Author Topic: Best Pistol Or Revolver For Shooting Halibut (Read 1572 times)

catblaster.375 · « **on:** February 10, 2005, 04:44:15 PM »

What do you all think would be the ultimate halibut pistol or revolver you might run while fishing Alaskan halibut? Just thought it would make for an interesting disscusion.
Thanx

Chief · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2005, 05:29:18 PM »

I just had some of the halibut I caught last summer for dinner tonight. I don't consider myself knowledgable enough on halibut fishing to give an informed answer to you question about pistol size but...I sure wish I could hook into one big enough to need shooting it. My best fish ever may have made 65lbs give or take. You can bet I'll give the charters a few dollars this summer to try some more. On a different note though I hear those large halibut are female breeders and would probably be in all our best interest to release. I've wondered what I would do if I did caught one of those barn doors. I hope I would release but don't know since I've never been in the situation

Gun Runner · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2005, 06:00:03 PM »

CB375, I used to work a halibut fishing boat (commerical) out of homer AK. We used to keep a Topper "snake charmer" (.410 stainless) on the lower deck to do in the big one's. We used the slugs to shoot them thru the head. You get one of the big one's flopping around on the lower deck they can break a leg real easy. I know your not talking about anything that big (you just might get one tho). The only thing I have to say is be careful where you shoot it in the head at. We had one over 400lbs and when I shot it thru the head hit the line. :oops: . Took a lot of ribbing for that from the guys and the guys at the "Salty Dog Saloon" on the spit in homer.

Gun Runner

catblaster.375 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2005, 08:44:49 PM »

Gun Runner- small world, I have some great family in Homer. I usualy make it up there once every year or two. I have done some great halibut fishing outside of Kechamak(spelling?)bay in the Cook inlet, some great king fishing there at the kiddy hole on the spit and on the Anchor river, some great razor claming in the area, and some dolly fishing off Land's End and just around in the bay. My cousin is applying for his skippers licence as we type. My Uncle is taking me on a spring bear hunt in a year or so too. I am going up in June this year.

ShootnStr8 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2005, 10:47:14 AM »

Folks,

I edited the initial post and unlocked the thread that I believe raises a good question: What firearm and load is suitable for dealing with big fish like halibut?

Blessings!

ShootnStr8

catblaster.375 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2005, 12:54:00 PM »

Thanks so much man!

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2005, 12:54:13 PM »

I have heard of some using a .38 special. :grin:

Jamie45 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2005, 02:52:13 PM »

I used to have a neighbor who lived to fish. He would carry his wifes .38 snubbie. He told me that you didnt need a lot of power for halibut, but you did want to stay a few feet away until you were sure it was dead. One of his regular fishing buddies carried a stainless .357, but loaded with .38 lead round nose. He explained that he liked the stainless gun on the saltwater, but a .357 tore the fish up too much. I loaded them up some .38 hollow base wad cutters, but I moved before I found out how they worked (or got any more halibut in my freezer).

Sgtshultzy1 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2005, 12:42:29 PM »

Tell me...do you shoot them in the water or wait till theyre on the boat?

Malamute · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2005, 02:33:46 PM »

I saw an article in a magazine (Alaska Magazine?) where the guide carried a 45 auto, he shot them in the water before bringing them aboard.

Dand · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2005, 08:07:27 AM »

I bought a Ruger stainless security 6 357 for the job. I used 38 wad cutters. Sometimes I loaded the hollow based wadcutters in reverse and used a real light load. It worked ok if you could keep the fish's head slightly out of the water and placed the shot carefully - hard on a rolling boat and a flipping fish. Once my wife had a fish and the head got a few inches below the surface as I shot. I think the bullet mushroomed before hitting the fish. It was lightly hooked and the impact knocked the fish off. A sick feeling watching a nice fish sink. A friend of mine preferred a harpoon but a big fish can rip some of the smaller harpoon points right through their head. A tailing noose and the longer stainless toggle harpoons are a good combination. But its nice to have a gun too. It can be real tricky shooting fish and I think the stainless .410 is a good way to go. Don't have to lean over so far and it might be easier to control the muzzle.

I have seen a variety of .22 handguns used on some commercial boats. One guy had a high standard .22 mag derringer - one big fish took a lot of shots, a harpoon and tail noose. That one made the news.

Originally I was fishing halibut out of a Kayak - that's why I got the gun. It was real tricky to shoot a fish at such a low angle in the water. After a smallish fish nearly rolled me over I decided a bigger boat was the only safe way to go.

Brac2005 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2005, 12:58:56 PM »

Halibut fishing out of a kayak.....sounds like a new Olympic sport to me. I'd bet that you might have some interesting stories about that.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2005, 01:07:09 PM »

Interesting topic. Since I am also concerned about survival, I use a 629 .44 mag. How before you squirm, I reload and down-load the shots to way less than a .44 Special.

I did forget to switch loads one year. I hit a 110 pound fish right behind the ear with a 300 grain solid. Oop's, the report was probably heard in Whittier.

I usually tie a cord in the mouth and bleed them right along the boat before bringing them in. We also gut them at the same time in the water.

RANGER RICK · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2005, 12:33:31 PM »

catblaster
Looks like a lot of people have been to the Halibut Capital of Alaska . Yep I live here . Most of us ( that I know ) that fish for the flat ones here use the snake charmers 410 shot gun stainless is the most common. It does a great job on them . Shot placement is critical , have seen them hit other than the head and straight to the bottom again . Yes shoot them in the water .I think the bigest caught this year in the annual Homer halibut derby was 386 pounds for a total of $50,000 thousand ( I think ) give or take a few thousand . We like to put away at least 250 pounds a year and the same for the salmon . Thats not to hard living here .

RR

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2005, 12:45:43 PM »

RANGER RICK, I lost your e-mail address. I will be getting up with you again on some more 575 pills.

Could you please e-mail me again with it. Surfish7@aol.com I could not get the PM to work here.

Thanks
Alex

RANGER RICK · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2005, 01:27:47 PM »

Redhawk

E-MULE SENT YOUR WAY .

RR

earschplitinloudenboomer · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2005, 06:46:43 PM »

I carry a CZ52 in 7.62X25...just for the halibut!

daddywpb · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2005, 02:54:51 AM »

I'll have to try that sometime - just for the halibut. :grin: