I know, I know. I couldn't resist that header. Anyway, here is a shot of Ryan, me, and David on our halibut charter. Good times, good eats. We started out with the conventional halibut set-ups - big ugly-sticks, heavy weight, and bait (red hering I believe). After the first fish on, I asked if there was anything lighter, as in light-action gear for halibut. The big stuff was fine, but was mor elike pulling up a tire from the bottom. I wanted to feel more of the fight. So Rich, our Capt. dug out some 10 ft. eye-less rods that were pretty light action. We rigged with some large jiggs, accompanied by a rubber-skirt squid looking thing and the work began. I was instructed to jig the rod from the water, all the way up above my head, and back down again. It took a lot more effort (my arms burned, and then I had to fight a fish up from over 100 ft of water) but the pay-off was a blast! I hooked and landed three more fish within 15 minutes of hitting the water with the jig. And there was none of this "sit and watch the rod tip for nibbles." Those fish would slam the jigs right at about mid-way through my upward pull. I'd be sitting there jigging up, down, up, down, up, down, WHAM! It would stop me like I'd hooked onto a rock ledge at the bottom. The bend those fish put in the light rods was intense. I would be holding the butt on the rod straight up, but the rod tip would be pointing straight down. The best part about the jigging rods was that you could feel the fight... especially when a larger fish hit. I could feel it pulsing that wide tail fin as it worked its way back down to the bottom. Ah, what a blast! Just like fish'n Kokes on East Lake, only I'd have to take a break after each halibut brought to the boat. Quite a work-out! As you can see here, the largest fish we saw were in the 20 - 25 range. Nothing huge, but plenty of fun. I'd do it again in a heart-beat knowing I would only catch a coupld 20 lbers. Thanks to Rich West of Anchorage for a great day on Prince William Sound (beautiful area) and thanks to dad Elg for making it happen. Tight Lines! (on long, light, jigging rods... WHAM!)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Just for the Halibut...
I know, I know. I couldn't resist that header. Anyway, here is a shot of Ryan, me, and David on our halibut charter. Good times, good eats. We started out with the conventional halibut set-ups - big ugly-sticks, heavy weight, and bait (red hering I believe). After the first fish on, I asked if there was anything lighter, as in light-action gear for halibut. The big stuff was fine, but was mor elike pulling up a tire from the bottom. I wanted to feel more of the fight. So Rich, our Capt. dug out some 10 ft. eye-less rods that were pretty light action. We rigged with some large jiggs, accompanied by a rubber-skirt squid looking thing and the work began. I was instructed to jig the rod from the water, all the way up above my head, and back down again. It took a lot more effort (my arms burned, and then I had to fight a fish up from over 100 ft of water) but the pay-off was a blast! I hooked and landed three more fish within 15 minutes of hitting the water with the jig. And there was none of this "sit and watch the rod tip for nibbles." Those fish would slam the jigs right at about mid-way through my upward pull. I'd be sitting there jigging up, down, up, down, up, down, WHAM! It would stop me like I'd hooked onto a rock ledge at the bottom. The bend those fish put in the light rods was intense. I would be holding the butt on the rod straight up, but the rod tip would be pointing straight down. The best part about the jigging rods was that you could feel the fight... especially when a larger fish hit. I could feel it pulsing that wide tail fin as it worked its way back down to the bottom. Ah, what a blast! Just like fish'n Kokes on East Lake, only I'd have to take a break after each halibut brought to the boat. Quite a work-out! As you can see here, the largest fish we saw were in the 20 - 25 range. Nothing huge, but plenty of fun. I'd do it again in a heart-beat knowing I would only catch a coupld 20 lbers. Thanks to Rich West of Anchorage for a great day on Prince William Sound (beautiful area) and thanks to dad Elg for making it happen. Tight Lines! (on long, light, jigging rods... WHAM!)
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2 comments:
WHERE IS BARBIE?
I can honestly say that Halibut is now my most favorite fish to eat! Truly they are quite a homely fish, not one to put in a fish bowl and look at, but these gems are great eating! So I will put both hands in the air and call out "Pick me, Pick me!" when the dinner bell rings! Great catch Jake!
loves,
Moma
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