8-5-2013 Halibut fishing on the high seas!

When we got up this morning there was a beautiful sunrise.  Something we have not seen too many times this trip.  Not because we have had fowl weather but largely due to the fact that we do not get up that early.  Sunrise has been about 4:30 am.   

We arrived at the dock about 6:30 am to board the boat. She was named Nauti-Lady.  It’s a boat that carries 16 hopeful fisher people.  After getting our safety briefing we headed out about 27 miles off shore to try our hand at the sport of Halibut fishing.

Don, Joy & Bobby.

It didn't take long after letting the rigging hit the bottom at 250 ft to get into the action.  You have these short fishing poles that have a 6 lbs lead weight attached to the line.  Once you touch the bottom you reel up just a little and let the line bounce up and down and wait til you have a Halibut.  Now getting the fish on the line is the easy part.  Then you have to crank that sucker up-- hook, line, sinker and Halibut.  Depending on how heavy the Halibut is, you may be trying to bring up 30 to 50 lbs on this stiff rod and the cranking ratio is about 1 to 1, so is takes a lot of strength and perseverance to get the fish in the boat.  There is a 2 Halibut limit per day.  We all caught our limit and headed back to the dock.  In fact everyone on the boat took home 2 fish. Some of the folks had to have help bring in there fish.  Legally you have to hook the fish, and then someone else can assist you.

Bob working to reel that baby in!!

 

Herring for bait.

The deck hands had all the fish filleted and ready to go by the time we reached the dock.  The crew was very helpful and we all had a good time.

I believe that between the 5 of us we dressed out about 60 to 75 lbs of Halibut.  Halibut can weigh as much as 300 lbs.  We are thankful that we did not catch one that big.  We would still be reeling that baby in!!