29lb Halibut
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Anybody have an idea how old a Halibut of this size would be???????
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Originally Posted by surf204z
