A question I should have asked yesterday

[Cbad Mike]

Today I finally hooked a nice halibut. 1st good on from my kayak! It freaked out when it saw the net so since I knew that I wanted to keep it I used my gaff and pulled it onto the kayak. The hook came out when I got it on deck. I quickly snapped a photo of dinner and then realized that I needed to kill it. During the FOURTH stab in through the head it freaked out, tried to bite me, and then jumped back in the water and swam away.
I feel like a f#cking idiot!! I've landed plenty of fish in boats and on docks where the fish had no where to go but am new to kayak fishing.
So the question that I should have asked yesterday before I caught it is what is the best way to kill a halibut quickly so it doesn't bite my junk or worse yet, jump back in the water like today? Just to plan ahead this time, maybe I can add the same question for other types of fish too?
Thanks,
Mike

[xpresso2am]

Club it!, game clip it...

[blitzburgh]

Two words;

Game Clip .

It's OK man, stuff happens. Get yourself a game clip and some rope and watch videos posted by Greg Andrew.

[RK]

1. As fish approaches at color
REDUCE DRAG and KEEP ITS HEAD UNDERWATER.
2. with head underwater GAFF IN THE BELLY ZONE this will paralyze the fish.
3. keep a cool head and do not lift fish out yet, run secured game clip through gills and mouth.
4.slide hali across deck of kayak and place opposite leg over tail end of fish while applying pressure to game clipped end.
5. TAKE OUT BAT AND DESTROY HEAD..................
(should only take about 200 shots)

Discalimer:
This is only for the big specimens but after that you shouldnt really have much of a problem.

[addicted2sp33d]

Maybe this is a noob question, but why do people pull the gills on WSB and YT, but not Halibut?

Seems like gill-pulling would be effective for all fish species.

[RK]

GILL, GUT, ICE
for 24 hours or more ensures the highest level of quality with the final product....

[ful-rac]

Right....Halibut needs to be secured after gaffing, before anything...clubbing or otherwise..(pics)...invest in a good game clip! I think they run about 20 bucks or so. Make sure to gaff in the belly! And to secure it before taking the gaff out or else! Better luck next time!

[paintnfish]

Gaff, game clip, pop a gill, let it bleed and your good to go

[mtnbykr2]

Originally Posted by addicted2sp33d

Maybe this is a noob question, but why do people pull the gills on WSB and YT, but not Halibut?

Seems like gill-pulling would be effective for all fish species.

TO BLEED

[dos ballenas]

at least the crabs got dinner

Thanks for posting.... as embarrassing as it can be, we have all made the same mistake! As long as you learn from it who cares!

[sixgunn]

Originally Posted by addicted2sp33d

Maybe this is a noob question, but why do people pull the gills on WSB and YT, but not Halibut?

Seems like gill-pulling would be effective for all fish species.

gill pulling is to bleed them out, but the reason you want to bleed them is as a fish dies, it releases chemicals back into the blood stream. bleed it, no chemicals, better meat.
Some gill rakes can hurt, I always use a pair of dikes to cut them.

[GregAndrew]

Mostly it is lactic acid that builds up during the fight that you are trying to get rid of by bleeding.

[MrM]

Originally Posted by Cbad Mike

what is the best way to kill a halibut quickly so it doesn't bite my junk or worse yet, jump back in the water like today?

Being new to the whole "kayak fishing" thing, this made me laugh hysterically! I'm glad nothing truly important went back in the water with that fish...

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by Cbad Mike

Today I finally hooked a nice halibut. 1st good on from my kayak! It freaked out when it saw the net so since I knew that I wanted to keep it I used my gaff and pulled it onto the kayak. The hook came out when I got it on deck. I quickly snapped a photo of dinner and then realized that I needed to kill it. During the FOURTH stab in through the head it freaked out, tried to bite me, and then jumped back in the water and swam away.
I feel like a f#cking idiot!! I've landed plenty of fish in boats and on docks where the fish had no where to go but am new to kayak fishing.
So the question that I should have asked yesterday before I caught it is what is the best way to kill a halibut quickly so it doesn't bite my junk or worse yet, jump back in the water like today? Just to plan ahead this time, maybe I can add the same question for other types of fish too?
Thanks,
Mike

This is the exact reason I carry a net. What I do is net the fish, then you have it stuck where it can't just jump out. Then I grab the game clip and get that secured all while the fish is still in the net, now you have a handle on the fish. Make sure your clip has a rope secured to the Kayak so you don't lose grip, and keep the net under the fish by pinning the handle of the net under you leg. Once the beast is secured on the clip and the net under, I take a sharp knife and cut the throat and let it bleed. I've had great success with this. Sorry to hear of you loss, but congrats on the great catch.