Yep, it's that time of year again and very short halibut season (4 days total) was ending and both my buddies had family outings plans for the memorial weekend. This meant I was on my own. I loaded up the boat to be my home for 4 days/3 nights. Weather gave me a window to run on the water instead of trailering 6 hours to the coast. Launched 5 minutes from my driveway early Thursday and 135 miles later I pulled into my slip at Big Salmon marina on the Makah reservation in Neah Bay (Washington). Friday it was pretty snotty and very few ventured out offshore. I opted to stay in my slip and hope for better conditions on the last day...Sunday.
Sunday morning came and what a difference. Up at crack of dawn and offshore 42 miles for my halibut. I fished about 40 minutes and released a small halibut, a yellow eye, and kept a mid 20# halibut....I was fishing a short drift in 600 to 625 of water.
Then ran 6 miles nw to the ling cod zone. It was only 400' deep and a lot less reeling. I spent about 35 minutes there and got my 2 ling cod. One about 9# and 0ne 14#. That's it, 10 AM and my fishing time had expired. I planned on running all the way back home and was still 40+ miles offshore. Made it into the marina to refuel at noon. The young man running fuel dock was filling bags with shaved ice, so I helped him bag a bunch up to get him down to the dock turn my pump on. Got fuel and push off the dock at 12:39....My plan was leaving at noon, so already running late with 135 miles left to get home.
Here is couple shots of the ocean 35 miles out, while I was running back in.
......no time to waste, I put the throttles on 4800 and away I went. Exactly 4 hours later @ 4:19 I pulled into my boat launch....not bad for 135 miles
The last portion is fairly protected and mount Rainier right out my windshield. Look close and off to the right of Rainier you can see tops of a few buildings in Seattle
Put my fish on lots of ice and started processing this morning
Here is the halibut with my hot rodded Cortez113H loaded with 600yds of 80# spectra and experimental knob I was testing,....the cod Jig came from Mike and that's what nailed this fish....thanks Mike (bluefish69)
The reel worked flawlessly
....and ling cod with the setup I used
You must be one tired puppy today. Nice job that was a lot of water to cover.
Halibut is one of the easiest fish to fillet. There is a line on the skin showing right where to cut down the bone line between the 2 halves of each side. Also cut around the belly area.
....then just run knife along the bones under the meat. Then cut skin to free up fillet, lay meat side up, and shave off the skin and ready for bagging and freezing.
Total miles of running...363 and just a hair over 2 mpg......Let me finish by saying I had a blast, but glad to be back home sleeping in my comfy bed.....with a nice stash of gourmet white meat that'll last us a while
Ted
Bravo Ted! Sure does look like great fun...enjoy your bounty! 8)
That looks like fun :D nice fish,,nice gear and Yamaha ;D
Nice! That cheek meat is the best.
You are a trooper, bro! That's some serious "ground" you covered there for some fine, flat meat.
I enjoy halibut when cooked properly, but the last time I ate it was at the Borgata (Atlantic City, NJ) when about 6 of us ordered the "Special" and boy, did we pay for it.
It was bad, and while we sent them all back it was too late... we were green around the gills.
However, Seeing how you take care of your fish and the care given to that fine salmon and Albie meat you so generously share with us, I would break my hiatus.
Get some rest and give your baby (boat) a good rub down after she brought you home safely after that long trek.
I know 3 dogs and one wife will be smiling when they taste those fillets. ;)
Good stuff!
Dom
That beat the trailering Ted.
Congrats on making it home safe,
You are a Machine. ;)
That is pretty hard core!
Nice going Ted. That was a long run there. All that effort should will make that fish more delicious.
I like the looks of that concept handle too.
John
What a run Ted, my back hurts just reading about it. I'm glad you had a good time and glad that the boat and gear did great.
Nice job!
Sal
Great work brother. solo fishing warrier.
Thanks for the report, great weekend on the water. You'll be dining well!
Great trip Ted! That's some serious mileage you put on.
It truly is ashamed the season is so short for you. Glad you made the best of it and gave those Penn's a workout. That's some good eating stuff ya got there!
.....................Lou
excellent trip Ted, looks like a nice boat to be and feel safe on all that water you covered.
I had years without "hearing" about Mtn rainier, that brough me memories, when I was 19yo I spend 1 month in Washington state, I spent the time in Yakima and Seattle, I visited Mtn Rainier few times while in there.
the Halibut meat looks like butta' so, envy.
Now that's Hard Core! I was on a 2 1/2 day trip over the weekend. I caught 2 small YT, 5 Reds and some other rockfish. Wind was blowing 10-30 mph the whole weekend.
Ted,
wow you covered some serious ground on that trip!!! Or should i say "water".
So, do tell, how did the experimental knob work out? It obviously got the job done, but what was your impression?....
Brett
Beautiful catch!
We sometimes do 80 miles in a day Tuna fishing, then my body is wrecked for a week. I can not do two days like that in succession anymore.
Well done.
.....air ride seats are next on my list. I'm getting too old to take the punishment.
The knob worked great and am pleased with test results so far
Here is a shot of skinned fillets from one side of the halibut. Pure white meat with absolutely zero fishy odor or taste.
Nice Ted ! That is a long run ............. I think you just ran further in that one trip than I will in the entire summer. That's also some deep water to jig in ; I reel up when it starts to hit 400 ' and that's unusual to go that deep. Nice job and good eats............................ you worked for it and earned. Good thing you are not $ 1.50 a liter for fuel like we are up here.
Cheers:
Todd
Quote from: Maxed Out on May 29, 2018, 06:24:21 PM
.....air ride seats are next on my list. I'm getting too old to take the punishment.
The knob worked great and am pleased with test results so far
Here is a shot of skinned fillets from one side of the halibut. Pure white meat with absolutely zero fishy odor or taste.
Of course you saved the cheekless head to make soup, right?