How to land a halibut - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

-scallywag- · 02-15-2010, 04:53 PM

Jim,
That's a sick action shot...i like the expression on your face

. I'd like to name that photo "what if".......

Does anyone have any tips to landing a big hali without a gaff?

Gino · 02-15-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Does anyone have any tips to landing a big hali without a gaff?

Harpoon and Shotgun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF9OWPKH8X4

Iceman · 02-15-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Does anyone have any tips to landing a big hali without a gaff?

You can slip them right on the game clip or......

paddle in to the nearest beach .......or yell "GAFF!!!"

I have tried unsuccessfully to grab em by the tail

Adi, Nice new avatar...... that looks big brown and fresh!

GregAndrew · 02-15-2010, 05:54 PM

Years ago I tried to land a 14 lb Halibut with an old mono net from a float tube. Soon as I started to lift the net I could hear snap, snap, snap. Since the hook was caught up in the net I just had to make a quick flop onto the top of my tube, lock my arms over the top of the fish, and kick for shore. I got real lucky. If you are going to land Halibut with a net to be released, you need to use a net with the real tiny holes to not damage the tail. I have also tried a plastic style lip gripper, but fish over 30 inches seem to be too heavy for it to hold them. Some of the metal ones should fare better, but Halibut go pretty crazy when you try to put something in their mouth, so you have to be quick.

blitzburgh · 02-15-2010, 06:04 PM

Awesome post.

rossman · 02-15-2010, 06:38 PM

Really great post. I have personalky experienced the results of not doing it correctly on a couple ocaisions.

One July early morning a couple years ago, I was out with my son out of DP. I was lucky enough to hook and land a 45 lb WSB (the one in my avatar actually). My son helped me clip it and stow it behind my seat. An hour or so later I hooked a Halibut of around 18 lbs. Was able get him gaffed but in the mouth. I beat him a couple time about the head and sholders, and thought he as ok to bring on board. Took him on board and put him under my legs cuz my clip was already being used on the WSB. My son was now 1/4 mile from me working another area. I started paddling to him to let him know that with 45 lbs of WSB and 18lbs of halibut; I was heading in. I got to within 5o yards of him and the halibut went nutzo. Slapping at my legs and chewing at my groin. Finally made one flip and he was over the side along with my gaff. A minute later my gaff pops up to the surface. The bastard was playng possum for over 30 minutes.

Another time in the same area, I landed another halibut in the 18 to 20 lb range. Gaffed him in the right spot, but probably brought him on board a little early. Had him clipped but when I brought him onto my lap he went balistic. With one flick of his broom tail, he launched my Calstar Jig Stick, and Trini 20 out of my front rod holder, and some 20 feet from my yak. That was a $700 halibut.

The point here is that there seems to be way too many steps in landing a halibut on a yak, but taking shortcuts, or just not heeding these instructions can result in a lot of interesting things happening, and most of them are bad.

bellcon · 02-15-2010, 07:12 PM

Not gonna tell the whole story
but I will say I fugged up on my PB halibut to date...
and this was the result:

That's from my gaff
one minute it was deep in her
the next it was deep in me...
and she was gone

great thread by the way

yakrider · 02-15-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bellcon

Not gonna tell the whole story
and this was the result:

That's from my gaff
one minute it was deep in her
the next it was deep in me...
and she was gone

great thread by the way

I think you should start a new thread about how to gaff an arm!!!!
and...WTF do mean you are not going to tell the story...
how can you post that and NOT tell the story...
come on!!!!!

dsafety · 02-15-2010, 07:16 PM

This is one of the best how-to-do-it fishing technique posts in recent memory. Thanks to all who have contributed. Now I know how to land one. I just need to figure out how to catch one now.

Bob

lamb · 02-15-2010, 06:15 PM

Good stuff. Greg, that is very cool. Some great pics of each step of the way... and NICE FISH!

Very often folks bunch up to help each other when the big halibut is ID-ed on the surface. With the adrenalin rush, it is really helpful to have someone by your side to help keep cool of a situation. It sux to lose her there, and many big halibut seem to find a way and pull that off.

Andy, she my new friend.

The other side of LJ, out of paddling range from the Shores. Got to meet her on Saturday. Brought her up with a silk smooth easy drag - I was hardly able to peel her of the bottom. One of a few halibut i caught that freaked out when she saw the boat... she took a hard left turn so I had to follow her over the engines, got us all into other lines in the water.

Bradley "Calm Hand" was quick as a bullet and ran the bolt through her hearth and pulled on board.

It started trashing once it hit the deck... we had to step on her, she was pissed and was raising some serious noise...

Only then,

we saw she was fault hooked...

..trebble through the friggen' eye...

crap I forgot to take that pic

deepdvr · 02-15-2010, 06:36 PM

Nice banana slug on the bottom of that flattie.

[/QUOTE]

-scallywag- · 02-22-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

You can slip them right on the game clip or......

paddle in to the nearest beach .......or yell "GAFF!!!"

I have tried unsuccessfully to grab em by the tail

Adi, Nice new avatar...... that looks big brown and fresh!

Good thread! There's tons of big butts around ready to wreak havoc on poor unsuspecting/unprepaired yakkers like me...read this thread carefully, it may save your fish!! and when you get that big brown yak side just yell GAFF!!!!

Thanks again Driftwood for letting me borrow your gaff....I tried to collar it, i tried to pass the clip, both attempts just pissed it off and produced crazy mouth opened headshakes with slacked line

....caught on a dropperlooped greenie in 110ft....

Iceman · 02-22-2010, 10:54 AM

Nice Beavah!!!

warming your feet up ?!

02-15-2010, 06:15 PM	#10
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Good stuff. Greg, that is very cool. Some great pics of each step of the way... and NICE FISH! Very often folks bunch up to help each other when the big halibut is ID-ed on the surface. With the adrenalin rush, it is really helpful to have someone by your side to help keep cool of a situation. It sux to lose her there, and many big halibut seem to find a way and pull that off. Andy, she my new friend. The other side of LJ, out of paddling range from the Shores. Got to meet her on Saturday. Brought her up with a silk smooth easy drag - I was hardly able to peel her of the bottom. One of a few halibut i caught that freaked out when she saw the boat... she took a hard left turn so I had to follow her over the engines, got us all into other lines in the water. Bradley "Calm Hand" was quick as a bullet and ran the bolt through her hearth and pulled on board. It started trashing once it hit the deck... we had to step on her, she was pissed and was raising some serious noise... Only then, we saw she was fault hooked... ..trebble through the friggen' eye... crap I forgot to take that pic __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

02-22-2010, 10:54 AM	#13
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Nice Beavah!!! warming your feet up ?! __________________

02-15-2010, 04:53 PM	#1
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	Jim, That's a sick action shot...i like the expression on your face . I'd like to name that photo "what if"....... Does anyone have any tips to landing a big hali without a gaff?

02-15-2010, 05:54 PM	#4
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Years ago I tried to land a 14 lb Halibut with an old mono net from a float tube. Soon as I started to lift the net I could hear snap, snap, snap. Since the hook was caught up in the net I just had to make a quick flop onto the top of my tube, lock my arms over the top of the fish, and kick for shore. I got real lucky. If you are going to land Halibut with a net to be released, you need to use a net with the real tiny holes to not damage the tail. I have also tried a plastic style lip gripper, but fish over 30 inches seem to be too heavy for it to hold them. Some of the metal ones should fare better, but Halibut go pretty crazy when you try to put something in their mouth, so you have to be quick.

02-15-2010, 06:04 PM	#5
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Awesome post.

02-15-2010, 06:38 PM	#6
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	Really great post. I have personalky experienced the results of not doing it correctly on a couple ocaisions. One July early morning a couple years ago, I was out with my son out of DP. I was lucky enough to hook and land a 45 lb WSB (the one in my avatar actually). My son helped me clip it and stow it behind my seat. An hour or so later I hooked a Halibut of around 18 lbs. Was able get him gaffed but in the mouth. I beat him a couple time about the head and sholders, and thought he as ok to bring on board. Took him on board and put him under my legs cuz my clip was already being used on the WSB. My son was now 1/4 mile from me working another area. I started paddling to him to let him know that with 45 lbs of WSB and 18lbs of halibut; I was heading in. I got to within 5o yards of him and the halibut went nutzo. Slapping at my legs and chewing at my groin. Finally made one flip and he was over the side along with my gaff. A minute later my gaff pops up to the surface. The bastard was playng possum for over 30 minutes. Another time in the same area, I landed another halibut in the 18 to 20 lb range. Gaffed him in the right spot, but probably brought him on board a little early. Had him clipped but when I brought him onto my lap he went balistic. With one flick of his broom tail, he launched my Calstar Jig Stick, and Trini 20 out of my front rod holder, and some 20 feet from my yak. That was a $700 halibut. The point here is that there seems to be way too many steps in landing a halibut on a yak, but taking shortcuts, or just not heeding these instructions can result in a lot of interesting things happening, and most of them are bad.

02-15-2010, 07:12 PM	#7
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	Not gonna tell the whole story but I will say I fugged up on my PB halibut to date... and this was the result: That's from my gaff one minute it was deep in her the next it was deep in me... and she was gone great thread by the way

02-15-2010, 07:16 PM	#9
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	This is one of the best how-to-do-it fishing technique posts in recent memory. Thanks to all who have contributed. Now I know how to land one. I just need to figure out how to catch one now. Bob

02-15-2010, 06:36 PM	#11
deepdvr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 591	Nice banana slug on the bottom of that flattie. [/QUOTE]