Pacific Halibut

[Vagabond]

Some months back we had a discussion on halibut, and their fighting prowess - so thought y'all might be interested in this piccy of a Pacific Halibut I recently caught at Tasu in the Queen Charlotte Islands. It was estimated by the skipper at around 70 lb.

 

The picture was taken at the boatside before releasing the fish in the water. BTW the round white object is not the halibut's eye, but an outsize bead on the trace. Skate fishers may recognise the rig as similar to that used around Lochaline. Bait was a large chunk of Pacific salmon.

 

 

 

This fish put up the same sort of fight as one might expect from a stroppy male skate of the same size. No big deal you might think. However, by way of contrast a 50 lb fish I had earlier stripped 50 yards of line off, then when I recovered line, got another 30 yards. Eventually it tired though, and came up fairly quietly.

 

Because we spent most of our time after chinook and coho salmon, we only got out after Halibut for two short sessions, catching four in all, the other two being small. I did try with a whole salmon-head (from a ten-pounder) but all I got from that was an abortive shark run. One guy in another boat did get a 154lb halibut though, so they are certainly catchable to that weight. There was only one other 100lb fish caught amongst the 28 anglers who were at Tasu that week.

 

[ 03. September 2003, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

[SandTiger]

Right Davy, when do you fancy taking Catchelot II out there?

[Newt]

Vagabond - sounds like you had one heck of a trip. Some real monster beasties there - this fella, the sturgeon, and the salmon.

 

If you want a trip that is a little less stressful, you might want to try the smallmouth buffalo fishing around here. Only get up to around 90 lbs in our local lakes but they do fight good.

[Vagabond]

Newt:

 

If you want a trip that is a little less stressful, you might want to try the smallmouth buffalo fishing around here. Only get up to around 90 lbs in our local lakes but they do fight good.

Might just take you up on that Newt. Those buffalo sound interesting - what is the best time of the year for them?

[Elton]

Vagabond,

 

If you've not yet written a book about the fishing you've done, please do so knowing you'll have at least one purchaser.

 

I've just read, and thoroughly enjoyed, 50 years a fisherman by John Wilson.

 

I reckon your life so far would be even more interesting.

 

Tight lines,

 

Elton

[Apache]

Another good read from Vagabond, complete wih cracking fish

[Alan Taylor]

Elton:

Vagabond,

 

If you've not yet written a book about the fishing you've done, please do so knowing you'll have at least one purchaser.

Elton, I agree with you 100%. If you just put all of Vagabonds topics posted on here together it would come out as a smashing read. I hate it when he goes away (miss his input) but love it when he gets back

 

I also think that if Norma was on the front cover it would encourage other women to take up the sport of fishing. A wifes version of there fishing adventures springs to mind :cool:

 

Cheers

 

Alan