My first legal

[packeryakker]

Went out today optimistic about the prospect of landing, filleting and eating my first legal halibut. I am still new to this whole process but today was the day. Showed up at Belmont Pier at around 5ish to make some bait only a couple other guys there, they seemed to be pulling in plenty of small baits and macks. I proceeded to catch one trout sized mack in the hour I fished there. So I took my giant mack and packed up and headed up to Cherry Beach picking up frozen chovies at 7-11 on the way. Weather was great, low wind, overcast and quiet. I started unloading and quickly realized something was not right, my mirage drive was AT HOME, rookie mistake so stupid. Figured I was here what the hell I will paddle,:paddleersmilie: after all the water was great. Got loaded and paddled out towards the island getting drug around by that giant mack, after an hour or so that mack was toast so I switched out for a frozen anchovie. Within a few minutes I heard the sound I have come to anticipate, the one the haunts me when I am just about asleep, the sound that until today has resulted in my second guessing how I have handled each and every pick up. Click...click... click....faster then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, waited, forced myself to slow down. Swung and felt:reel: weight. After two missed attempts at the gaff the third try struck pay dirt and the butt was in my boat. As you can see from the pics it is just barely legal. Mouth closed measured 22.5, in the pic mouth open 23. At any rate I am happy to say that the stink is off my new boat and has been replaced with blood.:luxhello:
!
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh569/packeryakker/IMG_7563.jpg
Tale of the tape
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh569/packeryakker/IMG_7570.jpg
Tail of the tape
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh569/packeryakker/IMG_7567.jpg
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh569/packeryakker/IMG_7569.jpg
My first Halibut Filet very little waste, belly meat looked a little funny
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh569/packeryakker/IMG_7572.jpg

For anyone who would like to endure the 6 min video here is the link, kids got me a gopro for fathers day and I used it for the first time today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhWCGjGMSAY&feature=g-upl
http://baytubers.hifisim.com/Themes/default/images/icons/modify_inline.gif

[dorado50]

Like how you measured it after the kill:D. Would you have erased the vid if it came up short?;).

[jorluivil]

That's awesome!

There was a tournament in that area last Saturday, no one could catch a legal even if their life depended on it. Go get his fat ugly cousin now!!

[min-va]

Good job with the first legal!!

[Drake]

Well sir, that is one hell of a nice filet job you did! Well done

[Divad]

Nice start! Why to go!:luxhello:

[Rotten Chum]

:luxhello: Awesome Job... To close for comfort :eek:

[Deamon]

Well manicured green grass...a very nice filet job... You're not originally from around Victorville, are you?

[mtnbykr2]

awesome fillet job, congrats on your first of hopefully many more, :reel:

[StinkyMatt]

Congratulations on your Hali!

:cheers1::cheers1::cheers1:






Leave it to dorado50 to be the first reply and piss on another guy's parade.

[packeryakker]

That's awesome!

There was a tournament in that area last Saturday, no one could catch a legal even if their life depended on it. Go get his fat ugly cousin now!!

Yeah I was in that tourny and only got a few shorts...

[packeryakker]

Well manicured green grass...a very nice filet job... You're not originally from around Victorville, are you?

Moved here for work from Wisconsin in 93 was only gonna stay for a couple years....

[packeryakker]

Like how you measured it after the kill:D. Would you have erased the vid if it came up short?;).

I was a little nervous after the gaff:eek:, it has been suggested I invest in a mesh net which I will do today.

[mtnbykr2]

I was a little nervous after the gaff:eek:, it has been suggested I invest in a mesh net which I will do today.

haven't seen or heard of enforcement but it is required to carry a net if you target butts...:D

[Gigafish]

Cool pic, you'll get a chuckle out of it a few years from now. Congrats on your 1 st.

[GregAndrew]

haven't seen or heard of enforcement but it is required to carry a net if you target butts...:D


Actually, it is required for fishing in the ocean for anything because bycatch happens.

[Cbad Mike]

Legal is legal........ CONGRATULATIONS!
:cheers1:

[YakMedic]

Moved here for work from Wisconsin in 93 was only gonna stay for a couple years....

Only a couple years huh? It's nice when that long ass drive is a successful trip. Nice job on your first legal.

[dorado50]

Congratulations on your Hali!

:cheers1::cheers1::cheers1:






Leave it to dorado50 to be the first reply and piss on another guy's parade.



Whats wrong ...someones got to tell the truth and that be me

[lambadmin]

congrats on your first! :cheers1:

[Vikingj]

Nice 1st hali but now you have unleashed THE CURSE! Next one has got to be 25+" and then 30+", 35+", 40+", etc., etc.

[Aaron&Julie]

I was a little nervous after the gaff:eek:, it has been suggested I invest in a mesh net which I will do today.

Judging by your tape measure it barely made 22 inches, as I believe the mouth is supposed to be closed when measuring them. By law, I also believe a net is required on all fishing crafts, but not too many people off of La Jolla bring them, since most of the fish caught there don't usually require measurements ;)
When they're that close and you don't have a net it's better to take the risk of bouncing them on deck and losing them, vice sticking the gaff in them when they could be a 1/2 inch short.
He looks like he just made it, so congrats on your first legal :)

[dorado50]

Judging by your tape measure it barely made 22 inches, as I believe the mouth is supposed to be closed when measuring them. By law, I also believe a net is required on all fishing crafts, but not too many people off of La Jolla bring them, since most of the fish caught there don't usually require measurements ;)
When they're that close and you don't have a net it's better to take the risk of bouncing them on deck and losing them, vice sticking the gaff in them when they could be a 1/2 inch short.
He looks like he just made it, so congrats on your first legal :)



You prefaced with a negative! The "lil stinker" is going to be all over your ass:eek:. Don't rain on someones blind luck...you'll get a pm from the internet cop!:(

[Yakin]

You prefaced with a negative! The "lil stinker" is going to be all over your ass:eek:. Don't rain on someones blind luck...you'll get a pm from the internet cop!:(
:iagree: Doesn't really matter it measures safely, and is a hali in the bag, dfg didn't catch him, so I say props on the hali!:cheers1:

[NextBite]

Congrats on your First Legal :D

[Whizz Bang]

Congrats on the legal, more will follow!

[Aaron&Julie]

You prefaced with a negative! The "lil stinker" is going to be all over your ass:eek:. Don't rain on someones blind luck...you'll get a pm from the internet cop!:(

I'm not going to worry about the "Proper English Police" or the "Internet Cop", since I ain't in English class no more ;)

And I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade. I'm assuming much sarcasm in your response, but if that's not the case, no worries.

Just trying to give him a heads up, and maybe save him a ticket in the future.

We have great nets for when we drive all the way up to Dana Point for fish of that size, and we'll net and keep them. If they're obviously legal, the gaff is used.

Again, congrats on your 1st, it's good to break the ice.

[deepdvr]

:cheers1: They'll get bigger soon.