Firearms to Safely Land Large Halibut

March 14, 2013

Question: I have a question about safely bringing large halibut onboard. Because the Pacific halibut caught in Alaska are often over 100 pounds, deckhands use pistols or small shotguns to kill the fish before bringing them on board. This is to prevent the fish from causing damage or hurting anyone once on the deck. Would this method be legal to use in California ocean waters with large fish? Of course, the fish would already be “landed” by first being gaffed. Is it even legal to carry a pistol while fishing on a private boat near shore? (Timothy B., Morro Bay)

Answer: Sport fishermen may take halibut by hand, hook and line, spear fishing (when floating or swimming in the water), or bow and arrow (California Code of Regulations Title 14, sections 28.65, 28.90 and 28.95.) Firearms are not a legal method of take for halibut, so a gun may not be used to assist in taking or landing the fish.

In some areas it may be legal to carry a pistol on a private boat but there are closures that prohibit the possession of any firearm on a boat along portions of the Monterey and San Luis Obispo county coastlines within the California Sea Otter Game Refuge. If considering carrying a pistol on your boat, you need to research local laws and ordinances within the jurisdictions you will be transiting on your fishing trip.

Halibut by bow and arrow??? I had no idea.

Place I went to last in Alaska the guy would harpoon the big halibut and let them swim around on a short leash until they got tired. Had no issues with them kicking in the boat. That was like 15years ago. Now you can't keep the big butts anymore.

Can't use a net to assist in taking or to land a halibut either. It's not on the list.

Halibut by bow and arrow??? I had no idea.

My thoughts exactly. Are there bow holders for yaks?;D