Halibut Too Big for Boat

jsfinn

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Nov 26, 2003
Messages
1,093
From http://apnews.myway.com//article/20050226/D88FTG6G3.html :<br /><br />Norwegian Catches Halibut Too Big for Boat<br />Feb 25, 8:59 PM (ET)<br /><br /><br />OSLO, Norway (AP) - Unlike many fishermen, Harald Skoge didn't have to exaggerate the size of his latest catch. The 321-pound halibut was too big for his nearly 29-foot boat.<br /><br />Skoge, who fishes as a hobby, was trying his luck off western Norway with a simple hook and line on Wednesday when he thought something had gone wrong.<br /><br />"At first, I thought the hook had gotten stuck at the bottom," the retiree was quoted as saying in Friday's edition of his local newspaper, Sunnmoersposten.<br /><br />Slowly, he was able to roll in the line, and realized something very, very big was on the end. When the giant halibut broke the surface, he realized it was too big to haul into his boat.<br /><br />"I had to tow it to land," he told the newspaper.<br /><br />After three hours of towing the fish, he was able to deliver it to a local fish processing plant, which weighed and bought the catch.<br /><br />According to Skoge, the fish's head alone weighed 42 pounds, more than many anglers can claim for their whole catch.
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: Halibut Too Big for Boat

From the videos I've seen, it's common to tow your Halibut in Alaska. 300 plus # is a big one though.
 

Barlow

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 11, 2003
Messages
1,794
Re: Halibut Too Big for Boat

fun story.. wish they would've had a photo or two.
 

pjc

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
1,856
Re: Halibut Too Big for Boat

that should make lotsa fish chowder!!! :D
 

Twidget

Commander
Joined
Jun 16, 2004
Messages
2,192
Re: Halibut Too Big for Boat

I wonder if the jaws music began playing before it broached the first time.
 

cbnoodles

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
564
Re: Halibut Too Big for Boat

Originally posted by CalicoKid:<br /> Could have let it go...
Not necessarily. Many bottom fishes' air bladders expand too quickly and are permanently damaged when brought to the surface. Letting it go may have only resulted in a slow painful death. I'm not saying that's the case here but it is a regular occurrence.
 

AK_Chappy

Lieutenant
Joined
May 25, 2003
Messages
1,357
Re: Halibut Too Big for Boat

Noodles,<br />Not with Halibut. We catch them and bring them up all the time and let them go. Sometimes they are too small, I reckon if it was too big, I might. It would be cool to catch one that big, but the meat is not as good. Most halibut fishermen, errr fisherpeople, carry a .410 shotgun for just such fish.<br /><br />AK Chappy
 

carrotsnapper

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
Messages
243
Re: Halibut Too Big for Boat

Caught an 87 pounder in the cook inlet. The boat captain did shoot it with the .410. He said the trick was to shoot it without shooting the line. It was a great day. Love that Alaska.
 
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