Halibut Season Whats Your Load??

[Kai]

I prefer a 90 grain cast .41 cal. round ball over 11 grains of unique in a 444 Marlin case. Kinda takes the wiggle out of em!

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[huntinlever]

Halibut? I grew up hunting them off the Channel Islands, but my lever was a slightly different make...

314781

[Mk42gunner]

I never got to go halibut fishing from a boat, but have caught a few from the pier on Adak.

I talked to some people that kept an old single shot .22 on board for the big ones; it always seemed kind of small to me, I think your .41 will do better.

Robert

[huntinlever]

I never got to go halibut fishing from a boat, but have caught a few from the pier on Adak.

I talked to some people that kept an old single shot .22 on board for the big ones; it always seemed kind of small to me, I think your .41 will do better.

Robert

LOL, I didn't know this was even a thing. I thought "halibut" was some slang for some species of land game (not kidding. :oops:)

[Txcowboy52]

.357 shotshells always worked good for me and my father in law. You just have to hit them in the right spot.

[ChristopherO]

For us uninitiated Midwestern folk, please 'splain just what this is all about. We can bowfish for trash fish, but halibut sounds much more appealing than carp to shoot.

[Texas by God]

For us uninitiated Midwestern folk, please 'splain just what this is all about. We can bowfish for trash fish, but halibut sounds much more appealing than carp to shoot.

Exactly. I’ve only shot carp and gar here.
Only a shotgun is legal on the river so I see the point of the OP’s load.[emoji848][emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WRideout]

What is your location, Kai? I have read that in Alaska halibut grow too big to get one into a small boat.

BTW: I hear that old-time muskie fishermen used to keep a small pistol in the tackle box to dispatch them.

Wayne

[georgerkahn]

For us uninitiated Midwestern folk, please 'splain just what this is all about. We can bowfish for trash fish, but halibut sounds much more appealing than carp to shoot.

I'm a north-easter and was equally ignorant re halibut. A colleague went on an Alaskan fish trip, and brought me some back. Without a doubt, to my tastebuds, the MOST delcious deafood I ever had the privilege to eat! In the East, flat fish, generally with eyes on one side, are called flounders. Similarly, halibut are flat fish -- also bottom dwellers -- are native to the Pacific. A listing writes: "About the Species: Pacific halibut lives on ocean floor. Pacific halibut is the largest species of flatfish. It is native to the North Pacific Ocean and it is fished by commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishermen. Huge Pacific halibut, sometimes called "barn doors," can attain a length of more than 8 feet and a width of more than 5 feet. Halibut are born swimming like salmon, with eyes on either side of their head. As they grow (by the time they are 6 months old), one eye migrates to the right side and the young halibut begin swimming sideways, with both eyes on the top of their bodies. 314798Their large size and delectable meat make them a popular and prized target for both sport and commercial fishermen."
My colleague, Tom, voiced his surprise as charter captain pulled out a S&W .45 Colt revolver to dispatch as the first halibut -- in the five foot length range -- was boated. Captain yelled for all clients to stand clear, voicing that a halibut can very easily and readily kill a man! Their "flopping" is not to be taken lightly!
I am sooooooooo envious of any who reside such that they may fish for them! Again, by far the most delicious seafood I have ever had the pleasure to consume. As a side note, too, I had never ever seen fish flesh as pure white as that which was gifted to me.
As a kid, we'd go out in Atlantic off New York's Long Island for flounder... a four-pounder was a "trophy". Hence, that both eyes migrate to one side and fish lives near bottom are perhaps the only two things ;) they have in common....
geo

[farmbif]

ive seen awe inspiring pictures, video. of those huge fish being reeled up from the bottom and it takes 3 men to pull it into the boat but before pulling in boat I'm pretty sure the captain on the boat had a 44 mag. probably with factory 240 grain loads that calmed the monster down quite a bit.
Ive never done it, shot a monster halibut, but got to believe that 19 or 20 grains of 2400 behind an H&G 503 would do the trick in a 44 mag

[Mk42gunner]

Fresh or home frozen Halibut is one of the best tasting fishes, and I come from the land of catfish and crappie. Institutionally cooked halibut (school or navy) is not fit for consumption, usually falsely advertised as lemon baked halibut.

The difference between halibut and flounder is that flounder is full of bones, halibut is pretty much bone free once cleaned.

A 35 pound halibut when held t waist level for pictures will drag the ground and obscure your legs, they are that wide, but only a few inches thick. And even that small, their teeth are like a pencil lead about 5/8" long. I would not want to get bit by one.

Robert

[muskeg13]

We used to go out Halibut fishing with a local in Haines. He would laugh and mock those other guys who shot any halibut over 10 lbs.
Yes you can damage a small boat if they are a monster size but gaffing and dragging them backwards until they drown/suffocate works too. Seen a big one, 200lbs +up one the dock in Haines and the guy was skinning it like a moose. It would feed his family all winter. Never shot it, just dragged backwards until he got to port.
Shooting halibut is really only good for telling stories.

Don't you mean UNDER 100 pounds? A long handle fishing gaff is normally used. Shooting halibut is done just to impress the tourists.

[rockrat]

Walleye is right up there with Halibut. Had some Halibut a few times last week, ranging from well prepared to so-so. Best was from a food truck. Most times, the breading is as thick as the filet. From the truck, around half the size of the filet. Thats both sides combined.

[Txcowboy52]

For about twenty years my in-laws would spend their summers in Valdez Alaska. My father in law kept his boat up there and their favorite thing to do, if they weren’t salmon fishing was halibut fishing. They fished way out in Prince William Sound. They caught several over a hundred pounds and quite a few over two hundred pounds. They are sold muscle! When we would catch one over a certain weight, and I don’t remember what that was, we would shoot them before we brought them on the boat. Too much danger of them breaking a leg or knocking someone over board. Even in the summer the water is really cold and you won’t last long . Definitely a must do safety measure.

[405grain]

When I was in the Navy a couple of my buddies would go down to Baja and go fishing for dorado. They'd head out on the open ocean in an outboard skiff with their guide. In the boat the guide would have a small oar. One of my friends ask jokingly if the oar was so they could paddle back to shore if the engine quit. Later, once they landed their first dorado they found out what the oar was for. The guide would use it as a club to smack the fish in the head to make it stop thrashing about. Apparently the fish were strong enough that they could hurt you or break stuff while flopping around. The guide would have to hit them a couple of times to quiet them down.

The only time I ever caught a halibut (off a pier) it had to be the worlds smallest halibut. I set him free so he could get bigger.

[Kai]

I have lived in Alaska for 35 years. Catching halibut really is a blast. Fishing in as much as 300 feet of water you never know what you might drag up. Fish grow to hundreds of pounds. A hundred pound halibut thrashing on the deck can break your leg. For many years I never used a gun. The fish was brought up, harpooned, which sort of kind of bleeds em, then the fish was brought to the side of the boat, beat severely then the gills cut. Harpooning connects the fish to a 12" bouy via a length of rope. A hundred pound fish will pull that big bobber down 25'. I had a buddy give me the .410 snake charmer saying if I can fix it I can have it. I fixed it and thought I'd give it a try. Got the fish up harpooned it and one shot behind the head and done. No thrashing no leaning over the rail beating the fish just done. I'm sure some guides shoot fish to impress tourists. I guided for 6 years and did not use a gun then but looking back wish I'd had one.

[Kai]

For about twenty years my in-laws would spend their summers in Valdez Alaska. My father in law kept his boat up there and their favorite thing to do, if they weren’t salmon fishing was halibut fishing. They fished way out in Prince William Sound. They caught several over a hundred pounds and quite a few over two hundred pounds. They are sold muscle! When we would catch one over a certain weight, and I don’t remember what that was, we would shoot them before we brought them on the boat. Too much danger of them breaking a leg or knocking someone over board. Even in the summer the water is really cold and you won’t last long . Definitely a must do safety measure.

Exactly!!

[Kai]

What is your location, Kai? I have read that in Alaska halibut grow too big to get one into a small boat.

BTW: I hear that old-time muskie fishermen used to keep a small pistol in the tackle box to dispatch them.

Wayne

Southeast Alaska

[Markopolo]

Amen to the gun… I use an old rusty 22 mag that I basically found in a boat I bought about 10 years ago rusted to the floor under a seat!!!.

[huntinlever]

Agreed on the quality of good halibut (and agree with Robert - many people who believe they've had it have been snowed). It was a rare spearfishing for myself or anyone on our dive boat to take a halibut, but these were nowhere near any of the sea monsters described here (20 lbs was plenty of fight, at the end of a spear). Mostly, I speared sheephead, and otherwise went after spiny lobster, abalone and sea scallops. Can't believe how little you think of mortality when young - like drift diving open ocean at night.

[Bigslug]

314809

Hedgehog?

[ChristopherO]

Thanks Gentlemen for all the responses that explain the use of firearms in subduing this fish. I suppose if I were a fishing guide a bit of showmanship, gunplay and protection for my clients and boat makes using a sidearm, or long gun, worthwhile. Makes memories for the Non Resident tourist and quickens the process to get back to the task at hand, catching more fish. Following up with a shot on a wounded live mammal that can strike with hoof or claw isn't even something to question. All the more when confined on a smallish sea going vessel to keep from being slapped senseless or overboard. I learn something everyday.

[WRideout]

I'm a north-easter and was equally ignorant re halibut. A colleague went on an Alaskan fish trip, and brought me some back. Without a doubt, to my tastebuds, the MOST delcious deafood I ever had the privilege to eat! In the East, flat fish, generally with eyes on one side, are called flounders. Similarly, halibut are flat fish -- also bottom dwellers -- are native to the Pacific. A listing writes: "About the Species: Pacific halibut lives on ocean floor. Pacific halibut is the largest species of flatfish. It is native to the North Pacific Ocean and it is fished by commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishermen. Huge Pacific halibut, sometimes called "barn doors," can attain a length of more than 8 feet and a width of more than 5 feet. Halibut are born swimming like salmon, with eyes on either side of their head. As they grow (by the time they are 6 months old), one eye migrates to the right side and the young halibut begin swimming sideways, with both eyes on the top of their bodies. 314798Their large size and delectable meat make them a popular and prized target for both sport and commercial fishermen."
My colleague, Tom, voiced his surprise as charter captain pulled out a S&W .45 Colt revolver to dispatch as the first halibut -- in the five foot length range -- was boated. Captain yelled for all clients to stand clear, voicing that a halibut can very easily and readily kill a man! Their "flopping" is not to be taken lightly!
I am sooooooooo envious of any who reside such that they may fish for them! Again, by far the most delicious seafood I have ever had the pleasure to consume. As a side note, too, I had never ever seen fish flesh as pure white as that which was gifted to me.
As a kid, we'd go out in Atlantic off New York's Long Island for flounder... a four-pounder was a "trophy". Hence, that both eyes migrate to one side and fish lives near bottom are perhaps the only two things ;) they have in common....
geo

My mother, rest her soul, committed many crimes against innocent seafood. She knew one way to cook fish; dredge it in flour then fry it to leather in a cast iron skillet. I was a grown man before I discovered that fish could taste good.

Wayne

[alfadan]

Sounds like fun! I'd use a gun cause I like guns.

[jonp]

VT still has a rifle season for walleye.

[Rockingkj]

Ya gotta love the combination of fishing and shooting! That’s some big fish! Felt some catfish while “stump fishin” that a bang stick could have been more effective than sticking an arm down the mouth to bring ‘‘em out.

[Good Cheer]

If you're liable for injury to clients on board your boat then putting down a big fish makes a lot of sense.

[quilbilly]

I prefer not to carry a valuable firearm in my kayak nor do I want any halibut over 30# in my lap. I carry a club to subdue any halibut over 15# and a sharp knife to cut off any halibut over 50#. Just last week an angler fishing nearshore in 55' of water along the Olympic Peninsula near where I fish landed a 134#. The average halibut here on the southern end of Alaska halibut range is actually about 15# which is perfect eating size. A couple years back a guy in a kayak near Neah Bay hooked a 200+ but needed nearby anglers in a much bigger boat to land it. Most of the charter operators I know prefer a 357 and I occasionally supply them with CB's.

[rbuck351]

I lived in AK for 32 years and did catch a few halibut ranging from about 10 lbs to 65 lbs. I never did shoot one but did see a couple shot. I don't remember what caliber was used but most anything of 38 spl or larger would work fine. I did see one in the back of an 8' pickup bed that took up almost the full length of the bed. I know I would not want to be on the same deck with a live halibut of that size.

[HodakaGA]

Fished out of Homer on Monday. We had 7 people fishing, the Capt and a mate. Rain, rough seas and cold for a GA boy. We all limited out on halibut and rock fish. My son and one other guy each had a bonus Codfish. We had several halibut between 28 and 31 inches.

Oh, we had an all girl crew...the Captain was likely under 35 and the mate told me she was 31. I would have sworn she might be 20 years old.

Do a search for the Irish Mist.

[bandanaman]

I have lived in Alaska for 35 years. Catching halibut really is a blast. Fishing in as much as 300 feet of water you never know what you might drag up. Fish grow to hundreds of pounds. A hundred pound halibut thrashing on the deck can break your leg. For many years I never used a gun. The fish was brought up, harpooned, which sort of kind of bleeds em, then the fish was brought to the side of the boat, beat severely then the gills cut. Harpooning connects the fish to a 12" bouy via a length of rope. A hundred pound fish will pull that big bobber down 25'. I had a buddy give me the .410 snake charmer saying if I can fix it I can have it. I fixed it and thought I'd give it a try. Got the fish up harpooned it and one shot behind the head and done. No thrashing no leaning over the rail beating the fish just done. I'm sure some guides shoot fish to impress tourists. I guided for 6 years and did not use a gun then but looking back wish I'd had one.

My boss fished the Queen Charlottes [oh sorry Haida Gwaii ] for years and always had a 410 using slugs to dispatch a large halibut .I made a harpoon but unfortunately haven't caught one large enough to warrant using it. He got a stainless snake charmer thinking it would be good for corrosion but ended up giving it to me as it would misfire. Has a very sloppy trigger and wimpy hammer spring. Curious to know what the problem with yours was ?

[AlaskaMike]

I always preferred a .38. When you're on the open water, a higher pressure round sure is an ear-buster, so a lower pressure round helps.

Also, beating on a huge halibut with a club to try to stun it before bringing it into the boat is almost as dangerous as it thrashing around on the deck. People also forget just how cold the water is up here, even in the summer. If you go into the water without a life preserver, it's not just an embarrassing moment, you're in serious trouble.

If I can stand off a few feet and shoot the halibut first, you bet I'll go that route. It has nothing at all to do with showing off.

[Digital Dan]

Fished a lot in my days, both sport and commercial. I prefer something akin to a night stick or billy club for dispatching fish.

[dverna]

Very interesting thread.

[15meter]

Muskie guys in Michigan carry a "thumper". I turned one for a buddy's son out of what he called ironwood, he gave me this 30" piece of wood that his son had gotten in the UP. When I trimmed the ends to mount it between centers on the lathe, it looked like tightly wound canvas, the growth rings were so tight.

I think it would put down most everything smaller than "big game".

His kid was happy, no more fish thrashing about in the boat.

315411

That's about 1/2"x 3/4". Tight growth rings.

[Jim22]

Lived in Alaska for 28 years. I only shot one halibut. It was a bit over 100 lbs caught from a sailboat by a ten year-old boy. His dad aasked if anyone had a gun and I did. No one's legs got broken after that. They put the carcass in a 10 foot inflatable boat and it covered nearly all the floor.

I also knew a few people who had salt water sport fishing boats. Some had booms and winches installed for winching aboard big halibut. A few had 'Bang Sticks' that consisted of a piece of pipe with a sincgle shot .410 shotgun about six inches long. They had a fixied firing pin and would fire if you jammed the muxxle onto the head of a halibut. I aleays thought the were too dangerous to have around.

When the snake charmer came on the market some people called it the halibut charmer.

I have eaten a lot of halibut. While it is very good I prefer either rockfish or cod.

Jim

[GooseGestapo]

Never used a gun to subdue a fish, but have used a .357mag to subdue an alligator.
This thread reminded me I need to apply for my gator permit this month.

I’ve had walleye, cod, flounder (north eastern fluke), and Halibut.
I vote grilled (blackened in S.E. terms), and I vote Halibut.

[steve urquell]

https://c.tenor.com/N05CNPqTl7IAAAAd/tenor.gif

[TurnipEaterDown]

Muskie guys in Michigan carry a "thumper". I turned one for a buddy's son out of what he called ironwood, he gave me this 30" piece of wood that his son had gotten in the UP. When I trimmed the ends to mount it between centers on the lathe, it looked like tightly wound canvas, the growth rings were so tight.

I think it would put down most everything smaller than "big game".

His kid was happy, no more fish thrashing about in the boat.

315411

That's about 1/2"x 3/4". Tight growth rings.

Iron wood does grow slow. My father and I used to cut dead ones very happily for firewood. Burns long and hot.
Twisted grain, we didn't cut ones that had to be split. Good luck w/ that.
At one time I thought I wanted to have a gun stock made of one if I could get a piece large enough.
There are different varieties of ironwood, and if I remember correctly someone told me black ironwood used to be used as ribs in English Naval sailing vessels. Black ironwood is dense enough that it does not float when dry. It will sink in water.

[Bmi48219]

Always wanted to go to Alaska and catch a big halibut. Realistically I can no longer handle something that big anymore. Saw a picture of one caught with rod and reel, a 375 lb’er. Think it was a IGFA record.
Now a former work associate that fished the Western Hemisphere extensively told me pulling up a 100 lb halibut from 200 feet was comparable to reeling up a tractor tire, not a lot of fight. I’m not sure about that. My experiences with bringing in flat bodied species like triggerfish, permit and pompano would seem to indicate otherwise. Their flat bodies have a lot of leverage for their weight.
Halibut are both delicious and expensive. As a RC surviving Lent in the 50’s we had halibut steaks frequently, so I’m guessing they were both plentiful and reasonably priced back then.