Halibut landing

There was a thread not too long ago about safely landing big butts. Did anyone mention bang sticks? I've never caught one, but it seems like a .357 mag bag stick with a frangible round between the eyes would put a quick stop to whatever dangerous fight they had left. I went through the regs and didn't see it anywhere. Anyone know the legalities on this in WA?

There is nothing safe about a rocking boat/kayak and firearms of any type.  Just my opinion of course.  But I always cringe when out at the chicken ranch or rock pile and I hear a gunshot.  A bang stick would be safer than a gun but it's still a firearm of sorts.

Oh I dunno, I think a firearm is a good thing to carry around.  Gotta be ready for crazies like we read about in the Texas story a few months back, oh and tweekers, not to mention people like this:

Grant County man faces attempted-murder
charge after shooting at Fish and Wildlife police

EPHRATA - An 18-year-old Mattawa man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, after shooting at a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) police captain Saturday in Grant County.

The man is being held in Grant County Jail on $1 million bail, along with his 60-year-old father, who drew a knife on another WDFW police officer. The father has been charged with second-degree assault, and is being held on $100,000 bail. The men, who made a preliminary appearance today in Grant County Superior Court, are to be formally arraigned next Monday. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has also placed holds on both men.

The two were arrested Saturday evening, following a vehicle pursuit by WDFW and the State Patrol on State Route 28 near Ephrata.

The incident began about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, when WDFW Officer Chad McGary was checking anglers at Crab Creek, a popular fishing area near Beverly in Grant County. McGary contacted the 18 year old, who had been fishing but did not possess a fishing license. As McGary was escorting the suspect back to his vehicle, to confirm whether he had purchased a license, the man drew a gun and pointed it at the officer. The man’s father also approached the officer, brandishing a knife.

The young man then escaped to a car and was pursued by WDFW Capt. Chris Anderson. During the pursuit, the suspect turned his vehicle around and drove toward Anderson’s marked police vehicle, firing shots and penetrating the driver’s side door with one round. Anderson returned fire after the suspect attempted to shoot at him a second time.

After a pursuit of several miles, the suspect was apprehended after his car stalled on State Route 28 near Ephrata.

The young man was booked into Grant County Jail for alleged attempted murder in the first degree. The suspect’s father was booked for alleged assault and for an outstanding felony warrant on an unrelated charge.

The incident is being investigated by the Columbia Basin Investigative Team, a regional law-enforcement consortium. Investigations are routinely conducted following police use of force involving firearms.

WDFW police are general-authority law enforcement officers who provide a range of police services focused on natural-resource protection and public safety.

I'm not sure of if it's legal or not, I would just like to add on to what's already been said by surfanor. There are plenty of guys that land halibut upwards of 60 lbs. down off the coast of San Diego and they do just fine without any kind of fire arms.  Yes, they are calibuts, but they are just as crazy.  All people use down there is a gaff, nothing else.  I don't have tons of experience to speak from in this subject, but from the little bit I do have and what I've researched, it's all about taking your time, paying attention to what you're doing and having a good, smooth drag.  Now if you happen to hook into a serious barn door and you're actually able to get it to your kayak... well, that's a predicament I'd consider myself very lucky to be in and I'll let you guys know what I do if it ever happens.   



(Probably just make like Howard and find a way to head for shore to deal with it there!  )

Spray bottle with Everclear, Vodka, or Rum, apply generously to the gills = drunk and lazy halibut. 

But what if it's an ANGRY drunk?!!!

Spray bottle with Everclear, Vodka, or Rum, apply generously to the gills = drunk and lazy halibut. 

Yep heard of many guys doing that.  My thoughts would be gaff, club, rope, and bleed.  If you hit them in the secret spot even the nastiest will quiver and stop.  Tow it in depending on size.  I wouldn't try to put one in the boat that was big enough to keep personaly.  The odds of grabbing a barn door this far in shore are astronomical.  Probably more likely to have a Landlord come knocking just to check you out.

dont have OR or WA regs handy.. anyone ever use a Kage' up here??

Spray bottle with Everclear, Vodka, or Rum, apply generously to the gills = drunk and lazy halibut. 

This way you have a backup plan handy if the fishing sucks.

dont have OR or WA regs handy.. anyone ever use a Kage' up here??

Regulation wise I don't know that there would be a difference between a kage and a gaff.  If you can legally gaff it I'd guess you can legally stab it.  I've not seen anyone use a kage up here nor have I heard of its use.  There are some nice ones made and described by folks on AquaHunters.  I saw one which used a sharpened bolt which provided some grip.

 The way that I plan on doing it is the same as on the boat. Get it close enough to gaff, gaff in the head, take a small club and give the butt a whack just behind the eyes, push a rope through the mouth and out the gills (a use para cord attached to a long zip tie as its easier to push through and a loop on the other end), bring the zip tie through the loop and tie the rope off to a cleat, while the butt is still calm (hopefully) reach down and cut the gills with a shears, not a knife, so it will bleed out. Once you're fairly certain that things have calmed down, grab the caudal peduncle (right in front of the tail) and take the zip tie end of the rope and wrap it around the tail bending the fish into a "C" shape, and tie off. Now you can get it aboard without having to worry about it coming back to life flopping around and causing problems. Really big ones get tied off and towed as soon as the gills are cut. 

The way that I plan on doing it is the same as on the boat. Get it close enough to gaff, gaff in the head, take a small club and give the butt a whack just behind the eyes, push a rope through the mouth and out the gills (a use para cord attached to a long zip tie as its easier to push through and a loop on the other end), bring the zip tie through the loop and tie the rope off to a cleat, while the butt is still calm (hopefully) reach down and cut the gills with a shears, not a knife, so it will bleed out. Once you're fairly certain that things have calmed down, grab the caudal peduncle (right in front of the tail) and take the zip tie end of the rope and wrap it around the tail bending the fish into a "C" shape, and tie off. Now you can get it aboard without having to worry about it coming back to life flopping around and causing problems. Really big ones get tied off and towed as soon as the gills are cut. 

Sounds like a perfect plan of attack to me! 

Definitely go with the gaff. Like YK said almost everyone uses gaffs with great results. A glying gaff really seems like the best way to go. If they weren't so spendy I think we'd all be using them. A gun or a bang stick on a tippy bouncing kayak seems like a great way to blow/shoot your foot off and/or drop destroy your gun.

Z

For me, the idea of wrestling with a big angry halibut is what makes targeting this fish seem so exciting.

It is a BATTLE!   

For me, the idea of wrestling with a big angry halibut is what makes targeting this fish seem so exciting.

No doubt. WaterWolfQCI's video is shortened but I think it's a pretty good example of how once the 'butt gets to the surface you realize only half the battle is done.

Z