Noob question ?

  I will be trying for Halibut in and around Capitola this week.  I've caught them before.  Even in a boat, a large Halibut is a challenge to bring aboard. Most of the time, they beat the floor of the boat thrashing around. 

  How do you pull a Medium or Large Halibut up onto your Yak?.  How do you secure it?

use the "search feature" and I'm sure you can find some tips...


http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,17048.0.html

How do you pull a Medium or Large Halibut up onto your Yak?.  How do you secure it?

Any way you can!


I only brought in a handful of medium halibut last year, but:

-I try to have the landing stuff ready, net/gaff, gameclip, and billy, with no tethers or anything to hang up since timing can be critical.
-getting the fish on the clip is my priority. I don't bring them aboard until they are clipped on.
-slay them quick & don't mess around. I beat 'em, then (if in an area you feel comfortable doing it) clip a gill to quiet them.

Here is one example of how not to do it. Net the halibut, dump it at your feet, allow the fish to stick the stinger hook in your shoe lace, let it shake free and escape.

Man, I dread the day I bring a big one up! The medium ones are tough enough. What I like to do has been mentioned already, have the stuff you're going to need ready after hooking up. I like to bring it alongside nice and easy and slip the gameclip through the gills and out the mouth, and close it. Nice and easy does it, they do let you do it! Said gameclip should also be securely tethered! After that it's the bonk and cut routine.
I used to gaff them, but I don't like that as much anymore. Right after I would stick them it was like riding a bronco, just trying to hold on to the gaff.
I won't bother counting off the ones that left me all wet and with an empty clip!

I have been using a kind of big net. Waiting till the fish is ready. Lifting the rod tip with my right hand postioning the net under the halibut without touching it and in one movement lifting the net and dropping the rod tip. Then I grab the net putting my fingers through the netting and keeping the fish in the net I then put the ready open game clip through the gills, snap it shut and commence to go to work with my trusty ball peen hammer. My biggest on the kayak is only 33 inches so far and the last being a hot fish at Tomales at the end of last year. I cant wait to get a 38 or bigger. It wont fit in the net so I will be just like you. I will probably just crap myself first to get it over with then gaff and string.