I took this Monday off a few weeks ago expecting to be going on a Sunday Bluefin hunt with spillover into Monday. Winds really f@cked things up, so I was going to give the day back and use it later, but in reality, I was like "Give it back?". I decided to look for a legal butt instead in MB this time. Just my own mind to do nothing but look for halibut.
I bought bait, but I wish we were allowed to use cast nets. Sardines were EVERYWHERE! Front, Middle, and Back Bay!
The FF screen was a joy to watch also!
I fished Quivera, the Brides, the Bowling Pin, and the Channel. I saw a few small butts caught on another boat, but at first all I could get was short bit or watch the halibut chase the bait to the surface as I reeled in.
This is generally what I saw on every bait.
I then started picking away and ended up catching 11 halibut, albeit fairly small. They were all 14"-17" and I did everything to prevent all the Googans out there seeing me, but too late... Two guys literally ran over my lives to come and ask me where the fish were. Not even joking. They said "Where's all the fish? I've been fishing for 2 hours and haven't caught anything!" in which I replied, "Really?". Ugh.. They set up right next to me as the wind started really cranking.
I moved away from them and decided I was done for the day when I get slammed and see a 22-24 inch Corvina on the end of the line! What a surprise! Shook off 10 feet from the boat, but left makings on the bait that at least I know what the damage looks like!
I couldn't believe how many halibut were following up my baits to the surface, but wouldn't take it or just grab and kill my sardine before spitting it. I also got slammed and thought I saw a legal barracuda on the end of my flylined rod! Nope! It was one of the biggest needlefish I've seen in the bay, or at least one of the biggest in recent memory! I had him on 5 times before finally it gave up and swam away.
I was down to a few baits left and caught nothing but halibut so far, but the legal eluded me. I was ready to go when I reeled up and a much bigger halibut followed it up! I dropped back down immediately and BOOM! Fish on!
Not really that big 23.5", but at least a legal!
I avoided telling you of all the bad luck I had on the boat with some things breaking, so decided to pay homage to the fish gods and let her go. I'm not sure I ever let a legal halibut go before, but it was a gesture of good will to the fish gods, and hopefully they remember.
I then get home happy and satisfied when I drop a plug and it goes right into the baitwell drain! This was really bad and the hose or snake would not remove it, so I was unsure what to do. This was not how I envisioned ending the day, but after a few hours, devised a contraption that somehow worked. Whew, disaster avoided... Back to my good mood again for a dozen halibut day Not even a bass, but I was only trying for halibut, so mission accomplished!
Thanks for reading!
