Nice Butt

[Keta]

It was a long tough day but we did manage to get 3 for 4.  Fished from 11:00 to 16:30 without getting the last fish for our limit.  44", 45" and my 49".  The 349H worked as expected. 

[Alto Mare]

Very nice Lee, looks like your butt is larger but all look good. How do you compare the 349 from the tank, did they feel the same or was one easier to use?
Nice going bud .

[foakes]

Way to go, Lee -- those are "Goldilocks Butts" -- not too big, not too small -- just right.

Yours is a really nice one.

Perfect eating in that range.

Good job -- looks a little cold out there.

Are you using spreaders, or?

Best,

Fred

[Keta]

Very nice Lee, looks like your butt is larger but all look good. How do you compare the 349 from the tank, did they feel the same or was one easier to use?
Nice going bud .

The smaller OD of the Tank makes it slightly easier to retrieve line, the drags work about the same with slightly less max on the 349H due to the spool OD and the drag stack being the same size using the inserts.  The narrower 349 was easier to keep the line level on the spool.

Are you using spreaders, or?

Best,

Fred

No spreaders.  I use a sliding weight on a 24"-30" dropper above my 18" 150# leader, the other rods had the weight tied below the baits and 150# or 200# leader.

[Shark Hunter]

Good Job Lee!

[Reel 224]

I have a question on boarding those fish. Watching Alaska the last frontier on the one eyed monster (TV) when they caught Halabut, they would shoot them before bringing them on board. Is that really necessary?

[Keta]

Most of the "reality" shows are not even close to being in touch with reality, especially some of the ones based in Alaska.  Alaska
Bush People is the worse, 100% scripted drama, BS, OUTRIGHT LIES and in the real world they would all be dead.  I worked and played in the area they are filming and have fished steelhead the creek in "their" cove.  Hoonah was one of my favorite village ports.  They are bearanoid morons.  "The Last Frontier" is one of the better ones but they still have to put in "scripted drama" to keep most of their audience watching.

We have shot butts with a 22lr when I lived in Alaska it but it's not necessary and when a lot of boats are around it's not smart/safe.   Stick one good with a harpoon, smack it with a club and cut the gills BEFORE bringing it into the boat, then run a rope through it's gills and around the tail and hog tie it so it does not beat the boat and gear.  Gut and get them on ice and you are done....and no broken bones.

[Dominick]

Best eating fish around.  El Pescador just dropped off a piece one of his clients gave him upon returning from Alaska.  We'll be eating good also.  Good Job Lee.  Dominick

[Islandgypsy]

X2 on your take on Alaska reality shows and 'butts at the boat. How far out did you have go, what depth were you fishing? Trying to make the last opener out of Depoe Bay. Nice fish.

[Bryan Young]

So nice you got out to justify your rods and reels (as many of us do with our spouses). 

Nice Butts.  I'm just thinking of some fresh sashimi...yum.  It's one of our favorites.  And the cheeks are another favorite from Butts. 

[Keta]

X2 on your take on Alaska reality shows and 'butts at the boat. How far out did you have go, what depth were you fishing? Trying to make the last opener out of Depoe Bay. Nice fish.

We went to the south Rockpile around 20-25 miles SW of Newport and were fishing "shallow" at 200'-250'.

[coastal_dan]

Awesome! Beautiful fish!  Another type of fish on my bucket list.

[Islandgypsy]

Thanks for info.

[Reel 224]

Most of the "reality" shows are not even close to being in touch with reality, especially some of the ones based in Alaska.  Alaska
Bush People is the worse, 100% scripted drama, BS, OUTRIGHT LIES and in the real world they would all be dead.  I worked and played in the area they are filming and have fished steelhead the creek in "their" cove.  Hoonah was one of my favorite village ports.  They are bearanoid morons.  "The Last Frontier" is one of the better ones but they still have to put in "scripted drama" to keep most of their audience watching.

We have shot butts with a 22lr when I lived in Alaska it but it's not necessary and when a lot of boats are around it's not smart/safe.   Stick one good with a harpoon, smack it with a club and cut the gills BEFORE bringing it into the boat, then run a rope through it's gills and around the tail and hog tie it so it does not beat the boat and gear.  Gut and get them on ice and you are done....and no broken bones.

Well I felt that was a bit excessive to say the least, but one never can be sure. I have never fished for Halibut and had no idea. Shooting into the water is not a good idea if there is any sharp angle involved, water is dense and bullets do crazy things. Nice catch.

[AlasKen]

I think  everyone has different ideas and some depend on boat size and  gear.  I have been fishing AK for about 8 years in my own 24' boat.  I have shot one Butt.  140# with my son and I in the boat.  We were fishing for chickens and were just starting to use the boat, second time on the water so no gaff, no harpoon, just a couple of rods and reels.  We got it to the top and kept the head right at the water line.  2 38's between the eyes.  I then ran a dock line from gills out the mouth and tied that to the cleat.  Ran a line around the tail and cut the gills and the tail to bleed it.  Then my son and I hauled it over the side of the boat.  All the time I was thinking "my wife is going to kill me if that fish comes to and takes me to the bottom".  We now carry a harpoon, a flying gaff connected to a bouy with 20" of line, a regular gaff and have agreed to let anything over 100 live to reproduce.  We were fishing in about 120' of water within 10 miles of Seward in Resurrection Bay.  Yes, we have tried the spot several times since with nary a nibble.  A case of being in the right place at the right time and ill prepared.  Ken