First legal Halibut...Fishing Report

[bolocop]

Launched Shelter Island with a buddy on Sunday, Mar 9. Caught a spottie right way, then a sculpin, then my first legal halibut after 6 months of trying.

I noticed that the bite is on from sunrise to about 9:30, then it's completely dead. Maybe I need to change up the colors...

22.5" to 23", not huge but my first keeper.:luxhello:

[Hunters Pa]

Nice fish, but be careful. You need to measure with the mouth closed.

[jorluivil]

Nice fish, but be careful. You need to measure with the mouth closed.

X 8


When the DFG measures your fish they will lay it flat on a board, literally push the fish up against a plate so that the mouth is closed and measure it. I've seen them use tape measures but even when they do they will lay the fish on top of the tape measure, close its mouth and measure it. I know how exciting it is to catch your first legal because I still remember mine but don't put yourself in a bad position.

If you have to measure it twice consider it to be short.

[Hondatom]

Congrats! I am still in search of a halibut. I am now 50 and I have NEVER caught 1. Enjoy the fine table fare and keep up the good work!:reel:

[Big T]

Yeah, what YourBaseBallBat said. That thing looks DANGEROUSLY close to being short with the mouth closed. Might be an optical illusion though. But they DO put it on the board with the mouth closed and if you're just a sculpin-hair short... snap. BUT... on the other hand, I have seen it that close and with the right amount of "innocent humility" that he "thought" it was big enough, the DFG gives a stern warning and lets it fly.... Only seen that once. But only seen a DFG measure a fish twice at the docks either.

Cut er up and enjoy. :D

[TJones]

Launched Shelter Island with a buddy on Sunday, Mar 9. Caught a spottie right way, then a sculpin, then my first legal halibut after 6 months of trying.

I noticed that the bite is on from sunrise to about 9:30, then it's completely dead. Maybe I need to change up the colors...

22.5" to 23", not huge but my first keeper.:luxhello:

never ever give up halibut secrets around here . congrats on the fat fish . definitely listen to the experts . that would be one hard to release , but nothing is worth the cost of getting caught .

[bolocop]

Thanks for the encouragement and the scare! I would feel absolutely terrible taking a short...for real!

I had a buddy measure the catch right after taking the hook out just to make sure and he gave me the thumbs up. Yeah, I did measure twice because I was excited about my first legal.

Maybe it's not clear, but the ruler isn't all the way to the open, bottom lip.

I will take all your advice and apply it to future catches, but I have no problem calling this at least 22" and legal.

Fishing karma preserved...IMO.

[alfsteur]

That's a nice legal haul!!! I help measured it twice (with butt mouth closed!! :cool:), the angle on the pix probably skewed it somehow, but Bolocop has nothing to worry about!

Btw, any of you guys talk to DFG folks doing survey out there? I think it's a really cool study... a young DFG lad mentioned to me it's THE LARGEST survey of saltwater species ever!

[StinkyMatt]

congrats on your cherry getting popped!:D

[svendawg]

What bait and rig did you use, if you are willing to share

[jorluivil]

That's a nice legal haul!!! I help measured it twice (with butt mouth closed!! :cool:), the angle on the pix probably skewed it somehow, but Bolocop has nothing to worry about!

Btw, any of you guys talk to DFG folks doing survey out there? I think it's a really cool study... a young DFG lad mentioned to me it's THE LARGEST survey of saltwater species ever!


Those surveys have been going on for an eternity. The cute girls always get my attention and I let them measure whatever they want:D

[StinkyMatt]

They use millimeters to measure these days?



:D

[Bert Vega]

Those surveys have been going on for an eternity. The cute girls always get my attention and I let them measure whatever they want:D

Hahaha

Nice job. I am looking for my first halibut myself.

[bolocop]

Used a grub and dragged it on the bottom with a Texas rig. Not sure how well it works, since this is my first legal. No bites the previous 6 months!

[alanw]

Wow, 6 months dragging a grub around until it caught something? Well you are persistent that's for sure. I usually give something a few hours before I toss it in the bin.

[Grunt31]

Another way to avoid a scare is always count a legal on the catch at least at 24. That way after it's been out a while and shrivels a bit, you should still be in the clear. I mostly fish on Pendleton and I've seen tons of guys pull in legals then the game warden rolls up.... Measures and BOOM! Not so legal anymore. But most DFG fellas have common sense and know it but you'll still have to toss it back. Either way congrats on the pull.

[bolocop]

Ahhh, the shrinkage excuse! I never thought it would apply to fish!

[Grunt31]

If it's 22" on the pull in.... And a warden comes by and measures it 21.5" their measure is all that matters. But good luck with more pulls

[Cadillyak]

That's a nice legal haul!!! I help measured it twice (with butt mouth closed!! :cool:), the angle on the pix probably skewed it somehow, but Bolocop has nothing to worry about!

Btw, any of you guys talk to DFG folks doing survey out there? I think it's a really cool study... a young DFG lad mentioned to me it's THE LARGEST survey of saltwater species ever!

I have hear that these surveys aren't DFW and actually MLPA trying to get data to take more of our waters away. Just hearsay of course.

[Saba Slayer]

Those surveys are DFW. They call them a "creel survey".
During the Lobster advisory committee meetings the DFW and commercial Lobster guys and the NGO's tried to use the data from a creel survey that was conducted years ago, to prove that the ratio of hoop netters and divers was about 20% divers to 80% hoopers. That's total BS... as most divers walk right off the beach or launch from a slip and never even get seen, counted, or interviewed by the DFW at a hand launch dock or launch ramp.
Like the lobster report card, creel surveys are just another tool or piece of the puzzle to help see the whole picture...but they are definitely not quite as valuable as the DFW makes them out to be, since the info can be as skewed as the respondee feels like giving that day.
Jim / Saba Slayer

[kauaiboy04]

nice cherry poppin hali! i've been catching way too many shorts, and with no sardines in sight for this year, sometimes the larger plastics will do the job. congrats again!

[DennisMorgan]

Sweet halibut I went out Saturday and pulled a youngster south of the coro bridge.....fun to pull the little....give me hope....keep fishin for butts!!!!!


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[Chops6531]

I also went out on Saturday...pulled two small butts and totals over 30 fish on my boat...drift wasn't good...recently caught a 32" butt right under the bridge


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[bolocop]

I also went out on Saturday...pulled two small butts and totals over 30 fish on my boat...drift wasn't good...recently caught a 32" butt right under the bridge


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Sheesh! 30 fish? I've only done that when the tide and current were perfect (and the stars being aligned).

I've noticed that the action is more fierce and more prolonged over by the bridge. I've only been out two times on the SI side, but the bite shuts down after 9:30am for me. Weird that on the other side, it can keep going...maybe different species?

[William Novotny]

Why isn't this posted in West coast whoppers?! You could be KING for a day!

[jorluivil]

Why isn't this posted in West coast whoppers?! You could be KING for a day!


I wondered the same thing but didn't want to say anything. This is one of the reasons I didn't agree with the 'post it when you want to' rules. I can assure you that if there was a deadline (end of the month) the WCW would get more attention.

[William Novotny]

I wondered the same thing but didn't want to say anything. This is one of the reasons I didn't agree with the 'post it when you want to' rules. I can assure you that if there was a deadline (end of the month) the WCW would get more attention.

Yep. The second I get a 22 1/2" I will rule my subjects

[Schmalzy88]

good job dude! i think its just the way the ruler leans to the right that makes it look off. watched a guy pull up a 24 incher on wednesday whill i was doing some prework fishing at an undisclosed location in long beach and it really made me jealous that he pulled it up in my regular spot and i havnt ever pulled up anything larger than 18. keep at it dude

[Aaron&Julie]

Size doesn't matter when it's your first. Besides that will yield a couple of pounds of tasty fillets. Congrats!

[Workplacesafety]

Way to stay with it. Congrats on the legal!!!