Landing Halibut

Thanks everyone, I gotta go get another and dial it all in!

My personal rule is to net them if under 28” and gaff em if over 30”. They seem to get stunned by any gaff shot but stay stunned longer if through the belly. My last one I whiffed on the belly shot and settled for a successful back shot on the second try, sensing that I might not get another.
For sure secure them on extra heavy duty game clip as quickly as possible before removing gaff.

I caught a 44” 36lb pacific halibut, and there is no way I would tried to gaff it. Into the big net it went, and let it go berserk while holding it on the surface, on the clip, and then brain spiked/gills cut. 

Whatever you do, don't try to net one that is clearly the biggest you've ever caught... Hard truths are often learned through experience....

Lost my biggest yak Hallie that way as well. Tail and a good portion sticking out of my salmon net, goes ballistic and....gone. been years and I can still see it vividly

I caught a 44” 36lb pacific halibut, and there is no way I would tried to gaff it. Into the big net it went, and let it go berserk while holding it on the surface, on the clip, and then brain spiked/gills cut.

I've gaffed a 45.5" and a 46" CA halibut (each was 38+ pounds), and I can't picture a net big enough to handle a fish of that size, especially when it goes into berserking mode. The only difficult I found is that the big ones like to hang vertically in the water, making it hard to get a good angle for the gaff shot...

For big halibut definitely gaff not net for me.

For big halibut definitely gaff not net for me.

But the last big one you gaffed flipped you. Your recovery was amazing, however I thought you would of reconsidered gaffing the big ones.

For big halibut definitely gaff not net for me.

But the last big one you gaffed flipped you. Your recovery was amazing, however I thought you would of reconsidered gaffing the big ones.

What!?

That was three big halibut ago, last two had no flippage....besides it was because of your tiny gaff....no wonder you don't like gaffing! 

What!?

That was three big halibut ago, last two had no flippage....besides it was because of your tiny gaff....no wonder you don't like gaffing! 
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Hey! No personal accusations of a "tiny gaff"!
I think it goes against admin rules.

On the day I forgot my gaff,  tried to land this big Halibut with my net, got its head and 2/3 of the body in the net, lifted the net off the water and tried to bring it on the kayak,  it went berserk and pulled the Houdini's maneuver out of the net.  It still haunting me to this day.

This thread is putting me over the edge on a gaff. If I build my own, what is the right size hook gap for halibut and lings? 

Are we gaffing salmon this year?

Are we gaffing salmon this year?

Just the big ones

This thread is putting me over the edge on a gaff. If I build my own, what is the right size hook gap for halibut and lings?

A commercial salmon hook is hard to beat.

Are we gaffing salmon this year?

Yes!