Hi Ben & Jeanette thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I agree that jigging for halibut is a blast! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey thanks Piscatorian! You called it - some of this fish hit the Alaskan Amber beer batter and turned into fresh fish and chips! A tasty reward after a fun battle landing the fish. Tight lines right back at you my friend! Captain Zac
Hey there Nigel many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! I appreciate the kinds words - it was a blast to reel in! Definitely had the drag ripping! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@nigelkavanagh2048 While 459lbs is technically the IFGA record for Pacific Halibut, a 482lb halibut was caught in Gustavus a couple of years ago (not eligible for record since they shot and harpooned it) and the largest halibut in the world is said to be 515lbs - caught in Norway in 2013. Enormous fish!!!
Zac, Nice job on the video and fighting that fish. Real dandy there. My Wife and I are starting to plan our next rip to Alaska. Looks like it will be sometime in October of 2021. Good luck on all your future trips.
Hey Mark many thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! This size is right at the top-end of the great eaters... much bigger and the meat starts to get a little less desirable (plus the really big ones are the breeders so it helps to let those go!). Awesome to hear that you are heading up here this year. There should still be some silvers around if you come in the earlier part of October (likely stream fishing). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi tevhug many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! You called it! Fish and chips with some Alaskan Amber beer batter - hard to beat!!! Thanks again for tuning in and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Charles thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! It was an intense battle and I was fortunate to land this nice-sized fish. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Carlos many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Haha yes indeed it was a battle right up until the end - especially when it ran all the way back down to the bottom after initially surfacing! Tight lines right back at you my friend! Captain Zac
Hey @lauranelson6446 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! A fan actually gave me this bungee tool for my net (he said that he did not sell them) ... it is basically a small bungie with a fitting that holds the bag of the net snug prior to netting the fish and then releases when a fish is plunged into the net. You could probably get close by just wrapping a small bungee around your net handle and tucking the very tip of the bag of the net under the bungee. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey there thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Here's my website where you can buy my Fire Eye Glow Jigs: captainzacalaska.com/
Hi Dave thanks for watching! Yes indeed - it is totally worth putting a halibut fishing trip on the bucket list. They are a blast to catch and very tasty to eat! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi flyingpumpkin thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Once the fish is harpooned I do prefer to gaff it in the mouth to give the best possible leverage to immobilize the fish. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Tyler many thanks watching and I appreciate the jig order! Great timing - I just recorded a "how to" video recently on how to rig a grub on a halibut jig and will be posting that this Saturday morning. I was using a 16oz Fire Eye Glow Jig for demonstration purposes which is the exact jig size I was using in this video. The tail has really great action! I most often tie a very heavy duty corkscrew swivel directly to my braid (65lb or 80lb generally) and then connect the jig to the swivel. Some folks prefer to use a "bumper" with some give that sits between the jig and the main line. I prefer the immediate feel and hookset power of tying the swivel directly to the braid. Will you be targeting halibut locally or are you planning a halibut fishing trip? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi sinjin le many thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I actually prefer to run my 7oz and 16oz jigs right to the end of the main line braid connected with a corkscrew swivel for maximum feel and hookset potential. Some prefer a leader / bumper to dampen the shock of the hookset / head shakes. I like to keep it simple. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi sinjin le the halibut fishing generally starts getting good in late May / early June and then as the summer goes on it gets better and better. The fish generally tend to be a little deeper earlier in the season and then move into the shallower areas as the summer goes on to feed on crabs, dead salmon, etc.
Thanks Steven! Yes indeed this is a great eating size fish - right at the top end of the size range where the meat is still awesome and the fillets are nice and thick. I have no doubt that you'll land one like this during your trip this year!!! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks for the kind words Peeling Line! Halibut have a really large meat ratio - so this one probably produced about 40lbs of boneless trimmed fillets! I tipped this jig with a strip of octopus and a piece of herring. Many thanks for watching and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Haha while I might appear calm during this fight, I'm sure my heart was racing trying to land this big hali! I appreciate you stopping by - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Kevin many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Yes indeed - this big one was a blast to reel in! I can't even imagine hooking a fish like this in a kayak! Have you ever tied into a big halibut while kayak fishing? Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey thanks Vladimir I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! It was certainly a blast to reel in! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@vladimircruz8571 It is a 21' Hewescraft Sea Runner with and extended transom and full hard-top. An awesome fishing platform! Here is a more detailed walkthrough in case you are interested: th-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/w-d-xo.html
Haha hey Father & Sons Fishing I get that comment/question more than you'd imagine!!! I once had someone accuse me of "photoshopping" a video of a halibut because they were absolutely certain that a flounder could not possibly get that big!!! Can't please everyone I suppose! Thanks again and tight lines my friends! Captain Zac
Hi Get out and fish many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Yes indeed - it is certainly worth putting Alaska on the bucket list! Truly one of the last unspoiled places on earth ... and the world-class fishery doesn't hurt either!!! Thanks again and I hope you make it up here soon! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac what part of the state you in.do you guid ?for some day i am coming there to fish and will need some one to take probley 3 to 5 of us from ky.
Hi All Weather Angler many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Have you been having any luck with winter kings? Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Jim thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! Yes indeed - this fish is right at the top end of the good eating range. Nice thick fillets yet still firm. Perfectly grill-worthy! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac , thank me for watching ? Thanks for showing and sharing , that was fantastic , I wanted to help you get that in , started fishing when I was a young boy , still enjoy it today and to see something that big , Wow , that's Awesome , Thanks again for sharing this great catch
THe problem is you have too many people.. I do it by myself all the time.. Caught some right there too.. Just 30-50's and chickens.. Good fish.. Any bigger and I let them go..
Hi DR Ostly thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage! I enjoy fishing solo as well - check this out: th-cam.com/video/9ja9mHk_4t4/w-d-xo.html Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi James thanks for tuning in. I do a good bit of catch and release as well, especially the larger barn doors. This fish was right at the top-range of the halibut I'll keep. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey Charlie this was the perfect storm here - the drag was set a little light and the fish was an absolute tank! When the fish goes on a crazy run like this, I alway favor letting them run with drag vs. locking down the drag and risking a line break. Only exception to that is if you are being "rail roaded" and are at risk of being spooled (running out of line) - then you must lock down the drag, follow the fish with the boat, do anything possible not to lose all the line! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey Michael thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! This was a multi-day trip from Juneau to Petersburg and we had a lot of extra gear, gas, etc., on the boat for the long journey. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Jigging for halibut can be pretty exciting. Nice catch!
Hi Ben & Jeanette thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I agree that jigging for halibut is a blast! Tight lines! Captain Zac
The halibut pounder fooled him! You have Fish N Chips for days now. Well done Zac, looked like a crazy fight. Tight lines!
The Piscatorian
Hey thanks Piscatorian! You called it - some of this fish hit the Alaskan Amber beer batter and turned into fresh fish and chips! A tasty reward after a fun battle landing the fish. Tight lines right back at you my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Halibut Chunks, the secret was a little honey for a more golden brown crust.
Had to show Mary you could catch the big ones too. Nice fish wow!.
Haha yes that's exactly right - she catches so many big ones that I had to get in on the action! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Brings back memories of catching 300-400 lb halibut in the Queen Charlotte Islands
Hey @hughmungous6487 WOW that's a big one - I bet that was a crazy fight! Tight lines! Captain Zac
That's a big fish Zac! Well layed sir👍👌
Hey there Nigel many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! I appreciate the kinds words - it was a blast to reel in! Definitely had the drag ripping! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac what's the line caught record Zac?
@@nigelkavanagh2048 While 459lbs is technically the IFGA record for Pacific Halibut, a 482lb halibut was caught in Gustavus a couple of years ago (not eligible for record since they shot and harpooned it) and the largest halibut in the world is said to be 515lbs - caught in Norway in 2013. Enormous fish!!!
@@CaptainZac unreal, thanks for info buddy. Tight lines in the chase for the big one 👍
Zac, Nice job on the video and fighting that fish. Real dandy there. My Wife and I are starting to plan our next rip to Alaska. Looks like it will be sometime in October of 2021. Good luck on all your future trips.
Hey Mark many thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! This size is right at the top-end of the great eaters... much bigger and the meat starts to get a little less desirable (plus the really big ones are the breeders so it helps to let those go!). Awesome to hear that you are heading up here this year. There should still be some silvers around if you come in the earlier part of October (likely stream fishing). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That was a monster of a halibut and a great rod to catch it on
Hi Patrice many thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! I hope all is well on your end - all the best! Captain Zac
Hmm 97 isnt a monster, it's not even big. Hallies grow to over 600...
Heck yeah! Fish and chips all day long! Nice job!
Hi tevhug many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! You called it! Fish and chips with some Alaskan Amber beer batter - hard to beat!!! Thanks again for tuning in and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Well done Capt!!
Hi maltby_pass thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Charles thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! It was an intense battle and I was fortunate to land this nice-sized fish. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Wow captain Zac that I was awesome fight but in the end captain 1 halibut 0 thanks again for awesome video tight lines my friend till next time
Hi Carlos many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Haha yes indeed it was a battle right up until the end - especially when it ran all the way back down to the bottom after initially surfacing! Tight lines right back at you my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zack can you please tell me how to attach a bungee to my net?
Hey @lauranelson6446 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! A fan actually gave me this bungee tool for my net (he said that he did not sell them) ... it is basically a small bungie with a fitting that holds the bag of the net snug prior to netting the fish and then releases when a fish is plunged into the net. You could probably get close by just wrapping a small bungee around your net handle and tucking the very tip of the bag of the net under the bungee. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Nice job! 😊👍
Hi SJP 277 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I appreciate the positive comment! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Zac where do we find these fire eye jigs?
Hey there thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Here's my website where you can buy my Fire Eye Glow Jigs: captainzacalaska.com/
One of these days i would love to go with a guide and catch some of them fish.and i know that there great eating.
Hi Dave thanks for watching! Yes indeed - it is totally worth putting a halibut fishing trip on the bucket list. They are a blast to catch and very tasty to eat! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Interesting gaff technique for sure.
Hi flyingpumpkin thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Once the fish is harpooned I do prefer to gaff it in the mouth to give the best possible leverage to immobilize the fish. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Zac how did you rig that fire eye glow jig up?
Hi Tyler many thanks watching and I appreciate the jig order! Great timing - I just recorded a "how to" video recently on how to rig a grub on a halibut jig and will be posting that this Saturday morning. I was using a 16oz Fire Eye Glow Jig for demonstration purposes which is the exact jig size I was using in this video. The tail has really great action! I most often tie a very heavy duty corkscrew swivel directly to my braid (65lb or 80lb generally) and then connect the jig to the swivel. Some folks prefer to use a "bumper" with some give that sits between the jig and the main line. I prefer the immediate feel and hookset power of tying the swivel directly to the braid. Will you be targeting halibut locally or are you planning a halibut fishing trip? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac mainly curious on the added weight / what depth it can go to?
What lbs leader line would you use with the 16ox Fire eye?
Hi sinjin le many thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I actually prefer to run my 7oz and 16oz jigs right to the end of the main line braid connected with a corkscrew swivel for maximum feel and hookset potential. Some prefer a leader / bumper to dampen the shock of the hookset / head shakes. I like to keep it simple. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
When is a good time for Halibut fishing?
Hi sinjin le the halibut fishing generally starts getting good in late May / early June and then as the summer goes on it gets better and better. The fish generally tend to be a little deeper earlier in the season and then move into the shallower areas as the summer goes on to feed on crabs, dead salmon, etc.
That’s a nice fish! That’s the size I would like to catch this year!
Thanks Steven! Yes indeed this is a great eating size fish - right at the top end of the size range where the meat is still awesome and the fillets are nice and thick. I have no doubt that you'll land one like this during your trip this year!!! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Wow awesome 🙏😇❤️
Hi Carolyn thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Tight lines! Captain Zac
What a great catch. How much meat did you get off him? Was that lure tipped with any meat? 👍
Thanks for the kind words Peeling Line! Halibut have a really large meat ratio - so this one probably produced about 40lbs of boneless trimmed fillets! I tipped this jig with a strip of octopus and a piece of herring. Many thanks for watching and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac nice. I bet the cheeks on those big ones is a meal itself.
@@PeelingLine Totally! The cheeks on these larger ones are delicious!
@@CaptainZac I bet.
NICE CATCH!!!
Hi Alonso many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac also enjoyed your huge salmon video!!!
@@alonsogutierrez7152 Awesome - thanks for tuning in! That was special fish... it may be a few years before I top that one!
You're much calmer than I am 😂😅
Haha while I might appear calm during this fight, I'm sure my heart was racing trying to land this big hali! I appreciate you stopping by - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Look lot of fun !
Hi Kevin many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Yes indeed - this big one was a blast to reel in! I can't even imagine hooking a fish like this in a kayak! Have you ever tied into a big halibut while kayak fishing? Tight lines! Captain Zac
Awesome man!!
Hey thanks Vladimir I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! It was certainly a blast to reel in! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac what kind of boat is that? How big?
@@vladimircruz8571 It is a 21' Hewescraft Sea Runner with and extended transom and full hard-top. An awesome fishing platform! Here is a more detailed walkthrough in case you are interested: th-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/w-d-xo.html
Wow!!! That's the biggest flounder I've ever seen! 💯 😉😎
Haha hey Father & Sons Fishing I get that comment/question more than you'd imagine!!! I once had someone accuse me of "photoshopping" a video of a halibut because they were absolutely certain that a flounder could not possibly get that big!!! Can't please everyone I suppose! Thanks again and tight lines my friends! Captain Zac
Flounder on Animal House was bigga mon. Do the BLUTTO
Someday I will fish in Alaska! Someday!
Hi Get out and fish many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Yes indeed - it is certainly worth putting Alaska on the bucket list! Truly one of the last unspoiled places on earth ... and the world-class fishery doesn't hurt either!!! Thanks again and I hope you make it up here soon! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac what part of the state you in.do you guid ?for some day i am coming there to fish and will need some one to take probley 3 to 5 of us from ky.
Beast
Thanks James I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Tight lines! Captain Zac
YEAH, CAP!!!
Hi All Weather Angler many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! Have you been having any luck with winter kings? Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I'll get the grill going
Hi Jim thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! Yes indeed - this fish is right at the top end of the good eating range. Nice thick fillets yet still firm. Perfectly grill-worthy! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac , thank me for watching ?
Thanks for showing and sharing , that was fantastic , I wanted to help you get that in , started fishing when I was a young boy , still enjoy it today and to see something that big , Wow , that's Awesome ,
Thanks again for sharing this great catch
Amazing friends
stay new friends
Hi Bebas Guraba many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut battle! All the best and good luck fishing! Captain Zac
THe problem is you have too many people.. I do it by myself all the time.. Caught some right there too.. Just 30-50's and chickens.. Good fish.. Any bigger and I let them go..
Hi DR Ostly thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage! I enjoy fishing solo as well - check this out: th-cam.com/video/9ja9mHk_4t4/w-d-xo.html Tight lines! Captain Zac
I usually just let them go
Hi James thanks for tuning in. I do a good bit of catch and release as well, especially the larger barn doors. This fish was right at the top-range of the halibut I'll keep. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Nice work. That reel has about the worst drag possible.😅
Hey Charlie this was the perfect storm here - the drag was set a little light and the fish was an absolute tank! When the fish goes on a crazy run like this, I alway favor letting them run with drag vs. locking down the drag and risking a line break. Only exception to that is if you are being "rail roaded" and are at risk of being spooled (running out of line) - then you must lock down the drag, follow the fish with the boat, do anything possible not to lose all the line! Tight lines! Captain Zac
You always have so much crap in the way 😂
Hey Michael thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! This was a multi-day trip from Juneau to Petersburg and we had a lot of extra gear, gas, etc., on the boat for the long journey. Tight lines! Captain Zac