Halibut

[HOYT6.0]

Well I finally figured out how to post pictures  (I hope).  The family and I launched out of keystone ferry on Whidbey Island Saturday.  Fished the outgoing tide on Partridge bank.  Landed one that was between 35-40lbs.  My son (who is 5)  lost one that was around 100lbs.  Now your probably asking how did a 5 year old loose a 100lb halibut.  Easy.  leave the rod in the rod holder and tell him to crank.  Well that lasted for about 15-20 minutes and the fish came un-buttoned. He's hooked on hali fishing now.  Here's some pics of before and after vacuumed sealed.  I usually dont say what I was using.  But if interested,  shoot me a pm and I will give you some pointers....

[HOYT6.0]

Heres my brothers 234lber he caught in Alaska this year...

[PA BEN]

how was the 234 lb'er for eatting? I heard the big ones aren't so good.

[HOYT6.0]

Ok,  since I havent had any responses.  Heres my secret.  ALWAYS fish downhill.  What I mean by that is,  if its a outgoing tide.  Fish on the west side of any bank that has a steep downcline (Halibut Bumps is what I call them).  Just the opposite for a incoming tide.  I always use fresh bait (black label hearing or the biggest hearing you can find) cured in blue dye with a spreader bar and a glow in the dark squid.  Try and make it look like the squid is trying to eat a hearing that is to big for itself.  Ensure your weight is bouncing consistantly off the bottom.   Ring that dinner bell.  It takes a little time to master.  But once you figure it out, its rather easy and you will catch alot of halibut in the sound.   Hope this helps some fellow hunters...

[HOYT6.0]

how was the 234 lb'er for eatting? I heard the big ones aren't so good.

I havent eaten any of it,  but my bro said its a little tough.  From my expereince the best eating is between the 40-80lb range....

[lokidog]

Thanks for the info.  I got a 121 in AK once, not tough at all.... 

[JimmyHoffa]

how was the 234 lb'er for eatting? I heard the big ones aren't so good.

The bigger fish taste the same, the flakes are much larger so they are tougher to get bite sized pieces with a fork.  The little fish can have the flesh be the opposite, making it difficult to keep a chunk on a fork....pieces will fall off.

[cohoho]

I heard it all the time about the big ones tasting different but out of the crap loads I caught in AK never had a Barn Door taste different than a Chicken..  Flake size is the only thing I ever found to be different.   

[7mmfan]

I ran a charter boat out of Sitka for 5 years, heres a couple of standouts. The big one me and the big guy are holding up was 84" and 320 or so. The next biggest was 280. The catch shot were fish all between 80 and 150. The underwater shot was of one right at 200.

The big fish taste fine, especially if your just making fish and chips. They can be a little grainy though. The main reason to let those big ones go is to help the breeding stock. Basically anything over 110 or 120 pounds is going to be a female. That is why halibut restrictions have gotten so tough, particularly in SE AK where there is a ton of pressure. You kill all the big girls and soon there won't be any left to make baby's, plain and simple.

[GoldTip]

I agree, flake size and a bit grainier is the only difference I've noticed in the fish above 100lbs.

[JKEEN33]

Those big ones sure make some nice pics no matter how they eat. I agree they should probably be let go, but everyone needs at least one pic with a monster. I've never had one over 70 yet.

[pjb3]

LET THE FEMALES GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!