LJ my first Big Butt - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

gary sullivan · 07-22-2007, 05:13 PM

Lately I've been feeling no love from the yellowtail so I put the mini bat in my arsenal before heading to the pier for bait. I could see the bait swimming under my yak but they weren't interested in the sabiki. Along comes Vito and within a few minutes he was loaded up and heading out. He was kind enough to leave me some special chum he cooked up and that did the trick for me as well. I passed off the remainder to a few others and headed out to halibut city. A couple hours passed and it was dreadfully boring to the point I almost nodded off while drifting a greenie on a 3 oz. egg sinker. I looked at my spool and saw my mono backing showing through the spectra so I knew a lot of line paid out without me being aware. Started reeling it in and felt resistance and figured I hooked into some kelp until it start pulling back. That brown carpet came to the surface without much of a fight but after reading Adi's do's and don'ts for handling a big halibut, I quickly went through the mental drill. I gaffed him in the gut and brought him alongside to thread the rope through his gills and out the mouth. Once tied off I hit him on the head again and again. It took a couple of dozen vicious whacks before I felt confident that I could safely bring him aboard. He weighed out at 32 1/2 pounds with almost 20 pounds of fillets which should last me quite awhile. Now I can take a breather until the bite turns on again. I appreciate the pictures taken by Habenero, Lamb and Nmbrinkman. Gary

Matt · 07-22-2007, 05:18 PM

A Damn fine fish sir!!!! Great job!!

nunyabizness1 · 07-22-2007, 05:18 PM

That's a beauty! Way to go!

esdees · 07-22-2007, 06:48 PM

Nice one Gary. You seem to have a knack for catching the only fish of the day.

Dan · 07-22-2007, 06:52 PM

Wow Gary. Their eatin' good at the Sullivan's house lately. Nice.

lamb · 07-22-2007, 07:26 PM

Stoked for ya’ Gary!

I put up another pic in your post for the front page.

Hit me up with your email address via PM and I’ll send you the originals.

Nice fish again! That’s the karma for signing up first for WCW, paying back big time.

Here’s the guitar jamming version:

I found her kids later on - legal 23 – 24”. After seeing your fish, I had no hearth to take ‘em.

tylerdurden · 07-22-2007, 07:28 PM

Congrats. That fish was well earned

.

jscott · 07-22-2007, 07:36 PM

Nice job Gary! My biggest one I have caught is 20#. I can't wait for a bigger one!

Iceman · 07-22-2007, 07:51 PM

Nice Beav! Gary, motivation to get up early before work manana.

nmbrinkman · 07-22-2007, 08:24 PM

Didn't recongnize you at first. I thought for a minute that Robert Duvall quit acting and took up kayak fishing...

amsurferoceanbeach · 07-22-2007, 08:57 PM

Great work Gary.
Very nice halibut

Paul

ski · 07-22-2007, 09:34 PM

Ohhh yea

Dennis · 07-22-2007, 09:58 PM

Nice flattie!

wavster · 07-22-2007, 10:07 PM

Nice work Gary!

dorado50 · 07-23-2007, 07:08 AM

I've always said to my boss' sleeping does pay off !

rastrev · 07-23-2007, 07:09 AM

Nice flattie! Way to go!

gary sullivan · 07-23-2007, 07:14 AM

Thank you all for your replies. It's nice to get out of bed this morning and see daylight for a change.

I now agree with soulwinner John, it's fun to catch fish but no fun cleaning them. Here is a website I bookmarked last year that shows a great way to fillet your halibut. http://www.tillamookbayboathouse.com/halibut.htm
Tight lines everyone. Gary

soulwinner · 07-23-2007, 09:21 AM

Outstanding catch gary way to go! I usually rig the bounce ball off the bow and carolina rig way behind. The bounce ball tangles alot so it keeps you busy never boring just annoying. I made my own bounce rigs with coated wire with snaps at every connection for easy untangling. when using live macks on the bounce rig I recommend cutting the tail off and stunning the bait this will cut down on some off the tangles. I find most fish easy to fillet its when you try to steak them ie yt or wsb if you dont hit the soft spots between the spinal column you have to break out the sawsall to get thru the bone. Regarless the clean up sucks thats why I usally give my fish to my family or friends they love it. Big flatties are rare and require alot off time Hunting for them most people dont have the patience, I would rather catch one big flattie than multiple yt accept for yellows on the surface iron now thats hard to beat

congrats.

h2ofishfo · 07-23-2007, 07:07 PM

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet job nic feeesh

ratdog · 07-23-2007, 08:58 AM

I'm very envious, nice halibut.

07-22-2007, 05:13 PM	#1
gary sullivan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spring valley Posts: 192	LJ my first Big Butt Lately I've been feeling no love from the yellowtail so I put the mini bat in my arsenal before heading to the pier for bait. I could see the bait swimming under my yak but they weren't interested in the sabiki. Along comes Vito and within a few minutes he was loaded up and heading out. He was kind enough to leave me some special chum he cooked up and that did the trick for me as well. I passed off the remainder to a few others and headed out to halibut city. A couple hours passed and it was dreadfully boring to the point I almost nodded off while drifting a greenie on a 3 oz. egg sinker. I looked at my spool and saw my mono backing showing through the spectra so I knew a lot of line paid out without me being aware. Started reeling it in and felt resistance and figured I hooked into some kelp until it start pulling back. That brown carpet came to the surface without much of a fight but after reading Adi's do's and don'ts for handling a big halibut, I quickly went through the mental drill. I gaffed him in the gut and brought him alongside to thread the rope through his gills and out the mouth. Once tied off I hit him on the head again and again. It took a couple of dozen vicious whacks before I felt confident that I could safely bring him aboard. He weighed out at 32 1/2 pounds with almost 20 pounds of fillets which should last me quite awhile. Now I can take a breather until the bite turns on again. I appreciate the pictures taken by Habenero, Lamb and Nmbrinkman. Gary

07-22-2007, 07:26 PM	#6
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,563	Stoked for ya’ Gary! I put up another pic in your post for the front page. Hit me up with your email address via PM and I’ll send you the originals. Nice fish again! That’s the karma for signing up first for WCW, paying back big time. Here’s the guitar jamming version: I found her kids later on - legal 23 – 24”. After seeing your fish, I had no hearth to take ‘em. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a Last edited by lamb; 07-23-2007 at 07:12 AM.

07-22-2007, 07:28 PM	#7
tylerdurden Bad Clone Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 874	Congrats. That fish was well earned . __________________ MLPA, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem Let the Fish and Game Commission know what you think about the proposed maps. Be ready for December 9th and 10th.

07-22-2007, 07:51 PM	#9
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	Nice Beav! Gary, motivation to get up early before work manana. __________________

07-22-2007, 08:57 PM	#11
amsurferoceanbeach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ocean Beach San Diego Ca Posts: 110	Nice Great work Gary. Very nice halibut Paul

07-22-2007, 05:18 PM	#2
Matt Support your local pangas Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lj Posts: 976	A Damn fine fish sir!!!! Great job!!

07-22-2007, 05:18 PM	#3
nunyabizness1 Maggie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nunya Posts: 126	That's a beauty! Way to go!

07-22-2007, 06:48 PM	#4
esdees The Good Clone Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clairemont Posts: 520	Nice one Gary. You seem to have a knack for catching the only fish of the day.

07-22-2007, 06:52 PM	#5
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	Wow Gary. Their eatin' good at the Sullivan's house lately. Nice.

07-22-2007, 07:36 PM	#8
jscott Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 138	Nice job Gary! My biggest one I have caught is 20#. I can't wait for a bigger one!

07-22-2007, 08:24 PM	#10
nmbrinkman Work Sucks! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 559	Didn't recongnize you at first. I thought for a minute that Robert Duvall quit acting and took up kayak fishing...

07-22-2007, 09:34 PM	#12
ski Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: El Cajon Posts: 273	Ohhh yea

07-22-2007, 09:58 PM	#13
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South of La Jolla... Posts: 1,193	Nice flattie! __________________ Hmmmm.....

07-22-2007, 10:07 PM	#14
wavster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Encinitas Posts: 562	Nice work Gary!

07-23-2007, 07:08 AM	#15
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	I've always said to my boss' sleeping does pay off !

07-23-2007, 07:09 AM	#16
rastrev Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SD, CA Posts: 173	Nice flattie! Way to go!

07-23-2007, 07:14 AM	#17
gary sullivan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spring valley Posts: 192	Thank you all for your replies. It's nice to get out of bed this morning and see daylight for a change. I now agree with soulwinner John, it's fun to catch fish but no fun cleaning them. Here is a website I bookmarked last year that shows a great way to fillet your halibut. http://www.tillamookbayboathouse.com/halibut.htm Tight lines everyone. Gary

07-23-2007, 09:21 AM	#18
soulwinner Junior Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5	Outstanding catch gary way to go! I usually rig the bounce ball off the bow and carolina rig way behind. The bounce ball tangles alot so it keeps you busy never boring just annoying. I made my own bounce rigs with coated wire with snaps at every connection for easy untangling. when using live macks on the bounce rig I recommend cutting the tail off and stunning the bait this will cut down on some off the tangles. I find most fish easy to fillet its when you try to steak them ie yt or wsb if you dont hit the soft spots between the spinal column you have to break out the sawsall to get thru the bone. Regarless the clean up sucks thats why I usally give my fish to my family or friends they love it. Big flatties are rare and require alot off time Hunting for them most people dont have the patience, I would rather catch one big flattie than multiple yt accept for yellows on the surface iron now thats hard to beat congrats.

07-23-2007, 07:07 PM	#19
h2ofishfo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santee Posts: 821	sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet job nic feeesh

07-23-2007, 08:58 AM	#20
ratdog Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 424	I'm very envious, nice halibut.