Landing net for halibut

Something like this will work well

^^^^  This ^^^^  .... one net to rule them all ....

I didn't mention using a gaf, (YMMV) as it was not the question.

I didn't mention using a gaf, (YMMV) as it was not the question.

I use one of these attached to the end of the gaff. Much more effective than the methods described so far in this thread.


https://www.billsbangsticks.com/12-Gauge-Powerhead_p_17.html

I didn't mention using a gaf, (YMMV) as it was not the question.

I use one of these attached to the end of the gaff. Much more effective than the methods described so far in this thread.


https://www.billsbangsticks.com/12-Gauge-Powerhead_p_17.html

You're talking pacific hali's...we have these lil' Cali Hali's down here...nice backup for shark shield fail...not legal for defense I'm guessing...

Something like this will work well

Hey! I know that guy!

That net (or any GIANT one like it) works great for salmon, but I do not use it for halibut. If a halibut is clearly big enough to keep, I gaff it. If it's questionable, I do my best to shake it off the hook without lifting it out of the water. (I mostly toss swimbaits for halibut, so it's usually easy to grab the jig head and shake them loose.)

DO NOT net shaker halibut if you can possibly avoid it - especially if you have a typical net a with wide, un-coated, rough mesh. Doing so will damage the fish's fins, possibly leading to fin rot.

YouTube taught me to hold the shakers between your legs to remove hook. It’s fun, like a weird sport.  No net. Nets can be fatal for shakers.

This thread has some interesting gaffing techniques that I'd never have thought of. Here's what I try to do (at about the 5:30 mark), although it doesn't always work quite so smoothly...

This thread has some interesting gaffing techniques that I'd never have thought of. Here's what I try to do (at about the 5:30 mark), although it doesn't always work quite so smoothly...

   Love the musical  beat...  got a bit of a Belagio water show with each hit.   

This thread has some interesting gaffing techniques that I'd never have thought of. Here's what I try to do (at about the 5:30 mark), although it doesn't always work quite so smoothly...

   Love the musical  beat...  got a bit of a Belagio water show with each hit.   

Haha. I noticed that too....made me chuckle.

Like the other guys on here, nets are for salmon and gaffs are for halibut (for me personally)
I had to do some soul searching one day when I was hesitant in using a gaff and it cost a buddy a nice halibut.
My technique is the same as Nowhere man's vid. For me the success factor is dependent on both gaff technique and having the game clip open and ready (also tethered to the yak or a big float).
also never hold the fish up for a photo unless it is on the gameclip

Like the other guys on here, nets are for salmon and gaffs are for halibut (for me personally)
I had to do some soul searching one day when I was hesitant in using a gaff and it cost a buddy a nice halibut.
My technique is the same as Nowhere man's vid. For me the success factor is dependent on both gaff technique and having the game clip open and ready (also tethered to the yak or a big float).
also never hold the fish up for a photo unless it is on the gameclip

Ok ok ok, I am committing to gaffing the majority of my Hali's this year as a practice.  I caught a small one the other day but knew it was a keeper, gaff out, ready to go, Ist hali of the year, grabbed my big ole net and netted that puppy.  Worst tangle of all time, Haii spun the net around and locked himself in it, took me 20 minutes to get my bait back in the water.  Almost got a lil' woozy trying to untangle it all.  Got the skunk off the new net as a consolation..."gaff life" will be my fresh phrase for my mind at the given time...

Like the other guys on here, nets are for salmon and gaffs are for halibut (for me personally)
I had to do some soul searching one day when I was hesitant in using a gaff and it cost a buddy a nice halibut.
My technique is the same as Nowhere man's vid. For me the success factor is dependent on both gaff technique and having the game clip open and ready (also tethered to the yak or a big float).
also never hold the fish up for a photo unless it is on the gameclip

Ok ok ok, I am committing to gaffing the majority of my Hali's this year as a practice.  I caught a small one the other day but knew it was a keeper, gaff out, ready to go, Ist hali of the year, grabbed my big ole net and netted that puppy.  Worst tangle of all time, Haii spun the net around and locked himself in it, took me 20 minutes to get my bait back in the water.  Almost got a lil' woozy trying to untangle it all.  Got the skunk off the new net as a consolation..."gaff life" will be my fresh phrase for my mind at the given time...

Yea I’ve that happen before, after 15-20 mins of getting the mess untangled I look up and wonder: where I’m I, and how did I end up here. Now I always look around every few minutes when dealing with a tangle. Although, since I switched to using swimbaits I seldom have tangles anymore.

Like the other guys on here, nets are for salmon and gaffs are for halibut (for me personally)
I had to do some soul searching one day when I was hesitant in using a gaff and it cost a buddy a nice halibut.
My technique is the same as Nowhere man's vid. For me the success factor is dependent on both gaff technique and having the game clip open and ready (also tethered to the yak or a big float).
also never hold the fish up for a photo unless it is on the gameclip

Ok ok ok, I am committing to gaffing the majority of my Hali's this year as a practice.  I caught a small one the other day but knew it was a keeper, gaff out, ready to go, Ist hali of the year, grabbed my big ole net and netted that puppy.  Worst tangle of all time, Haii spun the net around and locked himself in it, took me 20 minutes to get my bait back in the water.  Almost got a lil' woozy trying to untangle it all.  Got the skunk off the new net as a consolation..."gaff life" will be my fresh phrase for my mind at the given time...

Yea I’ve that happen before, after 15-20 mins of getting the mess untangled I look up and wonder: where I’m I, and how did I end up here. Now I always look around every few minutes when dealing with a tangle. Although, since I switched to using swimbaits I seldom have tangles anymore.

Mark!  So glad you scored!  Yum and more to come...

I have a halibut specific net.   I think it is Promar, but is similar to the Frabill net.   Does not split the tails on undersized fish.
https://www.frabill.com/pro-formance-halibut-net

I do gaff larger fish.