halibut harpoon questions

[Nofish]

OK, now that I am the proud owner of a Threemuch halibut harpoon - I have a couple of questions:
Where do you stick a halibut? (I know I am setting myself up for some interesting replies).
How do you keep the tip on the shaft? I recall that someone mentioned using tape.
Thanks for the help. Bob

[Joe Schwab]

Stick them right behind the gill plate opening as close to center mass as you can. Try to get it through the sold mass so it does not pull back through. Be sure the tips are sharp as it can get difficult to get the point all the way through.

If you have the type that slide on the shaft with a loop of cable there is no need to fasten then onto the shaft. Hold the line snug against the shaft and the tension will hold the tip on.

Always leave the hook in the halibut until the landing is complete. Anything can and will happen. I have seen skippers pull the hook once the harpoon is in, then the halibut goes nuts and the harpoon pulls out--- dead halibut sinking!!

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

An easy way to hold the harpoon point on is by taking a piece of bicycle tubing about 1/2 inch wide and sliding it onto the harpoon handle. Pull a loop of the line from the point under the tubing and it will hold the point in place. :grin:

Beware of striking the halibut too close to the centerline, you could hit the backbone and that will stop your point. If it happens, quickly pull out and strike again before the butt goes ballistic. :shocked:

I like to drive the point through about 1-1/2 to 2 inches behind the lower eye. I have never had one pull out of this boney part of their head. This is why I like a heavy handle.

I always held the tip in place with the rope. I also have a line on the harpoon handle to tie to a cleat.

[ 02-08-2004, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[stick flicker]

I use a 4 'heavy pipe with a bicycle grip for the handle, this is good for weight something about lbs./inch but if it goes over bye,bye. Its better than the wood bromsticks I see some people use. I stick them in the center behing the gill in some solid mass. Don't get the stomach I bet it would rip out. Of yeah befor I do stick it I tie it of to the cleat.

After using a harpoon I would never go back to a net or gaff.

[Tagster]

Alright, then what? Your rope is tied off, the hali is stuck good flailing in the water. What is the next step?

self edit: sorry, about asking something that has been before...I did an archinve search and found this halibut harpooning and using floats

Thanks!

Tag

[ 02-08-2004, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: Tagster ]

Tag,
The proper response is "D'oh!" :grin:

[Tagster]

:smile:

edit: double post...double D'oh!

[ 02-08-2004, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: Tagster ]

[Tagster]

D'oh! [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Wasn't the first time, doubt it will be the last time :smile:



Tag

Dbl D'oh, Don't feel like the Lone Ranger :blush:

[Joe Schwab]

I had a thirty foot rope on the harpoon head. If there were reliable people on board I would have them hold the end of the rope and tell them to hang on while the butt runs its course. I also learned to shoot the big ones first then harpoon. Hanging onto a 150 pound ticked off butt is exciting but not advised. A properly placed .410 shot will imobilze the largest ones providing a clean harpoon shot.

Even after you deliver the shot and sink the harpoon, let them bleed. We always hogtied the big ones before bringing them on board. A loop around the tail and through the gills and they are yours.

[Nofish]

Tagster, thanks for the link to the previous discussion thread - very interesting. Since that thread was initiated this past August, all I can say is that I must have been stricken with acute
tuna-itis. It must have caused me to miss or more likely ignore the post. Cheers...Bob