What a trip this was! got to spend the whole week on the ocean with good friends and family. It's been 4 years in the making to get my big brother on the deep blue, in hot pursuit of the elusive jumbo flat fish we seek. It all started out on the inside where we bonked 3 decent fish 25-30lbs and got really bored while looking for the 4th. So we decided to head outside and get some bass action going, to which we did without trouble. My brother is having a ball, and so are my fellow friends tossing bass in left and right, not losing much gear and everyone is smiling. After an odd pause to conversation, i look over to see my brother making the "i'm snagged" motion with my 10-20lb Berkley IM8 spinning rod and 20lb power pro. He gives it a couple hard snaps to try and free the 2 oz. jig, and on the 3rd snap, it comes alive and starts peeling line like you wouldnt believe. He's now got the "OH DAAAAAAANG" look on his face trying to figure out what to do next. I bark for a reel up to the other guys, and the chase begins. He's battling this beast quite well, but tensions started getting high when he reached for the drag and cranked it down. I yelled "we're only in 50' of water, DON'T DO THAT!!!", while chasing this fish in full reverse with the 9.9 Yamaha. I swear i could see daylight between the reel seat and reel when he pulled up. It seemed like days before he started getting her up off the bottom, but eventually things started going in his favor. 6-10" at a time, here comes the fish.. I calmly ask the crew to prepare the harpoon as i knew this was a decent fish. I start to see color, and more color, and LOTS of color coming up. the fish cooperated rather well on the first pass, but too deep, second pass same thing, finally my brother is crying about his arms burning, and gives her one lase heave upward which allowed a clean shot with the poon stick. one swift motion and the fish is stuck, going ballistic dragging that buoy around.... Gotta make a quick end to the story here, but it was his first halibut, measured 56.5", and according to Piscatorial Pursuits, she weighed 87-90lbs..... Lots of meat!!!!
