The One That Got Away - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

GregAndrew · 07-03-2010, 07:19 PM

Here is an old post of mine when I was schooled in landing large Halibut.

Buttchaser showed up a few minutes after me so I decided to stay inside the Harbor at Cabrillo and try for some sabiki bait and some Butts. After about 2 hours of searching, I only had 1 Dine and a hand full of ok to large Smelt. I think all that John had was 1 small mac and the same Smelt. BTW, if it were not for John showing up, I would not have had any bait. The new sabiki that I pulled out last night was still in my kitchen waiting for a new ziplock to be put around it. So after 2 hours of catching Drag Burning Bait (DBB) I was fed up and decided to try my 1 Sardine. Headed out about 100 feet to the spot I had success the last time I was out with John. Had my bait down all of 2 minutes when I felt some tugging on the other end. John was still making bait at the time, but dropped what he was doing to come over and get some pics while I was working the fish up. Little did he realize that he was going to be giving a free lesson on the proper way to land a big Butt. I have landed a couple of nice ones, but never so smoothly and effortlessly. And for his effort, he got a nice shower from the fish splashing after I had popped the gill on it.

Nope,he says, bring him up on your right side for the gaff if you are right handed. Ok.

Get your game clip ready. Open the end and place it in your lap, and make sure it is tied off. Check. Now go for the belly with the gaff. Got it.

On a belly gaff shot the fish will almost always go limp until you set it back into the water. So once you gaff it, keep the head out of water till you have it clipped and dehooked.

Is it tied off securely. It will be soon as I attach the secondary cord.

Ok, now remove the gaff and pop a gill. Put your hand under the gill plate, grab a gill and yank. Ok here goes.

Now beat the living daylights out of the thing before you drop it back into the water or it will (oops too late, and you are welcome for the shower) go balistic.
Now pose like you knew what you were doing the whole time.

New PB 40.5 inches and 24.13 pounds. Actually the fish fought less that my previous best until he gave us both the shower. I think I owe you about a case of beer by now John?

The only things I would add now are carry 2 game clips for anything over 20 lbs, and remember that seals like Halibut too. Once you have it calmed down a bled some, get it out of the water. I tried to put my 38# Butt into my front hatch a little prematurely and the lid looked like I was cooking popcorn up there for 15 minutes.

radastaff · 07-03-2010, 09:45 PM

bring hali to the surface
sneak game clip thru the gills when she isent looking
secure game clip to yak
break out big knife
and cut a gill or two
wait for hali to die
hold on

lamb · 07-04-2010, 09:50 AM

sorry to hear about your biggenbutt that got away.

Keep at it, and the bigger one may sign in

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...t=Land+halibut

djphaneuf · 07-04-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamb

sorry to hear about your biggenbutt that got away.

Keep at it, and the bigger one may sign in

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...t=Land+halibut

Thanks, I am still sick over it and thinking of all the things I should have done differently. Probably lucky I did not get it in the yak without killing it because it could not fit in my cockpit and would have had its face in my lap.

Oh well, its the 4th of July so let's put it in perspective and hope another fish gives me a chance to do a better job. Thanks to all for the advice.

buttchaser · 07-04-2010, 11:52 AM

Bummer on loosing you trophy fish... For that reason I made a stringer that I carry ..
I usually follow these steps
Gaff, Game clip and then the stringer, The pipe goes through the loop .... Hold on

GregAndrew · 07-04-2010, 06:38 PM

That is a great list Adi!! I also don't like to beat my Halibut unless I need to, because it reduces the effectiveness of the bleeding. But the dogs can force my hand sometimes.

CurtyL · 07-05-2010, 09:30 AM

I almost feel better about boating a T than I do a hali. They are the toughest fish to kill.

07-04-2010, 09:50 AM	#3
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	sorry to hear about your biggenbutt that got away. Keep at it, and the bigger one may sign in http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...t=Land+halibut __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

07-04-2010, 11:52 AM	#5
buttchaser Float Tuber Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 243	Bummer on loosing you trophy fish... For that reason I made a stringer that I carry .. I usually follow these steps Gaff, Game clip and then the stringer, The pipe goes through the loop .... Hold on Attached Images

07-03-2010, 07:19 PM	#1
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Here is an old post of mine when I was schooled in landing large Halibut. Buttchaser showed up a few minutes after me so I decided to stay inside the Harbor at Cabrillo and try for some sabiki bait and some Butts. After about 2 hours of searching, I only had 1 Dine and a hand full of ok to large Smelt. I think all that John had was 1 small mac and the same Smelt. BTW, if it were not for John showing up, I would not have had any bait. The new sabiki that I pulled out last night was still in my kitchen waiting for a new ziplock to be put around it. So after 2 hours of catching Drag Burning Bait (DBB) I was fed up and decided to try my 1 Sardine. Headed out about 100 feet to the spot I had success the last time I was out with John. Had my bait down all of 2 minutes when I felt some tugging on the other end. John was still making bait at the time, but dropped what he was doing to come over and get some pics while I was working the fish up. Little did he realize that he was going to be giving a free lesson on the proper way to land a big Butt. I have landed a couple of nice ones, but never so smoothly and effortlessly. And for his effort, he got a nice shower from the fish splashing after I had popped the gill on it. Nope,he says, bring him up on your right side for the gaff if you are right handed. Ok. Get your game clip ready. Open the end and place it in your lap, and make sure it is tied off. Check. Now go for the belly with the gaff. Got it. On a belly gaff shot the fish will almost always go limp until you set it back into the water. So once you gaff it, keep the head out of water till you have it clipped and dehooked. Is it tied off securely. It will be soon as I attach the secondary cord. Ok, now remove the gaff and pop a gill. Put your hand under the gill plate, grab a gill and yank. Ok here goes. Now beat the living daylights out of the thing before you drop it back into the water or it will (oops too late, and you are welcome for the shower) go balistic. Now pose like you knew what you were doing the whole time. New PB 40.5 inches and 24.13 pounds. Actually the fish fought less that my previous best until he gave us both the shower. I think I owe you about a case of beer by now John? The only things I would add now are carry 2 game clips for anything over 20 lbs, and remember that seals like Halibut too. Once you have it calmed down a bled some, get it out of the water. I tried to put my 38# Butt into my front hatch a little prematurely and the lid looked like I was cooking popcorn up there for 15 minutes.

07-03-2010, 09:45 PM	#2
radastaff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 314	bring hali to the surface sneak game clip thru the gills when she isent looking secure game clip to yak break out big knife and cut a gill or two wait for hali to die hold on

07-04-2010, 06:38 PM	#6
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	That is a great list Adi!! I also don't like to beat my Halibut unless I need to, because it reduces the effectiveness of the bleeding. But the dogs can force my hand sometimes.

07-05-2010, 09:30 AM	#7
CurtyL Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: wherever the college girlz r Posts: 127	I almost feel better about boating a T than I do a hali. They are the toughest fish to kill.