Short halibut

[Codcruncher]

Tim Tower posted these 2 pics this morning of short halibut caught on the Bunny Clark trip yesterday...these fish were released alive after a quick picture...he also stated 2 porbeagle sharks were hooked and not landed..the haddock bite was excellent as well

 

[El Mar]

That's great to see.

 

[Gph]

Not that great to see. I'm not in the finger pointing business but its certainly disappointing to see short halibuts handled that way. After the ride from the depths to the deck they're stressed already. The really short one in picture shouldn't have been brought on deck. The other one at most for quick measurement, at most. Save the hero shots for the keepers. This fishery is showing promise but up to us to keep it alive

 

[Barnstable Seafood Co.]

Not that great to see. I'm not in the finger pointing business but its certainly disappointing to see short halibuts handled that way. After the ride from the depths to the deck they're stressed already. The really short one in picture shouldn't have been brought on deck. The other one at most for quick measurement, at most. Save the hero shots for the keepers. This fishery is showing promise but up to us to keep it alive

I agree.

 

[Bill_N]

Not that great to see. I'm not in the finger pointing business but its certainly disappointing to see short halibuts handled that way. After the ride from the depths to the deck they're stressed already. The really short one in picture shouldn't have been brought on deck. The other one at most for quick measurement, at most. Save the hero shots for the keepers. This fishery is showing promise but up to us to keep it alive

The fish aren’t bleeding, swim bladder isn’t out, haven’t been gaffed, look lively. What is the issue with a quick picture of what may be a once in a lifetime fish?

If you think commercially caught short halibut are handled gently and left in the water I have a bridge for sale.

As a charter captain I’m never going to discourage an angler from taking a picture of a healthy fish. I’m sure Tim feels the same.

 

[John 40]

I have no issue with pictures of short fish but I do cringe when I see their hand jammed in the gills to hold it up.

 

[Codcruncher]

I almost didn't post these pics for that very reason...I don't particularly like seeing them held by the gill plates for a picture but I have been on that boat with halibut caught and Timmy has the guys hold it as easy as possible right tight to the jaw so not to injure the gills...every fish (halibut) I have seen released from that boat makes a streak for the bottom...Tim is a true steward of the Sea and incredibly knowledgeable about the anatomy of these fish...he would not allow it if he felt the fish would be injured

 

[Gph]

You didn't even gaff them! But since we live in the "look at how awesome I am", its OK because you'll get some " likes"

 

[Codcruncher]

You didn't even gaff them! But since we live in the "look at how awesome I am", its OK because you'll get some " likes"

What are you...some kind of rocket scientist...I didn't catch those fish...and I wasn't on the boat...I posted to show the halibut fishery is coming back strong in southern Maine...if you have a problem, take it up with Capt Tim Tower...I'm sure he would be more than glad to set you straight...you should run for president

 

[Bill_N]

You didn't even gaff them! But since we live in the "look at how awesome I am", its OK because you'll get some " likes"

The word "clueless" comes to mind. There's nothing wrong with those fish or how they're being held. It's your opinion that's way off base here. No one that has done a fair amount of ground fishing would agree with you. I handle a couple hundred fluke (summer flounder) every year. The smaller ones are easy to squeeze with one hand over the back around the gill openings. Try holding a mid 30" fish that way and see how it goes.

No one that fishes with a rod and reel is the cause of the issues with that fishery. To pick on how an angler is holding a fish prior to release is BS!

 

[Beamie]

Halibut are pretty tough fish. They will release just fine.

 

[steveinak]

yeah a finger in their lungs and they will rocket to the bottom to die a day later.

 

[stumpstalker]

Are there any studies to be cited that can shed light on release mortality when these fish swim away energetically, neither bleeding, mutilated, nor otherwise distressed appearing?

 

[Gph]

Discard rate is low for recreational fishing with circle hooks. However handling techniques are crucial. My point was in those particular photos, as pointed out on this thread, the handling was awful. It's up to the crew to educate their passengers on importance of protecting these resources. Let's think about limiting the DE forum to boats in the future.

 

[Gph]

Forgot to mention that some of the keyboard cowboys spewing on this thread might consider this is supposed to be a friendly group united over boats. Not talking about halibut swim bladders, which in 25 years of fishing them commercially in AK & 10 off Maine, never saw single flat fish with a swim bladder dude.

 

[Codcruncher]

Are there any studies to be cited that can shed light on release mortality when these fish swim away energetically, neither bleeding, mutilated, nor otherwise distressed appearing?

95 % survival rate when caught on rod and reel and not gaffed..

 

[Codcruncher]

Forgot to mention that some of the keyboard cowboys spewing on this thread might consider this is supposed to be a friendly group united over boats. Not talking about halibut swim bladders, which in 25 years of fishing them commercially in AK & 10 off Maine, never saw single flat fish with a swim bladder dude.

Right...no swim bladder...which makes them far less susceptible to an issue with rapid change in water depths/pressure

 

[Bill_N]

Forgot to mention that some of the keyboard cowboys spewing on this thread might consider this is supposed to be a friendly group united over boats. Not talking about halibut swim bladders, which in 25 years of fishing them commercially in AK & 10 off Maine, never saw single flat fish with a swim bladder dude.

20+ years ago it was common to see pics of fish that were bleeding, held up by a gaff thru the jaw, swim bladder hanging out etc. No one bitched. People post pics of dead fish. No one bitches. But post a pic of a fish held by the gill cover and it's awful. Even though it's not bleeding and the filaments may never have been touched.

This is a fishing forum. Spare us your self righteous BS! The boating forums are above. You may want to stay there if you want to avoid conflict with other fisherman.

 

[snark]

I just really want to catch one of these. I promise I will release short ones gently and kill legal ones quickly!

 

[stumpstalker]

As for actual studies regarding hook and line release mortality for groundfish, I only am aware of the Massachusetts DMF study on Cod and Haddock. Hook and line gear release mortality was estimated, I have been told, at 15% for Atlantic Cod in the Gulf of Maine.

No such study has been done for Halibut by any agency that I know.

In the absence of any such study, we can only go on our personal opinions of what is common sense, mine being, reduce time on the hook (use heavy gear); circle hooks for bait; handle as gently as is practicable (Halibut can break your arm); don't do anything to cause it to bleed.