The one that got away!

Loosepin · 09-07-2003, 07:24 PM

I would like to talk about the successful fishing trips I have particpated in this year, but not at this time. I feel this one we all at some point in our fishing life we can relate to. (to one degree or another) I feel I have to tell a true story of the one that got away. (yesterday 9/7/03) (Sorry for the long post)
I convinced my cousin (Daryl) to try Halibut fishing this year. When he called me up, I said lets go. We used my truck and his Boat. (24' Bayliner) When we got out to the chicken ranch only a few boats. The most boats that ever were there was about a dozen. We started fishing about 7:45 and caught a black cod in about 45 min. Fishing seemed real slow there. It then picked up a bit but could only catch black cod, no halibut. We tried salmon stomach fillets, black label herring, squid, and purple herring. The purple herring seemed the best of all. At least for what few hits we had. We were thinking about just going back to the rockpile and try it there but decided to give it until noon. About 11:45 I hooked up into a hali but lost it on the way up. This seemed to perk us up a bit, then about 10 minutes later Daryl had one on, which realy seemed to help. This butt battled all the way up to about 30 feet from the boat and got off. What a disappointment. We were talking about giving up and we decided to give it one more pass. About 2 mintes into the drift Daryl got one on. As he battled this fish I told him to let me know when it got close to the boat. He said color I proceeded to reel up about 10 cranks on my reel and set pole in the pole holder. Was waiting with the harpoon and the fish got off the line again. We looked at each other thinking what are we doing wrong. We were so confused short of what to say. We both decided to just go back port and call it one of those days. I reach for my pole to reel it in. When I started to reel it acted as though I had bottom. I wanted to make sure it was not a big fish so I set the drag tight and slowly reefed up on the pole took up slack and grabed another pull. I proceeded to pull up with nearly a (guess) 75 pounds of pull and the fish is coming up. I proceed to do this for nearly 30 minutes. At this point I'm nearly spent of energy. Every pull up I'm gaining about one crank on the reel. I hand it over to Daryl to give me a break. Daryl last about another 30 minutes. Hands the pole back to me. Looking at the reel we have only returned about 1/3 of the line back. I'm going over in my head I have new 80 pound tuff line, new 220 pound cable leader with new hooks, very heavy stainless steel spreader. I hoping the gear holds up to this test. I'm begining to wonder will it hold up? I sure hope so. At this point we decided to one person doing the typical pull up and reel position while the other grabs the pole about 12 inches and at 20 inches from the reel and do a curl up. With timing let the pole down and crank. We could get about 2 cranks doing it this way on every release of the pole down. The fish was starting to get a bit more testy as we were making headway. The fish made about 3 good runs up to this point. At this point we tightened the drag nearly as tight as it would go. (maybe in hindsight a bit aggressive) We were pulling up with my thumb on the spool as to not let any line out. Then we would reel down at the right moment to gain a couple of cranks. Slightly over two hours later we had the fish within 50 feet we were guessing. Daryl readied the harpoon with excitment as we both seemed that we might have something here after all the bad luck that day. We went back to working the fish going over what we needed to do when the fish surfaced. Make sure to go all the way through the fish at the base of the head with the harpoon. Then to make sure to loosen the drag a bit right before daryl harpoons the fish. We had a game plan when the fish surfaces. Just as we started to see color on this magnificent huge Halibut it took off like I have never witnessed or seen before. My pole was bent over the boat down to the water just peeling off line with the drag set very tight. This went on for nearly 10 or 15 seconds when this loud snap of the line went that seemed to be as loud as a busted baseball bat. There it went! We both just droped to the bottom of the boat in pure exhaustion. We were totaly spent and could hardly say much of anything. We went over the events thinking what should we have done. I'm sure we had the drag too tight. It was the only way to even move the fish up. We both aggreeded to go back to port beat up and broken down by this fish. I'm sure this fish was well over 200 pounds who really knows. I'm sure we all have stories of the big one that got away. This was mine.
Until next time. I will return!

corrirod · 09-07-2003, 07:43 PM

That's what fishing is all about my friend! The gods have given you a story that you will tell for many years to come.

It hurts........but it will eventually be replaced by the one that didn't get away!

Welcome to the Dogs!

Uglygreen · 09-07-2003, 07:49 PM

Nice story, 200 lbs would be a brute! If we ever meet, remind me to introduce you to a buddy of mine named Wildhawg, he has lots of stories about big ones that got away.

UG

Badger · 09-07-2003, 07:58 PM

Bummer. Over 200#... think that would have been a new state record.

I had what I guess was a similar-sized fish last summer out at the ranch, snapped a Penn Tuna Stick in half right above the first guide. Fought it for 30 minutes before the line got stuck in the frayed new end of the rod and then it was gone. Maybe it was the same monster, never saw it unfortunately.

Looser drag, heavier line next time?

BTW, welcome to the Salty Dogs.

WildHawg · 09-07-2003, 08:03 PM

Welcome to the "Seamonsters" Club.
I've hooked and landed more than my share of Hawg's, and (piddled) away a pile more.
As for you Bradley--I'll come visit you Friday when you're flat on your back...or would that be your stomache??MUHAHAHAHAHA :shocked: [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]
How 'bout a little Chinese water torture Scarecrow?
Next best thing to being there I hear!!!!!

[ 09-07-2003, 10:31 PM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

rfishman47 · 09-07-2003, 08:28 PM

Welcome to the dogs loosepin, glad to see that you were finally able to get logged on! What a fish tale,guess we will have to get together and get some of those big boys one of these days.
The Fishman

Mello-Yello · 09-07-2003, 09:01 PM

Great story Loosepin!

This is also a great example of why one shouldn't fish halibut in the evening...I'd have a hard time cutting something like that loose so I could make port before dark.

Welcome!

Hookset · 09-07-2003, 10:50 PM

Great story, had me sitting on the edge of the seat. To bad about the ending, but I guess it wouldn't be fishing if they all turned out succesful. There is a silver lining to this, because that fish is still out there and the season is still going!!

If a tuna pole isn't heavy enough and 80lb tuff line a little to light, what's the ideal combo, solid fiberglass pole and 130lb. tuff line? Wonder what kind of tackle they use to catch barn door size Halibut in Alaska?

Again, nice story and welcome Loosepin,

Gregg

[ 09-07-2003, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: Hookset ]