Too big

[MADMAX]

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/excursions/post/angler-76-lands-enormous-halibut-alaska/

ya think ?

[Capt. Rob]

Yes it is real. I have put numerous Butts over 200 pounds in my boat, the biggest being 265. That fish is much thicker and longer. It is to bad it was shot, but I would have done the same thing. They are to big of risk to try and bring aboard even after bleeding out.

[b23]

I don't know this to be fact, which is why I'm asking, but I recall being told they aren't fit to eat when they are that big.  Something about the big ones being really "strong" tasting and they are full of worms.  Is this just BS or is there truth to it??? 

I do know that the females are the ones that get really big and the bigger they are the more eggs they lay.  Maybe it would have been better to just take a picture and cut her free.  Same way with Lingcod, when you get one that is 40ish pounds you're better off turning them loose because they are the ones that lay the most eggs.

[h20hunter]

I have killed some big fish. Mainly....big lingcod before the regulation was in place for spearfishing. I quickly grew tired of the trophy quality and went for table fare and what is best for protecting spawners. If legal to keep then I'm not going to fault the angler for making the decision to "bonk" it.

That being said I think it is past time that spawning fish were protected better. Less nets in the rivers, possible slot limits or season changes. Something. I of course don't have the answers but eventually, if not soon, those big spawners will be a thing of the past.

[pilebuck]

How stupid to keep one that big  I worked in Adak and caught my share of them caught many big ones cut them loose they r not good eating the meat is laminated the best r under a 100 pounds. Just let the old fish live and breed must be a little guy syndrome 

[7mmfan]

I ran a charter boat out of Sitka for 5 years and my boat killed many fish over 250#, the biggest being roughly #385. I had a few days where we didn't keep a fish UNDER 100#. I also let a lot of big fish go. When you're sitting behind a keyboard talking about it, its easy to say, yeah I would let it go, but when you're the average Joe that has been saving for an Alaska fishing trip for 5 years and he gets a 300# fish next to the boat, it is VERY hard to convince him that it needs to go back. Most of us gain that level of "maturity" so to speak, after many years and many large fish.

I do agree that those big fish need to be let go, they are the life blood of the resource. Over time, regional populations of these fish will get fished out, so they do need to be protected. Steps have been taken in SE AK to reduce the take on these large fish and I'm happy about it. However, there are millions of halibut in the ocean, it would take a concerted effort to fish them to critical numbers.

I'm with H20, if its legal to keep them, then I will not fault a guy for it. 

[cohoho]

I ran a charter boat out of Sitka for 5 years and my boat killed many fish over 250#, the biggest being roughly #385. I had a few days where we didn't keep a fish UNDER 100#. I also let a lot of big fish go. When you're sitting behind a keyboard talking about it, its easy to say, yeah I would let it go, but when you're the average Joe that has been saving for an Alaska fishing trip for 5 years and he gets a 300# fish next to the boat, it is VERY hard to convince him that it needs to go back. Most of us gain that level of "maturity" so to speak, after many years and many large fish.

I do agree that those big fish need to be let go, they are the life blood of the resource. Over time, regional populations of these fish will get fished out, so they do need to be protected. Steps have been taken in SE AK to reduce the take on these large fish and I'm happy about it. However, there are millions of halibut in the ocean, it would take a concerted effort to fish them to critical numbers.

I'm with H20, if its legal to keep them, then I will not fault a guy for it.

    Exact thoughts.... 

[b23]

Just to be clear, I wasn't attempting to fault anyone but more to the point that if these things aren't worth eating and you're not going to get credit in any record book/s because they shot it and I'm pretty sure nobody would spend the money to have it sent to a taxidermy and a mold done of it, we all agree the big girls like this produce significantly more eggs than the smaller females, so why not take your a pic or two along side the boat then cut her free.  Kind of like they do with those big sturgeon that are to big to keep.

[7mmfan]

Just to be clear, I wasn't attempting to fault anyone but more to the point that if these things aren't worth eating and you're not going to get credit in any record book/s because they shot it and I'm pretty sure nobody would spend the money to have it sent to a taxidermy and a mold done of it, we all agree the big girls like this produce significantly more eggs than the smaller females, so why not take your a pic or two along side the boat then cut her free.  Kind of like they do with those big sturgeon that are to big to keep.

No need to back up your stance, everyone is allowed to have their position!    My opinion is that no they aren't that great to eat, WAY to expensive to have mounted and should be let go. The reality is that until its law that they are let go, they will continue to be killed.

Do you know why everyone lets go the big sturgeon? Because they HAVE to. I guarantee you if people were allowed to keep oversize sturgeon, people would keep oversize sturgeon just because they could. Doesn't matter if its best for the resource to let them go, or if they are no good to eat, people would still kill them.

[bowhunterwa87]

Thats an awesome fish!!

[kodiak 907]

Our biggest fish from my cousins boat. Right at 400#.  They are not good eating when they get that large.  My cousin could not talk the guys into releasing it.

[wafisherman]

Our biggest fish from my cousins boat. Right at 400#.  They are not good eating when they get that large.  My cousin could not talk the guys into releasing it.

Nice.  That's what i'd call surf and turf!!   

[pilebuck]

Yes true if the law don't change they will keep them. I agree but just snap a pic and send em back like said u can't mount them meat is not good eating but some people will kill for the thrill to bad