Flatties... your 2 cents - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jorluivil · 08-29-2014, 01:56 PM

Here's what I've seen and what I believe could be the culprit

bait is not raked but skinned = bass
bait is raked, rakes have gaps = halibut, ling or any fish with large teeth except a GWS
bait comes up with head still attached to the hook, everything behind the gills is missing = seal

GregAndrew · 08-29-2014, 02:30 PM

Mack cut in half is almost positively not a Halibut. They do have a good bite, but their teeth are for gripping not cutting. A Sardine or Anchovy, on the other hand, might cut themselves almost in half struggling to get free. And a shake of the head of the Butt could finish the job. But the skin on a mack is going to hold it together against a Halibut bite. Lots of sharks around that could do that though. Thresher as you suggested, as well as Leopard, Soupfin and Seven Gill just to name the most likely. By your description, I would think leopard. They will sometimes do something similar to a Halibut "Soft bite". And it can be hard to tell the difference from a Butt fight some times.

Ross, if I were a betting man, I would bet the bait got bit in half before the Sandbass picked it up. Easy for a big Ling to do it though.

08-29-2014, 01:56 PM	#1
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Here's what I've seen and what I believe could be the culprit bait is not raked but skinned = bass bait is raked, rakes have gaps = halibut, ling or any fish with large teeth except a GWS bait comes up with head still attached to the hook, everything behind the gills is missing = seal __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

08-29-2014, 02:30 PM	#2
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Mack cut in half is almost positively not a Halibut. They do have a good bite, but their teeth are for gripping not cutting. A Sardine or Anchovy, on the other hand, might cut themselves almost in half struggling to get free. And a shake of the head of the Butt could finish the job. But the skin on a mack is going to hold it together against a Halibut bite. Lots of sharks around that could do that though. Thresher as you suggested, as well as Leopard, Soupfin and Seven Gill just to name the most likely. By your description, I would think leopard. They will sometimes do something similar to a Halibut "Soft bite". And it can be hard to tell the difference from a Butt fight some times. Ross, if I were a betting man, I would bet the bait got bit in half before the Sandbass picked it up. Easy for a big Ling to do it though.