

this is a pretty sharp looking bathroom. i'm not sure how you could take it on the water though. also i'm doing what i can to hold on to this glorious sombrero.

My bathroom isn't very portable,  even the one in the camper is too big for the Kayak.  Besides,  I don't think the fish would take the invite,  they just poop in the ocean.

A bathroom? kinda hard to take something like that on a kayak. Not sure how you would sharpen it either.

My loofah sponge is too rough on there scales

Lol!!!! Autocorrect strikes again! hay hook.

Lol!!!! Autocorrect strikes again! hay hook.

Don't feel bad I am a repeated victim of my stupid smart phones auto correct. But there almost always freakin hilarious.

Hay hook is a bad idea because there is no barb.

I made a harpoon then found out they weren't legal in CA so I use a shark hook with a float.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=44546.0

I made a harpoon then found out they weren't legal in CA so I use a shark hook with a float.

Don't get rid of that harpoon yet, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by recent reg changes.

http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2015/28_20fregs.pdf

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pacifichalibut.asp

The only absolute is DO NOT use a fixed handle gaff.

I made a harpoon then found out they weren't legal in CA so I use a shark hook with a float.

Don't get rid of that harpoon yet, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by recent reg changes.

http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2015/28_20fregs.pdf

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pacifichalibut.asp

Good to know. Leaving CA in a few weeks though never to return and hopefully my harpoon will see some action in the pacific northwest

The only absolute is DO NOT use a fixed handle gaff.

If I read the regs correctly, gaffs can be used on Halibut.
"A gaff may only be used to land a
legally hooked HALIBUT, TUNA, or DOGFISH
SHARK that will be retained."

-Mark-

The only absolute is DO NOT use a fixed handle gaff.

If I read the regs correctly, gaffs can be used on Halibut.
"A gaff may only be used to land a
legally hooked HALIBUT, TUNA, or DOGFISH
SHARK that will be retained."

-Mark-

I didn't say it was illegal. 
Just a bad idea. When the fish starts to thrash at the side of the boat it is very difficult to hang onto a solid gaff. They work on boats because you just gaff the fish and heave it into the boat. On a kayak you need to wait till it stops going crazy to be able to do anything with it.
I have watched a medium sized halibut ~45 pounds rip the gaff handle from the fisherman's hand and continue thrashing on the surface with the gaff handle swinging wildly.

I highly recommend a flexible connection between you and the halibut and not one that is secured to your kayak.

What about a port-a-potty? Far more manageable than a full size.


Sorry, joined late and that was definitely autocorrect for the win there!!