Controversary over retaining of large halibut

[Skyvalhunter]

Sounds like there is alot of stink in the fishing community over the retention of a large halibut caught recently. Some people felt the angler should have released the fish because the large ones are the baby factories. Theres a call for releasing of the large ones.
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/reeltimenorthwest/2014/05/29/photos-mammoth-halibut-caught-in-eastern-strait-of-juan-de-fuca/

[h20hunter]

Not a doubt in my mind. I would have been doing the same thing. Hook, harpoon, shoot, bleed, filet, eat.

[rover758]

 

Hate Hein Bank.  Lost two anchors up there - my own fault.  Even in Alaska I've never boated one in the 100 pound + range.  One day .... one day.  (Three of us brought home about 70 pounds each of fillets from fishing last weekend so I guess I can't complain too much.)

[bearpaw]

If the big ones need to be saved then WDFW should create a slot size limit to save the big ones like with sturgeon. If the current style of management is ensuring a lasting fishery then I don't see a problem.

The guy did everything right, congrats to him on taking a fantastic fish. 

[pianoman9701]

Sour grapes. Half those hosers would have kept that fish if they'd caught it. Damned nice fish. 

[steeleywhopper]

WDFW does not give sport anglers enough of a season to even put a tiny dent in our breeder Halibut.

[Mfowl]

I'd be torn to keep a fish like that. It would be hard to let it swim off but I've heard that they are not the best eating also. If fishing was good and I thought I'd get an eater I might have to release it. I've also heard that the biggest 'buts are not the  prime breeders that everyone believes them to be. They are actually past their prime and though they still produce eggs they are not as prolific as the fish in smaller size classes. Anyway, good catch to those involved!

[Atroxus]

I am confused on the logic of maximum fish size rules. I would think that ideally you would want to figure out how long the average fish needs to live to sustain or grow their populations, along with their average length at that age, then set a minimum length based on that knowledge. For example, and these numbers are completely made up and likely have no bearing in reality...if we could sustain or grow halibut numbers by letting all halibut reach 36 inches, we should set laws that anything below that length needs to be released, and anything above that length can be kept. Or am I missing something? Do halibut suddenly start producing twice the number of eggs at a certain size, then sustain that until they die? 

[WSU]

I don't know what I think about this topic because I don't know enough about Washington's season structure.  Are sportfishers catching enough to actually make a dent in the breeder population?  The majority of the catch is allocated to commercial fishers, so if anything, they should have size restrictions.  It would really be unfair to restrict sports but not commercials (although that happens all the time in the great state of Washington under WDFW).

[Skyvalhunter]

It is my understanding and I am sure people will correct me if I am wrong that like Ling cod the larger fish are the ones that produce the most off spring. So in keeping those we possibly impact future fishing populations. I also understand the long liners(commercial) have more of an impact than sport fishermen.

[RB]

Not a doubt in my mind. I would have been doing the same thing. Hook, harpoon, shoot, bleed, filet, eat.

Yup! and share with my family members. The meat on the bigger ones is not as delicate as the smaller ones it has more grain to it, the smaller ones are smoother and really can taste like chicken if prepared a certain way. Wish I could have had more than one afternoon to Halibut fish again this year maybe next year will be the year 

[snowpack]

I've heard that after about 40 inches all halibut are likely female, and that as they get bigger they carry more and more eggs.  Whether or not it is twice as much as a halibut half the weight I can't recall. 

[MADMAX]

Sour grapes. Half those hosers would have kept that fish if they'd caught it. Damned nice fish. 

 
gun harpoon gaff and done

[MooseStock]

Nice Fish....that thing may have weighed more then they thought....73 inches on most halibut charts rates out to about 204-205 lbs. Don't blame him a bit for keeping it....if they want to make rules for the commercials as well as the sports guys then OK...we will live with it like we do hatchery only King retention. Most of those commercials catch them on the long lines so they are probably dead when they come up some of the time so it probably won't happen...............Les

[Dansk]

Canada has a max length, so i can see wa going to similar system.  Also up for proposal is going to a draw/tag system and letting you fish over a liberal season for your (one?) fish.  Fact is, we have a derby system- sporters catch as much as we can over just a few days until harvest targets (pounds) are "met".  Fishery is only open for a few days each year, so IF you can get out on the water and IF you hook a halibut, and IF you land it, you'd be crazy not to keep it.

I wonder how many of the sour grapers tell thier waiter at anthony's, or the person behind the seafood counter to only give them fillets from a fish under XX pounds. 

BTW- My buddy said that fish ate just like the small ones...