the halibut throw the hook probably better than any other fish...
their massive head shakes 'n' up 'n down motion is the most likely culprit...
compared to the side to side motion of other fishes...
halibut tend to go atomic at the surface...especially if you lift any part
of them out of the water before gaffing them...so...the gaffing is crucial
to their capture...
some gaffing locations cause the halibut to "freeze" motionless...while
other locations cause them to go ballistic...flying off the gaff 'n'
breaking your heart...
the consensus is to gaff them in the gut (metric for belly)...it seems to
be the best place to cause them to "freeze"...making game clipping a breeze...
the only other gaff placement i've had luck with is a head shot...but that
method is dangerous since the gaff can ricochet an miss entirely...
here's pic of a belly shot...the triangular hole marks the spot...their
belly is a rather small area...so...missing it is easy 'n' costly...
here's a pic of a head shot...not ideal...but an option if they come up vertical...
'n' you can't plain them out horizontal...
so...wot say you...halibut fishermen...
hope this gets you'z guy'z motivated to start your little tournny's again...
would love to come down 'n' see you'z guy'z...
maybe you could get a hold of kiyo...paint n fish...tatuna...grego...
theluckypig...roby...greg andrew...'n' all the rest...
cheers!!!
GAFFING HALIBUT
- philharris
- Posts: 408
- Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:17 am
GAFFING HALIBUT
"thou your ship be sturdy...no mercy has the sea...will you survive on the ocean of being"...~peter gabriel
- Bellcon
- Posts: 3350
- Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2012 1:38 am
- Location: San Pedro California
Re: GAFFING HALIBUT
good stuff Phil
I prefer the gut for a clean gaff shot
Works so much better than the gaff em, slam em on deck then gaff yourself method...
I prefer the gut for a clean gaff shot
Works so much better than the gaff em, slam em on deck then gaff yourself method...
- Bellcon
- Posts: 3350
- Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2012 1:38 am
- Location: San Pedro California
Re: GAFFING HALIBUT
and I'm game for a tourney or money between friends session
But that's theluckypigs domain
Kiyo moved to the Philippines he did say recently he was looking into getting a kayak...
would be cool to have a reunion tourney
OG Kayak Tourney?
But that's theluckypigs domain
Kiyo moved to the Philippines he did say recently he was looking into getting a kayak...
would be cool to have a reunion tourney
OG Kayak Tourney?
- philharris
- Posts: 408
- Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:17 am
Re: GAFFING HALIBUT
i remember you tellin' me that story...
i think i was fishin' with you at the harbor...along the "izor kelp line"...
scary stuff...we can joke about it now...but...things can go
sideways in a blink of an eye...
expert or novice in anything...accidents happen...to all of us...
glad were still here to joke about our blunders...
"thou your ship be sturdy...no mercy has the sea...will you survive on the ocean of being"...~peter gabriel
- JohnMckroid
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2021 1:55 pm
- Location: Ex Californian....now in Fort Lauderdale Florida
Re: GAFFING HALIBUT
Nice looking Halibut, and great advice Phil. Thanks.
As an added bonus, the gut shot ensures no blood-damaged fillets.
As an added bonus, the gut shot ensures no blood-damaged fillets.
- tattuna
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:35 am
Re: GAFFING HALIBUT
I'll be forever haunted by the head shot that stuck in the skull of what would've been the tourney winning fish from the last big tourney we had. Thanks for tryin to help that day, Phil! I only go for belly shots since then.
I'd love to have a get together of whatever sort with all you guys again. I sold my kayak after my back injury but I can alays take my "support boat"
I'd love to have a get together of whatever sort with all you guys again. I sold my kayak after my back injury but I can alays take my "support boat"