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surf204z
06-16-2007, 04:06 PM
I was able to get out early on Friday June 8th before work for a quick two hour session. I had to have the boat back in the harbor around 9am to get to work on time. I grabbed some sardines and chovies while it was still dark and managed to make it out to San Mateo Point around 6:15am. When I arrived there was only one other boat.

The wind was offshore and it made for a perfect drift between two large kelp forests. Every drop I was getting bit. It seemed like the Chovies were getting bit a little better. I nabbed a nice sand bass but missed a barracuda on the first drift.

I set up for the 2nd drift. A few minutes into the drift the line went tight and I thought I was hung up on some kelp. I assessed the situation and realized this was not kelp but something big. I thought maybe a shark, ray, or FAT HALIBUT because of the way it was pulling and the way it bit. I then realized that I was using my lightest gear and I was going to be dodging kelp during this fight. Thankfully, the boat was running and I was ready to put the boat in reverse when I was about to come across some kelp.

I battled the fish for a good 15-20 minutes and thankfully did not run into any kelp. I started bringing the fish up and it was a great sight to see. Barn Door Halibut........I had forgotten my gaff in my garage from a recent trip to Catalina on my buddies boat. It was a miracle that I dodged all that kelp but I needed another miracle to get this big boy in the boat.

http://fishingnetwork.net/images/tmp2/IMG_1412.jpg

I got the fish to surface and went for the gill......Damn it I missed......I brought the fish back around and went for the gill again and made a nice grab. I then whipped it into the boat.

http://fishingnetwork.net/images/tmp2/IMG_1411.jpg

This was a monster for my standards and I was just a little bit excited. I thanked mother nature for her bounty and then looked at my watch. It was 7:15am and if I was going to get to work on time and clean this fish I needed to head for the barn.

http://fishingnetwork.net/images/tmp2/IMG_1413.jpg


I made it back to Dana Point Harbor in about 20 minutes. Parked the Luxury Cruiser in her slip (19' Trophy) and headed for the house to wake up my wife and 4 month old son to show off the goods.

http://fishingnetwork.net/images/tmp2/IMG_1414.jpg

I stopped by Hogans Bait Shop in Dana Point for an official weigh in.....Thanks Hogans.....

I caught the fish on a live Anchovie, 10lb Ande mono, live bait hook, sliding one ounce egg sinker, medium action ugly stick rod, and an Okuma spinning reel. My boat was running and I was in about 50 feet of water.

http://fishingnetwork.net/images/tmp2/IMG_1417.jpg

Anybody have an idea how old a Halibut of this size would be???????

Ray Lopez
06-16-2007, 06:16 PM
damn nice catch dude

thats a nice california barn door

sansou
06-16-2007, 06:39 PM
http://fishingnetwork.net/images/tmp2/dammmmm.jpg

Congrats dude!

First on the great halibut, and secondly on your first post!

Fisherman57
06-16-2007, 07:19 PM
Welcome to the board!.....

and that is one NICE barn door Halibut!!

Very nice! CONGRATS!

Oh......... and it might be time to give those flip flops a rest.......... those are some serious tan lines my friend. :lol:


57

codybug
06-16-2007, 07:28 PM
xxx

Fish Dog
06-16-2007, 11:58 PM
WOW!! Nice butt!



I stopped by Hogans Bait Shop in Dana Point for an official weigh in.....Thanks Hogans.....




So, what'd it weigh??


edit...OOPS! Guess I should read the title too... :oops:

Nessie Hunter
06-17-2007, 08:53 AM
Awesome job, great report and pics.. :D

Monster Butt... :shock: :shock:

Dont listen to Dana. Those Tan lines look exactly like mine... 8)

Flip Flops 'RULE' .... :thumb: :thumb:





.

hookemdano
06-17-2007, 09:16 AM
Nice butt dude! :thumb:

Welcome to the board!

Dave92706
06-17-2007, 10:17 AM
Congrats on your big hali!! That's a great catch on light line.

Dave Finkelstein
Clubfish Chartermember
http://www.clubfish.org

xahx
06-17-2007, 11:33 AM
nice Halibut!

We were at Catalina this weekend caught a 15 lb halibut! looked bigger, or the scale we had was not accurate!

WTG!

halijedi
06-17-2007, 12:02 PM
Very nice flatty on the "coffee grinder."

valhalla_1_2000
06-17-2007, 02:07 PM
Well done, that's a great way to start your day.

4g63power
06-17-2007, 02:25 PM
very nice fish and thanks for the report..you mustve been stoked

SanDimasLMB
06-17-2007, 02:41 PM
Your son is a big boy for only 4 months! :lol:

Oz
06-17-2007, 04:26 PM
4 months huh whats in the water over there??? :lol:

congrats on that beast...thats some steaks u had im sure :D

one_leg
06-17-2007, 05:02 PM
Looks pretty nice. Way to go! Good thing you were able to stay away from the kelp.

One_Leg

NoFriends
06-17-2007, 11:41 PM
That is 1 mean dark looking hali :thumb: I know how you feel about miracles...I was with 2 of my friends at a dock in HH 1 just hooked a 35 incher on 4lb line. We had no gaff and it wouldn't fit in our net. It kept headshaking and splashing and we were very lucky the line didn't snap. We had to grab it by its gills and that took about 5 attempts. Threw it on the dock and it almost flopped out. We guessed it was around 25-30 lbs and 7+ years old...Once again GJ on that beast!

DavidE
06-18-2007, 08:07 AM
Very Nice Fish!!!!! Welcome to the board!!!!

Wingnut
06-18-2007, 12:06 PM
Welcome & congrats on a huge BUTT! That pic of you holding it over your head looks like you're gonna fly it like a kite! :wink:

kanco
06-18-2007, 12:33 PM
Very nice catch! I'm not sure how old the Halibut was, but I know the fillets are at least 2 days old :)

BBL2Baja
06-18-2007, 12:39 PM
Nice Cali Hali! Great way to introduce yourself! :thumb: :thumb:

Later,
Scott