Trip Log - Barn door redemption
"Barn door redemption"
It was the first trip back to the offshore grounds after breaking off a massive Halibut last season. Loaded down with Black & Mild's and freshly jigged Herring, we set off to a favorite inshore hole, known locally as buoy 4. Once on scene AN detected promising water to the north, where a schools of 40lb class King Salmon were observed decimating a pod of herring on the fish finder. We set anchor in 90' of water and decided to give it a try before heading out to the offshore reef. Approximately one B&M in, RN boated a quality 50lb Halibut. Excited with the quick start, we dead-sticked the remaining rods and reorganized the deck for more combat. Moments later, one of the dead-stick rods bent in half. I grabbed the rod, as line peeled off the reel at an alarming rate. My thoughts immediately shifted to the memory of last season's behemoth. Moments later, approximately 300 yards of 100' super braid had been ripped off the reel. RN jumped into action and prepared to weigh anchor and come off the ball to chase the fish. With the reel's backing in sight, the fish finally stopped it's initial run. After a 30 minute stalemate, the fish tired and came within view. RN rigged the harpoon and stood at the gunwale, poised to strike. With one swift jab, the harpoon hit it's mark and the fish exploded in a fit of rage back to the bottom, taking 100' of harpoon line and an orange Polyform ball with it. The ball went under for several minutes as the fish made its second run. After another 20 minutes of angling the fish was back along side the boat. Attempts to secure a tail rope proved unsuccessful as the fish continued to thrash at the surface. Acting out of pure animal instinct, AN benched the rod and reached under the Halibut's gill plate and grabbed a fist full of gills. On a three count, we pulled the barn door over the rail. After an extended B&M break we pulled anchor and ran home, anxious to weigh the beast.
The Halibut tipped the scales at exactly 180 lbs. It was caught on a whole Herring, rigged to a Halibut spreader bar. The fish was taken on a 4/O Newell graphite reel, loaded with 100' Tuff Stuff super braid and a 15' Jinkai leader.
-AN
It was the first trip back to the offshore grounds after breaking off a massive Halibut last season. Loaded down with Black & Mild's and freshly jigged Herring, we set off to a favorite inshore hole, known locally as buoy 4. Once on scene AN detected promising water to the north, where a schools of 40lb class King Salmon were observed decimating a pod of herring on the fish finder. We set anchor in 90' of water and decided to give it a try before heading out to the offshore reef. Approximately one B&M in, RN boated a quality 50lb Halibut. Excited with the quick start, we dead-sticked the remaining rods and reorganized the deck for more combat. Moments later, one of the dead-stick rods bent in half. I grabbed the rod, as line peeled off the reel at an alarming rate. My thoughts immediately shifted to the memory of last season's behemoth. Moments later, approximately 300 yards of 100' super braid had been ripped off the reel. RN jumped into action and prepared to weigh anchor and come off the ball to chase the fish. With the reel's backing in sight, the fish finally stopped it's initial run. After a 30 minute stalemate, the fish tired and came within view. RN rigged the harpoon and stood at the gunwale, poised to strike. With one swift jab, the harpoon hit it's mark and the fish exploded in a fit of rage back to the bottom, taking 100' of harpoon line and an orange Polyform ball with it. The ball went under for several minutes as the fish made its second run. After another 20 minutes of angling the fish was back along side the boat. Attempts to secure a tail rope proved unsuccessful as the fish continued to thrash at the surface. Acting out of pure animal instinct, AN benched the rod and reached under the Halibut's gill plate and grabbed a fist full of gills. On a three count, we pulled the barn door over the rail. After an extended B&M break we pulled anchor and ran home, anxious to weigh the beast.
The Halibut tipped the scales at exactly 180 lbs. It was caught on a whole Herring, rigged to a Halibut spreader bar. The fish was taken on a 4/O Newell graphite reel, loaded with 100' Tuff Stuff super braid and a 15' Jinkai leader.
-AN
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