Seminar for Catch and release techniques of halibut

[mikep]

Ok so this whole halibut thing has gotten me thinking. I and a few guides would be more than happy to put on a seminar on how we deal with circle hook fishing for halibut. We could cover all things from rigs to setting hooks and releasing large fish. I want to people to know that it is possible to catch halibut and return them to the water safely with only a small puncture to the corner of their mouth. Does anyone have any interest in doing this? The attached pic was of a 90-94 inch fish which was released without harm and without a hook...It can be done safely and with minimal impact to the fish!

 

[Rum Buddies]

an well written article with images and/or a video will reach the greatest audience - IMO

 

[sawbill]

Ok so this whole halibut thing has gotten me thinking. I and a few guides would be more than happy to put on a seminar on how we deal with circle hook fishing for halibut. We could cover all things from rigs to setting hooks and releasing large fish. I want to people to know that it is possible to catch halibut and return them to the water safely with only a small puncture to the corner of their mouth. Does anyone have any interest in doing this? The attached pic was of a 90-94 inch fish which was released without harm and without a hook...It can be done safely and with minimal impact to the fish!


View attachment 6002

Free seminar i might think bout it. i usually just harpoon it then a measurement can be taken safely. safety first

 

[steel_dreamin]

it's amazing... when this notion of releasing halibut over 60# was brought up everyone on this forum was up in arms about it. The 6/year not so much.

We went from posting 20+ pages of disgust to gradually incorporating the 60# restriction as a management tool and now to offering seminars on how to catch halibut with the intention of release. All in the span of ~4 days...

Nothing against you mikep - I think it is a valiant offer IF this ludacris provision is passed. Until then, why would we even suggest that we accept it?

Your kidding yourself if you think information posted on this board re: this issue isn't being reviewed and/or conveyed to people in a decision making position.

 

[PK SCALE]

Some people already practice catch and release on big hali, that's all. Others MAY be forced to.
Everyone should have a good idea on how to do it.

 

[mikep]

Thats all I was getting at, wethaer it is law or not it is a good idea for people to know how to release big fish........what happens if you are both limited out on halibut and you want to continue fishing for fun.......then up comes a 150# what do you do with it. Personally I like to let anything over ~100# go becaue fish below that mark taste better and the bigger fish put out more eggs for reproduction.

 

[tincan]

x2. Or a youtube vid that can be passed around easily

an well written article with images and/or a video will reach the greatest audience - IMO

 

[Cuba Libre]

Sorry-- I dont have a low gunneled Whaler. I can barely reach the waterline with my boat, let alone put a tail strap on a thrashing 60+ fish

 

[scott craven]

"what happens if you are both limited out on halibut and you want to continue fishing for fun.......then up comes a 150# what do you do with it."
Kill it too, and throw one of the smaller dead ones back......




Ok, Ok, I'm only kidding

 

[mikep]

you are right the gunnels on the whaler were nice and low.......my personal boat is a grady 228 with taller gunnels which can be a little tougher. As for the tail rope they are really easy to get on, take a 3/8 dock like with an eye spliced in one end. Wrap the loop around the leader and then pass the tag end through the loop. You then silde the lassue down your leader and over the body of the fish. As soon as the loop passes the fat part of the fish heading toward the tail quickly pull the lassue tight and bam it will grip onto the wrist just before the halibut tail. You must make sure the line is a nice smooth braded SINKING dock line for this to work. If you leave a halibut just below the surface they will just chill most of the time allowing you some time to deal with this. It also helps if you have some 200# leader to grip and a circle hook in the fish.

 

[Aces]

I usually release the 100 lbers if the clients allow me to as they are the spawners.

Depending are when and where I may attend your seminar, Mike

 

[sammyslabber]

"what happens if you are both limited out on halibut and you want to continue fishing for fun.......then up comes a 150# what do you do with it."
Kill it too, and throw one of the smaller dead ones back......




Ok, Ok, I'm only kidding

rs, i think we could refer to smaller chicken class as thermos hali

 

[mikep]

Seminar would be best as we could anwser questions and show some gear we like to use, plus it would be cool to meet some people on the board. Just get together with people who share a passion for fishing and share some tips for making people better anglers.

I would be happy to do one in vancover and maybe 2 on the island over a weekend. Say maybe one south island and one mid to north island. I have all the gear to show people, just need a couple of locations! I can proably cover a location in vancouver but have no idea on the island.

 

[hambone]

Great offer, I'd be interested.

 

[GDW]

Great tip on that tail rope! I'll try that one out regardless even if your keeping the fish it's nice to get a rope on its tail.

 

[mikep]

I got really tired of trying to chase a fish with the loop and the idea kust made sense..........get a tail loop on it and a circle hook with a 200# leader in the mouth and now you have some control. Getting their paddle out of the water really makes them easier to deal with and you can hog tie them with it too!

 

[GDW]

I've only had to hog tie one Halibut in my young carrier so far. I think this fish would still be legal even with the proposed changes it measured 50 inches on the dot and according to the chart that's 60 pounds.

Funny I've been telling everyone (including posting here) the fish was 60 inches but I looked at a chart the other day and a 60 incher would be 100 pounds! It deffinetly was not that big so I must have exagerated the length over time - but I remembered the correct weight.

To me this rope job is a work of art but don't ask me to tie one up like that again I wouldn't remember how!

 

[pescador]

I'd attend one in Vancouver...

 

[Rum Buddies]

you can reach a few dozen maybe 100 people with seminars, there are 1000's of anglers that won't even hear about a seminar let alone attend one. A video is readily searchable and will allow someone to find the information when needed.

I do tend to agree doing something like this now basically tells DFO to roll us over and f*ck us, we've already accepted our fate.

 

[fshnfnatic]

Seminar would be best as we could anwser questions and show some gear we like to use, plus it would be cool to meet some people on the board. Just get together with people who share a passion for fishing and share some tips for making people better anglers.

I would be happy to do one in vancover and maybe 2 on the island over a weekend. Say maybe one south island and one mid to north island. I have all the gear to show people, just need a couple of locations! I can proably cover a location in vancouver but have no idea on the island.

This is a great gesture on your part,Mike. I fully support everything you have said in this matter.It's just the right thing to do. I commend you actions!!