Caught my first halibut

[Bruntoj]

Caught my first halibut ever, at Carlsbad lagoon, late Friday afternoon. Couldn't believe it when it was happening, ended up climbing on shore to land it and not screw things up.


Only got back into fishing recently, fishing light gear and plastics, and happy to be catching anything at all, normally spotties.


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[Sir g neville]

Nice catch! How big was that guy? Looks like he put up a good fight!

[Bruntoj]

28 inches. Didn't weigh it. Any guesses?

On a related note: 6 knotted garbage bag layers around the carcass is not enough to prevent an unholy trash can smell in a garage on day 4. Wife is not so happy. Next time I'll be doing a drive-by drop off somewhere.


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[tamddo714]

freeze carcass and then throw it out on trash day.

[Geno Machino]

Nice job! You catch that bad boy by the YMCA?

[Bruntoj]

Originally Posted by Geno Machino

Nice job! You catch that bad boy by the YMCA?

Yes, but halfway towards the freeway, middle of lagoon, not next to the YMCA where the float tube guys tend to congregate.

[DanaPT]

Originally Posted by Bruntoj

Yes, but halfway towards the freeway, middle of lagoon, not next to the YMCA where the float tube guys tend to congregate.

Now you know why. Congrats.

[hiramehunter]

Originally Posted by tamddo714

freeze carcass and then throw it out on trash day.

X2

that's what I do if you have the freezer space

[theluckypig]

[GregAndrew]

Originally Posted by tamddo714

freeze carcass and then throw it out on trash day.

X2, or better yet take it back to the water to feed the critters.

[CALIFORNIA_LOCO]

very nice! contrats

[Bruntoj]

Forgot to mention: this was on the smallest (1/4oz) warbaits slayer head and a small (3" I think) brownish striped Hammer swim bait. About 5' depth - I'd drifted diagonally away from the deep channel and was, I thought, in Spottie territory. Beginners luck I guess.



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[run23]

awesome! i've been fishing that channel in the mornings but i have a limited time frame and usually can't time the tides. i'm going to have to explore that lagoon a bit apparently i usually fish from around 9-noon on the days i can make it. maybe i'll see you out there one day.

[Vikingj]

Congrats! You will never forget that 1st one - especially when its that big!
I have never tried Carlsbad lagoon. What frwy offramp do I take? Is there a launch ramp? ..Parking or launching fee?..Hours of operation? Thanks, Wayne

[Methman]

Originally Posted by Vikingj

Congrats! You will never forget that 1st one - especially when its that big!
I have never tried Carlsbad lagoon. What frwy offramp do I take? Is there a launch ramp? ..Parking or launching fee?..Hours of operation? Thanks, Wayne

Wayne it is between Cannon and Tamarak off the I-5. You can launch off of Bayshore Drive. You supposedly need a permit for the city, but I've heard it isn't actively enforced.

I'll hopefully be practicing out there this weekend.

[pbb]

So you launch at the Bayshore "passive vessel" launch, and then skirt the powerboat/PWC areas and go to the middle lagoon?

That's my understanding of where the YMCA facility is, but I have never done more than look out the window while I drive by on the freeway.

I take it there is no public access to launch at the YMCA site? And it seems (from my limited research online) you could probably launch at CA Watersports, but you would need to buy from them or have the permit. Is that right? Do they charge fees beyond the permit?

Although I was looking out the window with considerably more interest when I drove by on Saturday.