Semi-Controlled Chaos

[GregAndrew]

Originally Posted by taggermike

I'm with Billy V on this. Completely cool in a clutch situation. One of the old school skippers I respect most, Capt. Ron Baker, told me you always want to gaff the halis, especially the big ones, right in the gut. Even though its not the spine it acts to paralyze them and they almost always gape their mouth wide open. Just like in the video. Mike

I preach this all the time, but with large right eyed Halibut, you can have a pretty good reach going on when you are trying to be exact. I prefer to gaff with my dominant hand, so I bring up my fish on my right side. Unless you can get the fish to the surface up-side-down you will have to reach across it to hit the belly. If conditions work out that you can bring the fish up the side from behind you (or better yet from in front of you), your reach will be less than if it comes in broadside. Add to the reach that you want to get the gaff in before the fish bumps your yak and takes off again. Luckily, most of the big ones come up vertical and you just have to wait till the belly side is in position. Then add to all of that the fact that you are sticking the fish from the bottom/far side with the fish at different angles just about every time. All that being said, I should have waited for a better angle (rule #1).

Greg Macker, make sure you have the video running when you pull even a 15# Butt on to your yak by the gills. Just remember to put anything breakable away and have your swimming trunks on before attempting it.