Halibut harpoon technique

Pete,  those cylindrical jobs are heavy duty to hold up to boats and docks beating on each other.  They also weigh a lot more.  They would definitely work though.

Here's the rig I got. Pretty simple spring mechanism.

Seems to me that a possible disadvantage of the Tarpon Gaff idea, which is a barbless hook with a toggle which is supposed to hold the fish on the hook, is that if you hook the fish too far back, the toggle won't be able to swing over to lock the fish onto the hook, and because the hook doesn't have a barb, unless you keep steady tension on the line, the fish can slip off the hook.

Seems to me that a possible disadvantage of the Tarpon Gaff idea, which is a barbless hook with a toggle which is supposed to hold the fish on the hook, is that if you hook the fish too far back, the toggle won't be able to swing over to lock the fish onto the hook, and because the hook doesn't have a barb, unless you keep steady tension on the line, the fish can slip off the hook.

Of course that is solvable with a bigger hook, no?

-Allen

Most harpoon or shark hook setups I've seen pictures of use Polyform A Series buoys, which are round buoys with an eye.  It seems to me that the Polyform buoys and fenders which are basically cylindrical have the advantage that it would be easier to stow them securely in a kayak.  You could put a bungie cord over the buoy to secure it to your kayak, and then just pull it out from under the bungie if you hook onto a halibut.  More cylindrical options are the G Series fenders and LD Series buoy.  Here are comparisons of the volume of these buoys and fenders:

A-0 - 1.6 gallons
A-1 - 3.0 gallons
G-3 - 1.4 gallons
G-4 - 2.2 gallons
LD1 - 3.0 gallons

Pictures and statistics for Polyform buoys and fenders are available at https://www.polyformus.com/ .  The G Series fenders have an eye at each end, so you could attach the fender to your harpoon tip with a "Y" shaped harness so the halibut would pull the fender through the water sideways, which would tire it down faster.

Never had a problem just throwing a round A* buoy in the tankwell, so not sure what problem this is solving.

Also, I'd think that the drag from the shape of the buoy is nothing compared to the force of the flotation offered by the buoy itself.

-Allen

Seems to me that a possible disadvantage of the Tarpon Gaff idea, which is a barbless hook with a toggle which is supposed to hold the fish on the hook, is that if you hook the fish too far back, the toggle won't be able to swing over to lock the fish onto the hook, and because the hook doesn't have a barb, unless you keep steady tension on the line, the fish can slip off the hook.

Of course that is solvable with a bigger hook, no?

-Allen

I believe someone said lip hook with the locking one so not sure it could go that far back to not lock.

Seems to me that a possible disadvantage of the Tarpon Gaff idea, which is a barbless hook with a toggle which is supposed to hold the fish on the hook, is that if you hook the fish too far back, the toggle won't be able to swing over to lock the fish onto the hook, and because the hook doesn't have a barb, unless you keep steady tension on the line, the fish can slip off the hook.

Worked like a charm last time. Must do more research. Pretty satisfying hearing it snap shut.

Seems to me that a possible disadvantage of the Tarpon Gaff idea, which is a barbless hook with a toggle which is supposed to hold the fish on the hook, is that if you hook the fish too far back, the toggle won't be able to swing over to lock the fish onto the hook, and because the hook doesn't have a barb, unless you keep steady tension on the line, the fish can slip off the hook.

Of course that is solvable with a bigger hook, no?

-Allen

I believe someone said lip hook with the locking one so not sure it could go that far back to not lock.

Have you ever tried to lip gaff a butt?  Trying to hit a 2 inch spot at a particular angle to hit the lip is difficult.  Trying to do that when the butts mouth is shut is impossible.  Aiming for a 10 inch spot, is much easier.  Personally I aim for the belly.  I believe it has a more calming effect on a butt too.

-Allen

Ok.  So just for illustrative purposes.  I compiled a series of 7 halibut getting harpooned.  I chose not to include the screw ups as it would only serve to embarrass myself.  Having said that, every single "screw up" had to do with me not properly securing the tip.  Whether it be rubber band,, duct tape, or just plain holding it, as long as you take care of that one issue, I got to believe the harpoon allow for striking at a much farther range.  I will agree with Bill's point that they are fairly docile and you do have a pretty good shot at getting them close to you.  But I just gotta believe driving the harpoon frankly just about anywhere on a 6 ft halibut has to be easier than trying to sink a gaff in.  But once again the disclaimer is I have never, despite trying, successfully deployed a shark hook.

So a few comments on this series.  The first one, I have no idea what I was thinking,  Had that been a big fish and immediately taken off, having the buoy in the kayak would have problems.  it was the first halibut I harpooned off the kayak so noob mistake.

Fish number two is the only screw up shown.  But I guess since I got the fish and on that "one chance" its not a screw up.  I hit the spine dead on.  The tip just bounces off.  But as you can see the halibut didn't even twitch after that.  So I call it a win for the harpoon.  That's NOT going to happen with a shark hook...lol.

The last one is my 105 pounder...I did screw up on that one once.

Sorry about the audio.  It's a mish mash of tapes from the 2014 season I just slapped together.  I think these are most of the fish I harpooned. 

I will agree with Bill's point that they are fairly docile and you do have a pretty good shot at getting them close to you.

 ... as  long as you don't pull their head out of the water.

And, as long as you don't screw up.  The slightest tap can (although not always) send a butt into a ballistic rage, all though some times they'll just go into a head shaking fury.  So if you're going to reach out and touch them, best to make sure it hits home and you don't screw up.  Duh!

-Allen

Very impressive harpooning video, Rudy!  How big of a halibut or other fish does it take to pull a Polyform A-1 buoy underwater, and how frequently does an A-1 buoy get pulled underwater?  How about with an A-0 buoy?

Hmmmmmm? 

Maybe it's time to think about crossbows now.   

Maybe it's time to think about crossbows now.

If you want to go mechanical, how about a short speargun such as the JBL Speargun Mini (16") or JBL Mini Carbine (22.5"), which are quite reasonably priced? Or more expensive short pneumatic spearguns such as the Cressi Star (16") or Mares Sten (41mm)?  At point blank range, they would do the job.  These short spearguns come with flopper type barbs on their spears, which would mean that the spear would stay in the fish, and might get bent by a large fish as it fought the buoy.  I've bent spears in large pike, particularly if you shoot one at right angles behind the head and it starts thrashing in the weeds.  That's a 43" 24 pound pike shown below, which is way smaller than a medium sized halibut.  To avoid bending the spear, it would probably be desirable to replace the spear in a short speargun with a custom spear with a slip tip, which would increase the price of the outfit.  And even a spear with a slip tip would stay in a fish until the fish hit the end of the spear's tether, rather than being withdrawn immediately like a harpoon.  I'd stay away from somebody who was waving a loaded speargun in one hand while fighting a large fish with the other hand.  And you'd need to devise a safe way to store a loaded speargun on your kayak.

I'd stay away from somebody who was waving a loaded speargun in one hand while fighting a large fish with the other hand.  And you'd need to devise a safe way to store a loaded speargun on your kayak.

+1.  Exactly why I ruled out a speargun as an option for me.  Also why I'm even hesitant to bring it up, lest it plant a seed in some crazy guy's head.

-Allen

Spearguns, crossbows, a Jedi craves not these things.

Who's gonna suggest shooting it?  Come on, you know you're out there.  Post your nonsense.