Bean weekend

and the beat goes ON!  Way to chime in and Congrads on your Firsts'!
oneBROTHERhelpsTHEother  
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Right on Adam! I got a kick out of how the "Double Secret Reef" got named by YOU! What an awesome day! I did learn from you to bring a brush for the next trip to brush off unwanted sand off of the kayak before loading on the car. Man I'm soaking this up like a sponge!  

and the beat goes ON!  Way to chime in and Congrads on your Firsts'!
oneBROTHERhelpsTHEother  

 I did learn from you to bring a brush for the next trip to brush off unwanted sand off of the kayak before loading on the car. Man I'm soaking this up like a sponge!  
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another one of my secrets.....you are soaking up the GOOD STUFF!

DUUUUUUDE!  So sorry, Brother Adam, for your loss.     Tell me someone got a pic while you were holding her up. 

You're taking it like a champ.  You WILL think about her EVERY night when you go to bed - but only for a year or two...   

Great reporting, all.  That looks and sounds like one fantastic time.   

Tell me someone got a pic while you were holding her up. 

I woulda had it, but I got distracted by the gaffless hali landing attempt that was going on 50 feet away.  I am so sorry, Adam!!!

I can vouch for the size of both lost fish.

I was lucky enough to see Adam's beastfish come to the surface & get scooped into the net. Easily one of the largest lings I've seen all season, bigger than my 35incher probably.

The halibut was probably close to 20#, probably 35" or so. There was no way its head was going to go into my little net (especially after it swam backwards), and the net is 18.5" across. I had a gaff, but we were hesitant to gaff it and then have it go crazy. In hindsight, I should have had the confidence to try & stick the fish, then beat it into submission.
In the end, the angler (sorry I forgot your name ) did a good job of getting a gameclip in the gills & out the mouth of the fish, but before either of us could grab the free end & clip it, the fish went ballistic, straightened out the steel clip like it was overcooked pasta, and broke the line .

From this halibut escape I have learned:
Halibut are frikken wily & very strong (I had forgotten, since it's been a while since I've seen one).
once the fish is at color, get your ducks in a row, & have your "fishbcool" stick of choice right there on deck.
A net sure seems like the easiest way to get them though, and I think I'll pick up one of those cool folding nets for next season.

One thing's for sure, those big fish get big for a reason so it's not too sad to get bested by them. I'm sure they've done it to other fishermen before.

I had a awsome time fishin with you guys on sunday, wish I could have been there the whole 3 days, maybe next time. I saw Adam's ling, that thing was HUGE, biggest I've seen in a while, looked to me like 25# at least maybe more. I wish I had a camera, could have caught all the action up to the excape and the slap in the head. Been there, done that, and I can laugh about it now, but I was PISSED then.   

I had a awsome time fishin with you guys on sunday, wish I could have been there the whole 3 days, maybe next time. I saw Adam's ling, that thing was HUGE, biggest I've seen in a while, looked to me like 25# at least maybe more. I wish I had a camera, could have caught all the action up to the excape and the slap in the head. Been there, done that, and I can laugh about it now, but I was PISSED then.  

Thanks Don, Glad to entertain!I was trying to fool myself by repeating...it only LOOKED that BIG to ME....nowI"MsittingINaPUDDLEofTEARSandPISS!

....we seem to have forgotten the Real_LostFish of that weekend. Remember RelentlessDaves' face as he was getting pulled into the wind&current?!
I first thought he had a rock, but rock don't make the pole twitch&pump.
Here is a quick-pic to refresh your mind of the power of this fish!
I followed him,as well as a few others did. He was moving fast for about 5mins. then all of a sudden the line goes slack, Dave face goes blank and the line&lures(a BRAND NEW 10" KalinGrub) with a BigSwimbait Trailer. We all cried for him as he paddle off onto the horrizon.....then he later radio'd in with his reason it GOT AWAY........have you ever purchased a shinny new KalinsGrub? the kind that have the leadhead in it already?.....or a pack of those Storm lures?
Yeah....when we got to shore, i was needing/searching for a good kick in my ass!....thanks fellas, i needed it bad.
 

I had a awsome time fishin with you guys on sunday, wish I could have been there the whole 3 days, maybe next time. I saw Adam's ling, that thing was HUGE, biggest I've seen in a while, looked to me like 25# at least maybe more. I wish I had a camera, could have caught all the action up to the excape and the slap in the head.  

It was nice to fish with you again Don. Yeah, the ling was a bruiser!
I too, am eyeing a camera for next season, just to be another lens on the water for times like this!
Ok, so now including the new net that's 2 new toys I'm looking for...
...its madness I say....
...but just look at the good all of those escaped fish will do for the recreational fishing economy!

Misc pics

Cleanup, NCKA style!

thanks Eric! i was just starting to recover from that one......oh, and I got an UWS of a Lingy that I forgot to post, so I'll do it here&now!

pic of a 25"Ling about to get released.