30lb Halibut from the Tube
 

I have not posted here in a long while but I thought this was worth sharing.

Went tubing with my brother and my buddy last friday and landed my PB Halibut from the float tube. Launched a little later than usual but was fishing by around 6:45am. Tide was low and the fishing was slow. We were pulling up dinky fish and lizard fish here and there. I only caught three fish today on the same bait, I was fishing a 5" MC curly tail type bait in a green color with a 1/2 oz Warbait on 17lb test Berkley Trilene XL and was using my custom M1 Phenix rod that I built, makes this catch that much nicer!

Anyways, I was bouncing the bait on the bottom in about 50 ft of water when I felt something small take the bait. I can feel the small fish (probably a lizard fish again) fighting as I'm reeling in, then I feel a big thump and dead weight, I thought it snagged up so I button down the drag and she starts peeling it of my Daiwa T3 MX reel! Instantly I thought I hooked a big batray, but the head shakes after every run kept my blood pumping!

My friend Patrick was next to me when I hooked her and got everything on film, will be editing the video and uploading it soon. I keep fighting the fish for about 15 mins after several long runs I get to see her head poke out of the water with my bait in her mouth and I almost soiled my waders! I could'nt believe how big she was! I called out for my brother to come and gaff her for me since he was like 50 feet away from me. He put it in high gear and kicked as fast as he could to reach me and gaff her on the first shot! He could'nt believe his eyes when she came up next to him for the gaff shot!

He sunk the gaff on the first shot and she didnt even move! I'm glad or that would have been nasty!, especially on a tube! Took out my knife and gave here a couple little love stabs on her head to put her to rest and put the game clip on her! We celebrated like little school girls (and the reason for the editing on the video...lol) my brother was as stoked to gaff her as I was to catch her! I will never forget this trip! and My personal best halibut. She went 43" and was 30lbs on the digital scale after she bled for a while. It was surely an awesome catch from my float tube! Glad my little brother and my good friend Patrick were there to share the excitemet!

Here is the edited video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMAin7JC0w4

That's an incredible catch, especially from a float tube! Congrats!

Ain't she sweet, congrats on PB! What a year we are having!

Very nice looks tasty!

That's fricken awesome!! Trophy fish for sure!!!

I've fished that same area several times and never had any luck.

Way to go pushing it to the limit and showing that fish who's the boss. Great pics!
Congratulations on the PB.
:cheers1:

Awesome flatty. I bet your blood was pumping hard.

F-N-A!!! For me, all of my best flatties have been when I'm on the tube as well.

What a beauty! Nice Butt!

Much respect for one of the old school Baytubers!
Great job Jimmy, she was a beauty
Video shows the stoke, nice team work!




Did you get rid of all your kayaks?

Hey Don!

Thanks for the reminder of the Baytubers, it was fun those days, have good memories.

unfortunately, yeah I got rid of them, didnt fish as much as I fish from the tube these days, that and rod building has me pretty tied up.

that is saaaaawwwweeeeeet! congrats on the PB 'but! awesome.

Janine:you_rock:

Awesome hali. Crazy from a tube.

That's crazy, congrats!

Float tube, plastic bait, big halibut...that was not easy.

I like big butts, I can not lie !!! :cool:

Great catch!

Well done, on the tube!:reel:

:cheers1: