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View Full Version : The SANDMAN Lands a 46.3Lb Halibut off Newport



FIT TO BE BIT
06-24-2007, 08:11 AM
Saturday June 23rd, me and Bob the “SANDMAN� LeBrun went out on my neighbor Mark the “BLACK POACHER� Gillespie’s new 23.10 Parker to explore for Halibut off of Balboa Beach near the Wedge.
Anticipation was high and expectations were low since it was a virgin area to us.
We were just grateful to be on the water and wanted to stay close because of the wind.
The wind blew early so we were only able to drift. We would go out to 100’ and drift in to 35’ which seemed precariously close to the beach. By 10:30 we had one parachute out to slow down our drift and we were forced to use 12 ounces of lead to stay on the bottom while drifting at 1.2MPH with live Sardines.
By noon we only had one short Halibut and numerous scratched baits to show for our efforts.
At 12:10 I noticed the SANDMAN’S rod was totally bent.
Once he was able to get the rod out of the holder, he thought he was stuck on the bottom.
I told him to treat it as if it were a fish, and then the fish moved and the fight was on.
Then the fire drill started!
We were already in 35’ of water and close to the beach.
We scrambled to reel in all the other rods on the boat and pull in the parachute so we could maneuver the boat. In the excitement my rod tangled the SANDMAN’S line but we kept our cool and got out of it.
A lifeguard boat drove by us on the inside and was going to warn us about being too close to shore but they left us alone when they saw we were hooked up and under power.
The battle lasted about ten minutes. The SANDMAN barely spoke, which is one of the only times he is his quiet, but he did a masterful job of fighting the fish.
The BLACK POACHER maneuvered the boat with great expertise.
Once the SANDMAN was able to get the fish up to the surface in the corner, I belly gaffed the fish, pulled it over the rail, leaving no doubt in landing the monster.
It was one of the finest orchestrations of team work I have ever been a party to.
We were all stunned at the size and headed straight for the Balboa Angling Club to weigh the fish.
The Halibut weighed 46lbs3oz on the certified scale and taped out at 47.5 inches.
This fish is a new club record in the BAC on #20Lb test. A record that has stood for seven years!
Congratulation to the SANDMAN for landing a fish of a life time!
Al “FIT TO BE BIT� Schneider
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Dave92706
06-24-2007, 08:25 AM
Congradulations ! That's a monster halibut for our coastal area. I'm still eating fillets off my 30 lber. caught off San Clemente Island so I guess your having a barbeque ? Truly a great catch and congrats again.
Dave Finkelstein
Clubfish Chartermember

surf204z
06-24-2007, 08:29 AM
Congrats on the beast................I caught a 29# Halibut 2 weeks ago....I have been humbled.......Nice job and congratulations once again.... :D

xahx
06-24-2007, 09:24 AM
thats alot of steak! or filets! way2GO!

congrats, i bet thats satisfying!

ahhvtec
06-24-2007, 09:27 AM
Sick!

kingjester13
06-24-2007, 09:46 AM
Nice pics, Awsome report.


WTG Gents,
KJ13 8)

POSTAL
06-24-2007, 06:59 PM
Dam nice catch !!A lot of big butts around lateley!

Oz
06-24-2007, 07:11 PM
congrats on the butt :lol:

Hitts0n
06-25-2007, 07:33 AM
now thats a butt !...........lma00 ! Congrats!

Wingnut
06-25-2007, 12:01 PM
What a beautiful BUTT! :lol:

uandme
06-25-2007, 01:17 PM
sweet fish!!

slief
06-25-2007, 02:54 PM
Nice catch!! Thanks for sharing and for the great write up. I almost felt like I was there with you. Now I really want to get out and try for some flatties! I may be heading out for a stab at them on this weds.

one_leg
06-25-2007, 03:16 PM
It shoulda been me!!!!!.....j/k I'm glad you boated that beast. It's sooooooo big.

One_Leg

Sparky70
06-25-2007, 09:23 PM
Enjoy your HALI.

Tks. for the Pics.

reckless_m@
06-25-2007, 09:25 PM
Damn theres been some nice BUTTS caught recently! The big barndoors are moving in!

Mrmedia
06-26-2007, 09:45 AM
nice fish. I was just wondering how much that fish is worth if you sold it?

8lbCalico
06-26-2007, 08:27 PM
Dont sell, EAT! Nice fish, and great team work landing it!

Cabin Fever
06-26-2007, 08:38 PM
Al, Great job on the report and pics. Looks like you had a good team out there. :thumb:

D-PESCADOR
06-27-2007, 10:11 AM
nice fish. I was just wondering how much that fish is worth if you sold it? Fishing gear 400.00 fishing trip 85.00 food 20.00 bear 45.00 fish price a grip.

BBL2Baja
06-27-2007, 11:08 AM
Nice Cali Hali!!! :thumb: :thumb:

I just bought halibut steaks the other night from Vons. Got 'em for $10.99 a pound. So whatever a 46+lb'r would yield in steaks. Quite a bit, I imagine.

Either way, helluva nice fish. Congrats.

Later,
Scott

fisheromen
06-28-2007, 10:32 AM
now that's a serious doormat! congrats!