Halibut harpoon help!

50 out · 05-08-2007, 11:08 AM

I got a hali harpoon at the sportsman show and plan on using it this summer for the first time. I was hoping the dogs could help me on its proper use? Where do you hit the halibut? how big before you really need to harpoon? How much, and how heavy, of line(or rope) do you use. any help is much appreciated

50 out

It is far better to hook and lose,
than to have never hooked.

fyshndad · 05-08-2007, 11:16 AM

The 1st thing I did when I bought my Harpoon was to wrap tuna cord around the top of the handle (it just didn't look like it would be strong enough) and I wrapped some at arms length to get a good grip when wet
Then I varnished the whole thing

Other dogs told me to remove the crimps that came crimped on and to use 2 crimps on the loop ends

I also use tuna cord (200lb test) for my retrieval line and I use a small round buoy

Toss the buoy over then hit the butt in the face avoiding the cheeks if possible and when the ball stops moving I move the boat to get the rig and the butt

I only harpoon butts that won't fit in the net

Easy

Chesapeake · 05-08-2007, 11:26 AM

We do much the same as Fyshndad.

We have about 20 feet of cord between the tip and the float( basket ball sized orange ball) and then another 30 feet or so for a tag end to tie off to a cleat to keep the float neer the boat if fishing in a crowd.

Usualy we just stick the fish and hold the rope if its not bigger than 50# or so. Any bigger and you will want to clear the rope and float so no one gets tangled.

We aim for the head/gills area. Also dont be timmid, you need to punch the tip all the way through so it will turn sidways against the far side.

Also lay off the drag on the reel when sticking a fish so if it flops or runs it dont snap the line.

flapbreaker · 05-08-2007, 11:32 AM

A person could use one of their boat bumpers as a float. Saves space since you already need them.

ron m · 05-08-2007, 12:55 PM

I'm not sure how big they need to be to be harpooned since I haven't needed to harpoon one yet! The largest halibut that's come in my boat is 51 inches and we gaffed it. But I did get a float on the recommendation of folks on this board.
ron m

steelfreak · 05-08-2007, 01:57 PM

I don't see much need to harpoon the Halibut off our coast, they're rarely big enough to bother with all that. Stick em with a gaff and drag em in. But......to each his own.

Chesapeake · 05-08-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelfreak

I don't see much need to harpoon the Halibut off our coast, they're rarely big enough to bother with all that. Stick em with a gaff and drag em in. But......to each his own.

I fully agree with you on this but you would be a hurtin unit the day you pulled a 100# plus halibut to the boat and didnt have a harpoon or shark hook on a rope. Things could sure get interesting fast.

Besides its a bit of fun to stick a fish with a spear.

Undertaker · 05-08-2007, 02:26 PM

I gaffed a 48 incher one time and learned a valuable lesson about how much power those fish have (and how much damage the gaff point does to a paint job).
Now we either use the spear or shoot them with a .40 S&W hollow point. Whichever is handiest.

tomictime · 05-08-2007, 05:36 PM

right-o...the lost fish of dreams..normally sell quite a few harpoons.. (ask me how I know this?)....I am heavy duty freak, so I rig mine a bit diff:

1/2" of 20' line w eye splice to SS clevis, heavy wire tie on clevis pin, poon point on SS cable, "bobber" also has line eye spliced to it. I agree, drag should be relaxed at strike. I have a 10" float that went under for a minute, so I got a bigger one for the oh J ______ fish, also I have had doubles and needed both.

Finally I have the yellow fiberglass shaft that will outlive me..IF it floats...

codfisher · 05-08-2007, 06:31 PM

I use a harpoon if fish is in the 40" plus range. Never lost one after pooning. Cleat off the 1/2" line and let them fight the boat. Have never shot one off Oregon. I worry that one of the mates will shoot one after it gets into the boat. Many of the chichens just get tailed by hand and lifted into the boat. I never net them since it just leads to tangled hooks, fish, line and fisherpersons.

Had a big one this past week and just pooned it in the head. Funny how that takes the fight out of them after just a few minutes. If we had Jaws sized fish, I would go with the float system.

Codfisher

Metal Manipulator · 05-08-2007, 07:30 PM

You may think me crazy but I have a 6 ft. rope on my harpoon. After harpooning I let them dance their nose on the surface of the water. This does not take much effort I just let them do the dance after I harpoon them in the head, I don't try to lift them and I don't let them get their nose pointed down. Some day I may regret doing it this way but I have done this with 100 lb. Halibut with out difficulty. If you try and lift them right after harpooning you will get a work out. Of course the easy way is to tie a float on, but I like to exercise control, and this is the way I learned after watching some one else do the harpooning.

Gee maybe I have been getting some practice for wireing Marlin.

fishindude · 05-09-2007, 06:15 AM

We got a 75 pounder once and should have pooned it. It was trashing
wildly in the back of the boat. Not much room on my boat so I think I'll starting pooning the bigger ones. What about bleeding them out? Do you bring the onboard when they are still alive and cut the gills or just let them bleed out on the rope?

steelfreak · 05-09-2007, 06:50 AM

Don't get me wrong we do own a nice harpoon, just have never had to use it off of the Oregon coast. A couple times in Canada though.

Chesapeake · 05-09-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codfisher

I use a harpoon if fish is in the 40" plus range. Never lost one after pooning. Cleat off the 1/2" line and let them fight the boat. Have never shot one off Oregon. I worry that one of the mates will shoot one after it gets into the boat. Many of the chichens just get tailed by hand and lifted into the boat. I never net them since it just leads to tangled hooks, fish, line and fisherpersons.

Had a big one this past week and just pooned it in the head. Funny how that takes the fight out of them after just a few minutes. If we had Jaws sized fish, I would go with the float system.

Codfisher

I wouldnt recomend the cleat deal without a buoy mid line to slow them down. With a big fish they will hit the end of the rope and either rip the harpoon tip out or take your cleat. I've seen both happen. When the cleat goes on a fiberglass boat it sounds like a gunshot and makes a real mess.

With 95% of the halibut in Oregon and Washington it wont matter, but the minute you drag a jumbo to the boat you will be regretting only having a harpoon with a short rope and no buoy.

If you stick them in the gills with the harpoon they will bleed out pretty well while they expire in the water.

alaskan · 05-09-2007, 08:11 AM

We also just use a 1/2" rope to a cleat. Aluminum boat, good weld, no problems with multiple 100+ lb. fish. Stick them hard thru the head, or just behind, and let them fight the boat, it's the biggest bouy you have with you. We also keep a second tip rigged in case the first one doesn't stick, not very often but has happened.
Depending on who's on the boat to help, we will usually harpoon a fish that is 60 or above and kill it before we bring it aboard.

CURADO KID · 05-09-2007, 09:13 AM

Harpooning is the best part.
I look foreward to it once someone hooks-up.
I'm not sure why, it must be some primal instinct. It's like the exclamation at the end of a good fight that confirms the kill!

Deeman · 05-09-2007, 02:39 PM

We use an offshore spear gun with a detachable head (The spear head is attached to the spear with stainless cable). The end of the spear is cabled onto 20' of 1/4 braided line. At the boat end we have a rubber snubber of the same sort that we use for Tuna handlines and rigged the same way. That is tied to the cleat. When we see color, we pull the rubbers and get ready, then just point and shoot. After he wears hinself out pulling on the snubber it is easy to load, unhook, and pack him for the ride home.

Subtlety · 05-10-2007, 05:46 AM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...91484285724275

This is from last year out of Newport.
I dunno if this is good form but we didnt hit the boat, the sinker never smacked the gunnels, and we got the fish...

It sure is entertaining though.

TYVM to George, Russ, and Rick!

50 out · 05-10-2007, 11:06 AM

Thanks to all that responded, You have all helped tremendously!!

50 out

Taylor's viewpoint · 05-10-2007, 11:27 AM

The only thing I see wrong in that video is the harpooner not really planting the poon right off the get go. Make sure you stuff the tip all the way through the fish. Good job guys, we got fish in the box and had fun doing it. Boy that day brings back memories.
TV

Subtlety · 05-10-2007, 02:15 PM

Yeah it sure does George

You are an awesome captain!

8knots · 05-10-2007, 06:52 PM

Wait, I thought George was now a cabin boy.....or something like that!

Taylor's viewpoint · 05-10-2007, 08:53 PM

Cabin boy, deckhand, dock rat, whatever. I still take my old tub out once in a while and get some salt all over the cockpit. Last year while tuna fishing, I even got off the captains chair and landed one.
TV

SecondSeason · 05-12-2007, 07:21 AM

anyone know why AK Charters [see many huge fish in a season] don't use harpoons? been on to many charters up there and never saw a poon fly. 137 pounder one shot to tween the eyes and into the boat it came. i have one but also have a 410 halibut tickle stick that they all use up there.

at this point i am not sure why i purchased the darn harpoon already having the 410.

one can never have enough gear i guess.

Angus · 05-12-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondSeason

anyone know why AK Charters [see many huge fish in a season] don't use harpoons? been on to many charters up there and never saw a poon fly. 137 pounder one shot to tween the eyes and into the boat it came. i have one but also have a 410 halibut tickle stick that they all use up there.

at this point i am not sure why i purchased the darn harpoon already having the 410.

one can never have enough gear i guess.

I've spent the past 16 years fishing in Ak. and have always used a poon, taken butts to 264 and haven't found 1 yet I couldn't kill quickly and easily with the poon and Louisville Slugger. I know of 2 people and 2 boats injured by guns, yet to hear of anyone injured with a harpoon.

alaskan · 05-14-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondSeason

anyone know why AK Charters [see many huge fish in a season] don't use harpoons? been on to many charters up there and never saw a poon fly. 137 pounder one shot to tween the eyes and into the boat it came. i have one but also have a 410 halibut tickle stick that they all use up there.

at this point i am not sure why i purchased the darn harpoon already having the 410.

one can never have enough gear i guess.

I've been on over a dozen diff. charter boats up her and every one had a harpoon on board. Some skipper/crews don't use them often, but I think most all have them on board.

BigWaterBigFish · 05-15-2007, 07:46 AM

H&R Survial gun, shoots .410 slugs, remove the plug and shoots .45 LC ... makes a nice hole and ends the fight of most ... put the hooks in it an aboard it comes.
For a boy growing up in Montana, fishing and shooting in the fight is about as good as it gets.

Old Guys Rule · 05-15-2007, 04:41 PM

PM sent