Semi-Controlled Chaos

[GregAndrew]

Originally Posted by AirborneYak

Congrats! That's a huge butt!! The under water footage was really cool. How did you hook up the camera to fo have your bait in focus?

Fishing line attached to quick release attached to end of fin of downrigger ball. Camera attached to side of fin on downrigger ball and pointed back. A stiff cross current can swing the bait to one side of the screen though.

Originally Posted by Vikingj

Awesome catch! Enjoyed the tutorial along with the video. Thanks for posting.
Wayne

Not a tutorial, just some observations.

Originally Posted by King Saba

I really thought you lost your gaff the second time the fish went back down. I have halibut envy now.

That is why I buy only floating gaffs.

Originally Posted by ericko

That's the hardest I've seen you work, well done as always.

Originally Posted by Caseym

OK, I have to admit it, I get excited every time I see a new video post by this guy. The calm approach is so different from my usual spastic fumbling...its like watching a sport on TV and going..."Oh so thats how the game is supposed to be played." Am I the only one??
Props Greg, great job as usual.

You guys should have seen me BB (Before Buttchaser). He coached me right through my first 20+ Halibut step-by-step. All I could say after was "Is it really that easy?"

Originally Posted by bosshoss

Hey Greg, can I ask you what set up you're using in the video . What type of action is the rod ? Ok, thanks . Very nice fish ! Like your patience too !!

GLoomis BBR964C 12-25 rated rod with a Mod-Fast action. Reel is a Calcutta 400.

[Greg Macker]

Good thing your gaff stuck. Thought you were going to lose it.

Nice video. I know you wanted to be careful and not farm that beauty.

My friend, there are times (I know halibut have teeth), when you have to put away your girly tools and say f-it, and grab it by it's gills!

Nice fish.

[Billy V]

I have to say...
- after watching many of your halibut videos, I have never seen such consistent composure and success.

Nice job Greg

[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

[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.

[StinkyMatt]

Put away your girly tools and just lip the fugger!

You big sissy Greg.......

EVERYONE does it like that.....you girly man.

Originally Posted by Greg Macker

Good thing your gaff stuck. Thought you were going to lose it.

Nice video. I know you wanted to be careful and not farm that beauty.

My friend, there are times (I know halibut have teeth), when you have to put away your girly tools and say f-it, and grab it by it's gills!

Nice fish.

[T Bone]

Great job again,and Jars of Clay is awesome