Durham Accommodation - Handling an Alaska Halibut

And broken bones, cracked ribs, there are many horror stories out there of black eyes. The halibut's tail came back smacked him in the knee and broke his leg, twitching fish, he tried to subdue the angry. I once saw a deckhand pull up a 50 pound halibut onto the deck without shooting or clubbing the fish. The majority of a halibut's mass is pure muscle and an improperly landed halibut can cause injury and possibly even death. Pacific halibut is one of the most popular fish to catch in Alaska and can reach sizes of 400lbs or more, the Alaskan! Landing an Alaska halibut can be an exciting endeavour for first time halibut fishermen and can even get a little scary for seasoned fishing veterans.

Cutting the gill rakers and bleeding in the fish helps the overall quality of the meat. It's a good idea to wait for the fish to become tired and then bleeding them along side the boat. Aim for a solid spot right below the eyes on the skull and make sure you have a good hold on the fish, when gaffing a halibut. Never bring a fish aboard that isn't dead first. As with any fish you want to keep the halibut's head under the water until it's either been shot or clubbed properly. The tastiest part of the halibut, when shooting a halibut one must aim properly behind the head to sever the spine and most importantly trying not to destroy the halibut cheeks. But only on the small "little butts", a few halibut fishermen even use a net. While others opt for a flying gaff or both, many skippers will argue that the use of a gun on halibut 50 pounds or more is a must. Bringing a halibut aboard safely and properly is the foremost priority of a good captain.

And most of all have a good time, be safe, remember dress accordingly, good luck on your next Alaska halibut fishing trip. Never try and help the crew they will certainly let you know when it is the safest time to touch your fish and take pictures. If you aren't the deckhand or skipper just remember to give them adequate space. By using a little common sense and care you can ensure an outstanding Alaska fishing trip and a freezer full of one of the best tasting fish on the planet.