Bad AK halibut trip today

[Wazntme]

Sorry I stepped away for a couple days, we were fishing out of homer. I went out the next day and ended up with a 35 pounder and my second fish which has to be under 28 inches so much better experience that day. After talking to the captain on my second trip he said who ever sets the hook owns the fish, so going off what he said I pretty much got screwed, I was setting the hook and making sure the fish was on and then handing the rod off to the kids and elderly lady to make sure they could experience a big fight. I’ve calmed down now and looking back on the situation what really ticks me off is that those parents watched me spoon feed big fish to their kids and then when it came time to divide up the fish they kept it all to themselves. Lesson learned, I am a firm believer that I need to pass these experiences to the next generation to ensure the future of the sport and I paid the price. Also I don’t think we should of salmon fished but apparently majority rules and that family wanted salmon so that’s what we did. Also the reason I put this on here was to get advice about talking to the charter co. about the situation but I now figure I need to just move on.

[Skyvalhunter]

the key to charter fishing is ask the captain the rules first off. I went on a combo halibut/salmon charter out of Ninchuck once. One guy sat by the door when we were fishing for salmon and when the down rigger tripped he sprinted to the pole. He caught the only 2 salmon that were caught and proceeded to take both home with him. This guys name was Punky and the name fit him to a tee. I sure am glad to have a buddy that lives up there where I just pay for the fuel, help out with the boat chores and bring home a good amount of fish.

[dilleytech]

I don’t know the peticular laws in Alaska but in Washington it’s whoever is hold the rod when the fish is landed that owns that fish. 1 person can hook and fight 40 fish on a boat but if your handing the rod off right at the last second it’s not your fish.

[7mmfan]

Thats a tough deal. I feel for you. Trying to do the right thing unfortunately doesn't always work out the way it should. You are right that the parents had every opportunity to split some of that fish with you. I was a captain of a 6 pack boat in AK for a long time, but we almost exclusively ran private trips. The expectation was always that the fish would be divided equally when processed unless otherwise indicated by the guests. However with mixed group trips that's not really feasible unless it's talked about and agreed upon by everyone on the boat.

[Mark Youngblood]

I will probably regret doing this but here it goes....lol

I am in Alaska guiding now and they have some very clear cut rules specifically when it comes to halibut fishing.  Non residents can only keep (4) charter caught halibut and they track that for sure...the log books you sign do get checked I am told...every page.  If you come on board and you have 4 fish already on your punch card and I let you keep a 5th I get in big trouble as well.  If you show up without a punch card and I have to issue you for a lost card then its simply on you but they will catch you via the log books we have to fill out every day and each fisherman has to sign.

Party fishing is illegal in Alaska so each person is suppose to catch their own fish.

If you have a rod assigned to you on a halibut trip then you should not be bothering someone else’s rod is the way I see it...personally I would tell you to watch your own rod and leave their alone.  If you are hooking fish and hand in g them off for someone else to reel in its not illegal but once that 3rd fish is retained you just broke the law.

Rules do say the person who hooks the fish is who the fish belongs to.

If you hooked more than the fish you are allowed and they were not released then you yourself are guilty of overfishing or retaining over your limit....party fishing..... you are not entitled to anyone else’s fish... you very well oiled get in trouble yourself

Now...

If you have an agreement on the side with the passengers to split the meat after you get back as far as I know that is up to you but the charter captain cannot tell everyone they must split the meat...

Mixed trips are tough but on halibut I make it very clear everyone has a rod and its their assigned rod and I have had to release some really nice halibut because the person was tagged out and we could not retain it..... you can still fish but the fish has to be let go after your limit is retained.....

[h20hunter]

Well said. Likeky this issue could have been avoided with more communication on both the paying customer and the Capt.  Guranteed the capt has 1000x more on the line than the customer.

[Wazntme]

I definitely know better now so next time I will come home with some meat, thanks guys!

[b0bbyg]

Sorry I stepped away for a couple days, we were fishing out of homer. I went out the next day and ended up with a 35 pounder and my second fish which has to be under 28 inches so much better experience that day. After talking to the captain on my second trip he said who ever sets the hook owns the fish, so going off what he said I pretty much got screwed, I was setting the hook and making sure the fish was on and then handing the rod off to the kids and elderly lady to make sure they could experience a big fight. I’ve calmed down now and looking back on the situation what really ticks me off is that those parents watched me spoon feed big fish to their kids and then when it came time to divide up the fish they kept it all to themselves. Lesson learned, I am a firm believer that I need to pass these experiences to the next generation to ensure the future of the sport and I paid the price. Also I don’t think we should of salmon fished but apparently majority rules and that family wanted salmon so that’s what we did. Also the reason I put this on here was to get advice about talking to the charter co. about the situation but I now figure I need to just move on.

Thanks for the follow-up it made things more clear and gives folks good info on what to watch out for.  Guess I have just been lucky in past that the captains were clear on the rules before we got going.

[Wazntme]

The captain probably should have explained the rules and my past experiences just led me to believe the catch would be divided up.

[hookr88]

Picking charters based on how they run the boat is a hard one. Unless your talking to the actual captain of your boat it's tough to find out how the boat is run as far as rods go. If rods are put in rod holders, as opposed to everyone jigging, I like the following method. Everyone is assigned a rod. When a fish is caught everyone rotates one rod either to the left or right. That way if one rod is hot the person assigned to that  rod doesn't get the bulk of the fish. The other benefit over the numbering system is that you are always fishing no matter which rod gets hit, rather than waiting for your number to come up.

[lokidog]

I don’t know the peticular laws in Alaska but in Washington it’s whoever is hold the rod when the fish is landed that owns that fish. 1 person can hook and fight 40 fish on a boat but if your handing the rod off right at the last second it’s not your fish.

Not true, in WA while fishing saltwater, you can hook and land other people's fish.


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[Skyvalhunter]

Maybe you could hook and land mine then Loki.