Shallow Hal
 

So my day started Thursday when I decided to go out Friday. I setup a few hali rigs, made sure the batteries were charged and loaded up the truck. Off to work at 10pm, left at 630am Friday and made the run to Cabrillo. Since I park in a secure lot at work I went ahead and rigged the yak the night before so when I arrived at the launch all I had to do was change into my fishing clothes.

Launched and peddled my way over to the bait barge. After getting hooked up with some decent well cured sardines I hung out for a bit and chit-chatted with Mike. I made an oath to start scouting out new areas in Cabrillo so I peddled my way over to a location that ALWAYS seems to go un-fished.

Once I hit my new area I dropped some bait in 55' of water and slowly, and I mean very slowly drifted along. Stood in the 55' depth for about 30-45 minutes and inched my into shallower water. Although we just had a storm come through the water was clean and visibility was about 10' or so. Ended up in 35' of water and changed my direction, did this mainly because the sun was in my face and I forgot my sunglasses.

As soon as I changed my direction I picked up my rigs and changed the bait, I had just passed through some nasty structure so my bait was pretty beat up. I drop the rig on my left side first, hooked some bait on my other line, dropped it and before it hit bottom the line starts ripping. I locked it down, line goes tight, rod goes bendo and the line keeps ripping off the reel. As I'm fighting the fish I prayed that it wasn't another guitar fish or a rock fish.

For a minute I wasn't sure what it was, the fish was swimming in circles, this is something I've never seen a halibut do. WSB? Nah. Thresher? Nah. I see color and see that its a nice hali, I'll be needing the gaff for this one. I get the fish up to within the gaffs range and the fish decides to make another run. I get it back up and as soon as I go for the gaff shot it decided to make another run.

Third times a charm? After two battles I finally get it to surface again and get it to circle around, stick the gaff to it and get it on the side of the yak. I get my homemade stringer, go to put one end through its gills and the hali literally jumps out of the water and out of the gaff. Fortunately, I remembered to loosen the drag on my reel because as soon as this fish was loose it made a wild run, it ran for its life. Meanwhile, in my head, my thoughts: STUPID>STUPID>STUPID.

I get the rod out of the rod holder and I feel nothing! My first thought was :confused: followed by :( and lastly:mad:. I start to wind and my next thought/feeling was :D. Round 4...ding ding ding ding......up comes the fish and as I soon as I get it to surface I recall something that GregAndrew said: Gaff if in the belly and it'll stay calm. I gaff it, in the gut, go for my stringer and its gone :eek:, I must have dropped it when the fish came off the gaff.

Ok, here's the scenario........large hali hooked, lost it once, finally get it gaffed, lost stringer.....HOLY CR*P!!! What do I do :confused: :confused: :confused:?????? Fortunately, I had a bungee stored in the front pouch of the yak, get it out, get it though the hali's gills ,wrap it around my hand and remove the fish from the gaff. As soon as I remove the gaff the fricken fish goes wild, makes a run, the fricken bungee slips out of my hand and I loose the fish:argh: :argh:...................just kidding:D.

Once I snapped a pic I took a minute to gain my composure, opened the hatch and put it away. I won't go into the details of the fish that I lost twice and busted my line once. I'll save those details for the day after I bring his *ss up. Ended the day with this 31inch 11lb hali and his little brother which came in at about 24inches. It was approching 1pm which means that I'd been up for 24hrs so I decided to call it a day and headed in. After fighting traffic on the 710 and having to stop and pick up my son at chool I didnt get home and in bed until 333pm, slept till 930pm and back to work, ready for round 5........life is good:)

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NICE!:luxhello:

Very nice George!!! Don't forget to give us the details in about a week or so. :D Congrats on the nice butt!

was his BUTT wet like Franks...nice feesh:reel:

NICE!:cheers1: halibut and lobster :drool5:

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:you_rock:

Nice catch there!

We will find out in about a week or so. :p

I can't believe you snuck out with out me, I am going straight to your house to take pictures with it. LOL :p

George, did you buy a smaller kayak?

This fish looks bigger then your front hatch. That would imply that it was over 22".

The only explenation is a "mini kayak":D:D:D

Good for you you sunuvagun!

Great looking halibut you got there!

... George isn't this the 12inch model of your kayak that you bought. I remember you told me you wanted to experiment on a few parts before actually making them.


George you almost pulled a fast one.


Thanks Matt for reminding of his kayak. :grouphug:

I liked BWE better when there was porn....

So does that mean when I come back to reality that fish will weigh like 40 lbs and be fat enough to lift the yak on the opposite side? Haha great catch!:cheers1:

Nice work George. You are going to be ready to go at next years SCI trip.

HOT BITE-HOT BITE-HOT BITE......Halibut are jumping out of the water and landing on your kayak hatch.

Coordinates are W 33.114.418 E 111.158-1135 N 8675-309 S 999.NEVER.MIND

Baked pototoes, lobster, scallops wrapped in bacon, lobster, ribeye skewers, lobster, mushrooms and lobster are on the menu for Saturday. I'll save the halibit for Dinner on Sunday.

HAHAHAHHA...I was thinking about that a few days ago.......definitely ready for another!!!!!

Your such a fool George, Why did you give me GPS coordinates to your house, I already know where you live.:D

too funny:reel::biggrinjester::biggrinjester::biggrinj ester:

Nice Butt. Glad he didn't get away.