Captain Zac and Mary What a beautiful spring day out on the pond.. Fantastic tag team performance on the barn door.. I’m so ready to catch some slabs in August. Save some for me.. Tight Lines my friend.. E
Hi Eric thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Tag team is a great way to describe it - catching a big fish is almost always a team sport! Haha yes indeed I'll be sure to save some slabs for your visit here later this summer! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Have you ever had skate wings deep fried? I lived in Wrangle in the 70's and caught a really big skate and a local woman cooked it up for me and a few others in the port. I thought it was some of the best fish I've ever had. Thank you for sharing your experience with us in the lower 48. I'll be binging your videos for the next day or so.stay safe
Hi Howard many thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! Welcome to the channel! About 10 years ago, I was at a fishing lodge and someone kept a skate and they grilled it up - I recall it being pretty tasty, even for the very basic cooking method that evening. Perhaps I'll keep one this season and give it another try! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
From Maine,my father said that skate was used as a scallop replacement in restaurants! The fillets were punched out to resemble a scallop! By the way they taste like scallops, and you can’t beat a filet of scallop!
Just put our boat in the water and had our first salmon trip of the year this weekend. Great video and amazing fish. They're becoming harder and harder to cone by
Hey @deckhandcody thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Congrats on getting the season kicked off - looks like you are fishing out of Homer. Big water big fish!!! Thanks again and tight lines my friend - best of luck this season! Captain Zac
Hi @TrinidadPacHalibutSportfishing thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! I appreciate the positive comment! Looks like you are a big halibut angler as well - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey @fishduckdog thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action, including the cleanup! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Awesome day to be on the water and fish Captain Zac, and and a fantastic fish that was, great harvest, awesome video as always, thumbs up and greetings from NZ, Tony.
Thanks Sean! I appreciate the positive comment and am glad you enjoyed this early season action! Yes indeed - the fillets certainly pile up with a big fish like this. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
I absolutely enjoy your videos Captain Zac! It brings back some amazing memories we had while stationed at Fort Wainwright?? Spelling sorry! I left the service and Alaska in 1995 and lord do I miss the hunting and fishing! Tight lines Captain!!!
Hey @goodcitizen64 thanks for watching and I'm glad that these fishing adventures bring back great memories from your time here in Alaska! Thanks for your service! Maybe you could circle back to Alaska again at some point for some epic hunting and fishing action - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Zac and Mary, Great outing there on those early season Halibut and Cod. Really filling up the freezer at that rate. It sure was a beautiful April day out there that Saturday. Not sure how it held out over in Juneau but when I got to Sitka the weather stayed nice the whole week so I was able to get out a few times. Fishing was slow for me but I expect it to pick up in May when I get back there. Had to head back to Michigan to keep the shop running. Good luck this summer with all your adventures. Tight lines my friend.
Hey Mark thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut adventure! Yes indeed the freezer is certainly filling up quickly! Glad to hear that you were able to land a halibut on your new boat and now you'll be all setup for the next time you return - halibut beware! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice halibut. Nice fishing video. Nice time watching you and Queen Mary catching fish. You guys are an awesome team. Thank you for taking me along. Tight lines guys. Question. When does Mary get her electric real?
Hey Phil many thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut adventure! Haha you aren't the first person to ask this - I offered to get Mary an electric reel and she insisted on sticking with the traditional gear! Perhaps after I land a few more slabs, especially from deep drops, I can convince her to take the plunge. That said, I'll still use conventional gear for shallower applications. I caught a nice 30 pounder this weekend on my spinning setup, so I haven't fully converted to fishing the electric gear exclusively! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey @RobertTarbox-wh2hj and @Fishpassionbox_global many thanks for the positive comments and I'm glad you both enjoyed this early season action! haha yes indeed - I'll be sure to leave a few halis out there swimming in the deep for you! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks PeelingLine I appreciate the positive comment and am glad you enjoyed this early season action! Yes indeed - it is always fun to get an early season mixed bag! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Yes - right around 100 or below is typically where I draw the line, but as you see in this video, it can be tough to get an exact size in the heat of the moment.
Wow, that's a solid way to kick off the fishing season! You and Mary are killing it out already. It might be time for me to get out and do some fishing! 🎣😁
Hey Captain Alan thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Haha yes indeed - now that your boat is in the water, halibut beware!!! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey Jaden many thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! That's awesome to hear that the bite is starting to pick up around the Kenai Peninsula - best of luck out there! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That's an awesome pile of Halibut steaks, congrats! I just got my own property up in Haines so by next summer I want to have my boat and a cabin there. looking forward to living the lifestyle.
Hi Ermin thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut adventure! Wow congrats on the Haines property! Sounds like an incredible setup to "live off the land" in am amazing area. Best of luck with everything! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey @GeloBoysGaming great to hear from you and thanks for watching! All is well here in Alaska - I hope you are doing well also! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks @rph3344 I appreciate the positive comment and am glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Yes indeed - you know it is a special fish when it won't fit in the fish box! Thank again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Haha that's awesome! Thanks for stopping by William and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! The day I bought this boat, the rep told me about "2 foot itus" - whatever boat you buy, you'll always end up wanting one at least 2 feet longer! haha Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
I have got used to setting the hook and engaging the electric reel simultaneously,. That way it maintains tension. I have even just used the electri reel to set the hook. Great day on the water. I am going out Friday for first halibut trip of the year.
Hi Chuck thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Good idea in terms of engaging the electric reel immediately. I'm so used to reeling like crazy every time I set the hook that I'm not sure if I will be able to switch - time will tell! Good luck on your first halibut trip of the season - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey @gmoney1762 best of luck on Saturday and next weekend during the derby! You've been putting in the hours and it is only a matter of time before you'll be shouting "FISH ON!!!" Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey Piscatorian thanks for watching and I appreciate the positive comment! Haha yes indeed when a big halibut goes for a run it is definitely "all hands on deck" until the fish is landed! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
The new slot limit is less than 40" and bigger than 80". Does that apply to where you fish? I am coming to Shelter Island in August and would like to know. Thanks.
Hi @Mahigeer1 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! You are referring to the Guided Halibut Fishing regulations for area 2C. Although this is the same area I fish, these regulations don't apply to me since I'm self-guided sport fishing here. Here are the details in case you are interested: Area 2C (Southeast Alaska) One fish daily bag limit: Charter vessel anglers may catch and retain one halibut per day. Reverse slot limits: From February 1 through July 14, retained halibut must be less than or equal to 40 inches or greater than or equal to 80 inches in length. From July 15 until the end of the season, retained halibut must be less than or equal to 36 inches or greater than or equal to 80 inches in length. Friday closures. Charter vessel anglers in Area 2C may not catch and retain halibut (except GAF) on all Fridays beginning July 19, 2024 and continuing through September 13, 2024. media.fisheries.noaa.gov/2021-02/AK-charter-halibut-regulations-fact-sheet-akro.pdf?null Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey Zac, I have a quick question! Are you happy with that reel? Which reel is that if you don’t mind sharing info? I guess that’s two questions. 😂 I see there is a Diawa for 270 dollars on Amazon and then there are several almost to a 1,000. I like the 270 range, and it has maroon and so does yours…. Anyway, thanks in advance!
Hi @FR-sr9sy yes I am very happy with this reel so far - it is a Daiwa Seaborg 500mj. I chose this reel because it is small enough to fish "in hand" instead of exclusively out of a rod holder. This is important to me since I really enjoy jigging for halibut and this reel allows me to fish much deeper spots. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi @zachreynolds3727 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! I'm typically running a 9" tapered flex but I also have a 9" flex (which is a wider blade) which I sometimes break out for larger fish or especially bony fish like rockfish. I believe I used both blades during this cleanup. I typically bring a few knives to the tables to ensure a razor sharp edge - most commonly two 9" tapered flex knives which are extremely versatile. Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
Just found your channel, loving it a lot. Could you explain how the deep release works, and why you do it. I’m guessing it is so the fish lives, and do you have only a certain amount of time to do a live release???
Hi Victor thanks for stopping by and welcome to the channel! Yes - in Alaska we are required by law to use a deepwater release when catching and releasing rockfish since their swim bladders expand on the way to the surface which prohibits them from swimming back down. A deep water release device is basically an upside down barbless hook that is attached to the lip and a heavy weight that will carry the fish back down to the bottom. Once on the bottom, you give the rod a big yank and the fish pops off and the pressure regulates which enables the fish to stay on the bottom and continue on with its life. I typically try to send it back down as soon as possible to reduce the time spent out of the water. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey @benmirka3648 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Yes - I'd definitely still recommend this boat. It enables tons of adventure and is still relatively gas efficient. One tip - if you plan on leaving it in a harbor in saltwater, I'd suggest getting a bottom paint applied. We had our bottom paint done this past off season and it would have been better (and cheaper) to do it right when we bought the boat. If you have further specific questions, please don't hesitate to reach out! Thanks and tight lines - good luck with your boat search! Captain Zac
Hi Cinda many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Wow that sounds like a fun trip to fish for Halibut in Oregon! Unfortunately, I'm not much help on the Oregon halibut fishing scene since I'm here in Juneau. I know there are some subscribers to my channel who are avid halibut anglers in Oregon - perhaps they can weigh in with recommendations! Thanks again and tight lines my friend - have a great trip to Oregon! Captain Zac
Hi Joseph thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! The meat near the stomach has a much higher likelihood of worms hence most anglers avoid harvesting this section. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Great video Captain, clear to the very end with your friends. How much meat weight wise do you think a 100 lb. halibut yields? It looked like a pretty big pile. What a beautiful day on the water too!
Hey Steve thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early-season action! This fish weighed 115 lbs and probably yielded about 40lbs of fully trimmed and skinned fillets. Yes indeed it was a fantastic day out there on the water, especially for so early in the season! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Bradley many thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! All together this fish probably took about 20mins to bring in, with a few more minutes dispatching it on the surface prior to pulling it aboard. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
What a nice fish and a great fight. Good start of the season. I hope it's that good when I'm up there in late July. What was the final weight? Keep up the good work Captain.
Hi Wayne thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! I'm sure the halibut fishing will be AWESOME by late July when you visit. Generally the halibut fishing gets better and better as the season goes on. This fish weighed 115lbs - 61 inches. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Sam thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! The meat near the stomach has a much higher likelihood of worms hence most anglers avoid harvesting this section. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey @jago76 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! Yes I did - this was a 115lb halibut (61 inches). Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Jigs Jigs Jigs! I almost exclusively fish with my own Fire Eye Glow Jigs which have J-hooks. I really like feeling the fish bite and setting the hook vs. the "wait and don't yank" approach for circle hooks. Here are my jigs: captainzacalaska.com/. Do you prefer J hooks or circle hooks? Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
@CaptainZac captain, I just ordered one more jig. 24oz. Do you have any heavier then 24 oz ? I have place that, I want to fish, 400 fow to 500 fow. Do you have any recommendations, how to add weight on your 24 oz jig ?
Thanks for the follow-up order @jaychoi12345! 24oz is the heaviest that I sell however I've fished this 24oz jig in 1000ft of water before while back trolling. It shoots down through the water column very quickly. You should be able to fish 400-500ft no problem unless there is extreme current. If you really wanted to add extra weight, you could run the jig off a spreader bar and add even more heavy lead but that is probably overkill for 400-500ft. Just this past weekend I was fishing 16oz jigs in 500-700 ft. Is this helpful? Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey @ervintaylor6508 thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment. The main use of this electric reel is to fish in very deep water - 400-1200ft where traditional gear is either difficult or impossible to fish. I'm still getting "dialed in" with this reel hence why I was using it in about 200 ft here. Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
from Manitoba seen sturgeon , pike and catfish steel rods even rods not put in holders properly r lost I 've seen the safety rope on other u tube channels just passing it forward have never lost 1 of my own yet
Hi Paul well said! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this early season footage! Yes indeed - the electric reel does save the arm, especially on the deep drops or big halis! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi @shawnmoore9714 - agree, which is why I typically release barn doors. I even mentioned it in this video that I thought this was more like an 80 pounder and if I had to do it over I would probably have let this one go. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi @thejayjoint5713 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage, other than the electric reel noise. Unfortunately, this is just the sound of the reel so if I mute all audio then that would mute any commentary as well. I do have an external mic which might reduce the electric reel noise in the future. Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Don yes you are right if this reel went over the side of the boat that would be an expensive mistake! Thanks for the tip and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Richard yes I did harvest the cheeks out of this fish - the video moves fast but I assure you that I wouldn't have wasted the cheeks off of a large fish like this.
Non mi piace il mulinello elettrico.....vuoi mettere un Penn 8500 a bobina fissa e la lotta con gli alibut da 10/20 kg? Non c'è storia. Molto meglio il mulinello tradizionale.
Apprezzo che tu abbia guardato questo video! I mulinelli elettrici sono ottimi per la pesca in acque molto profonde qui in Alaska: da 400 a 1200 piedi. Pescare in acque così profonde è difficile se non impossibile con gli attrezzi da pesca standard. Sto ancora imparando a usare questo mulinello, ecco perché lo sto pescando in acque relativamente poco profonde in questo video. Grazie e buona fortuna con la pesca! Capitano Zac
Captain Zac and Mary
What a beautiful spring day out on the pond..
Fantastic tag team performance on the barn door..
I’m so ready to catch some slabs in August. Save some for me.. Tight Lines my friend..
E
Hi Eric thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Tag team is a great way to describe it - catching a big fish is almost always a team sport! Haha yes indeed I'll be sure to save some slabs for your visit here later this summer! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Have you ever had skate wings deep fried? I lived in Wrangle in the 70's and caught a really big skate and a local woman cooked it up for me and a few others in the port. I thought it was some of the best fish I've ever had. Thank you for sharing your experience with us in the lower 48. I'll be binging your videos for the next day or so.stay safe
Hi Howard many thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! Welcome to the channel! About 10 years ago, I was at a fishing lodge and someone kept a skate and they grilled it up - I recall it being pretty tasty, even for the very basic cooking method that evening. Perhaps I'll keep one this season and give it another try! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
From Maine,my father said that skate was used as a scallop replacement in restaurants! The fillets were punched out to resemble a scallop! By the way they taste like scallops, and you can’t beat a filet of scallop!
As one guy said, many restaurants will sell skate as scallops, and no one is the wiser.
Just put our boat in the water and had our first salmon trip of the year this weekend. Great video and amazing fish. They're becoming harder and harder to cone by
Hey @deckhandcody thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Congrats on getting the season kicked off - looks like you are fishing out of Homer. Big water big fish!!! Thanks again and tight lines my friend - best of luck this season! Captain Zac
That's starting the season off right. Cheers to an awesome season for you and your wife!
Hi @TrinidadPacHalibutSportfishing thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! I appreciate the positive comment! Looks like you are a big halibut angler as well - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Beautiful fish cleaning job! Thanks for sharing!
Hey @fishduckdog thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action, including the cleanup! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Awesome day to be on the water and fish Captain Zac, and and a fantastic fish that was, great harvest, awesome video as always, thumbs up and greetings from NZ, Tony.
Hi Tony many thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut adventure! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
What a beauty and love seeing those nice fillets at the end. Great job.
Thanks Sean! I appreciate the positive comment and am glad you enjoyed this early season action! Yes indeed - the fillets certainly pile up with a big fish like this. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
I absolutely enjoy your videos Captain Zac! It brings back some amazing memories we had while stationed at Fort Wainwright?? Spelling sorry! I left the service and Alaska in 1995 and lord do I miss the hunting and fishing! Tight lines Captain!!!
Hey @goodcitizen64 thanks for watching and I'm glad that these fishing adventures bring back great memories from your time here in Alaska! Thanks for your service! Maybe you could circle back to Alaska again at some point for some epic hunting and fishing action - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Zac and Mary, Great outing there on those early season Halibut and Cod. Really filling up the freezer at that rate. It sure was a beautiful April day out there that Saturday. Not sure how it held out over in Juneau but when I got to Sitka the weather stayed nice the whole week so I was able to get out a few times. Fishing was slow for me but I expect it to pick up in May when I get back there. Had to head back to Michigan to keep the shop running. Good luck this summer with all your adventures. Tight lines my friend.
Hey Mark thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut adventure! Yes indeed the freezer is certainly filling up quickly! Glad to hear that you were able to land a halibut on your new boat and now you'll be all setup for the next time you return - halibut beware! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice halibut. Nice fishing video. Nice time watching you and Queen Mary catching fish. You guys are an awesome team. Thank you for taking me along. Tight lines guys. Question. When does Mary get her electric real?
Hey Phil many thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut adventure! Haha you aren't the first person to ask this - I offered to get Mary an electric reel and she insisted on sticking with the traditional gear! Perhaps after I land a few more slabs, especially from deep drops, I can convince her to take the plunge. That said, I'll still use conventional gear for shallower applications. I caught a nice 30 pounder this weekend on my spinning setup, so I haven't fully converted to fishing the electric gear exclusively! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
VERY NICE!! good to see decent fish so early...save a few for me TEAM ZAC haha!
Yes great to see some nice fish early on…again save me a few 😅
Hey @RobertTarbox-wh2hj and @Fishpassionbox_global many thanks for the positive comments and I'm glad you both enjoyed this early season action! haha yes indeed - I'll be sure to leave a few halis out there swimming in the deep for you! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Awesome 👍👍 Whopper Halibut ✌😁 looked like a blast
Hi Bill many thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Sick intro with the drone. Nice halibut too big for the box. Lots of good cod and a quality quillback. 👍
Thanks PeelingLine I appreciate the positive comment and am glad you enjoyed this early season action! Yes indeed - it is always fun to get an early season mixed bag! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Is that the biggest you would keep?
Yes - right around 100 or below is typically where I draw the line, but as you see in this video, it can be tough to get an exact size in the heat of the moment.
Wow, that's a solid way to kick off the fishing season! You and Mary are killing it out already. It might be time for me to get out and do some fishing! 🎣😁
Hey Captain Alan thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Haha yes indeed - now that your boat is in the water, halibut beware!!! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
sweet, well done captain zac!… Our season down here on the Kenai peninsula is starting to pick up.
Hey Jaden many thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! That's awesome to hear that the bite is starting to pick up around the Kenai Peninsula - best of luck out there! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That's an awesome pile of Halibut steaks, congrats! I just got my own property up in Haines so by next summer I want to have my boat and a cabin there. looking forward to living the lifestyle.
Hi Ermin thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut adventure! Wow congrats on the Haines property! Sounds like an incredible setup to "live off the land" in am amazing area. Best of luck with everything! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi captain long time no see how are you are you okay and also great video
Hey @GeloBoysGaming great to hear from you and thanks for watching! All is well here in Alaska - I hope you are doing well also! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice fish! Got to love it when they don’t fit in the box
Thanks @rph3344 I appreciate the positive comment and am glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Yes indeed - you know it is a special fish when it won't fit in the fish box! Thank again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice🎉
Seeing that halibut in your fish hole reminds me of a line from Jaws , “ we’re gonna need a bigger boat”!!!🛥️
Haha that's awesome! Thanks for stopping by William and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! The day I bought this boat, the rep told me about "2 foot itus" - whatever boat you buy, you'll always end up wanting one at least 2 feet longer! haha Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
I have got used to setting the hook and engaging the electric reel simultaneously,. That way it maintains tension. I have even just used the electri reel to set the hook. Great day on the water. I am going out Friday for first halibut trip of the year.
Hi Chuck thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Good idea in terms of engaging the electric reel immediately. I'm so used to reeling like crazy every time I set the hook that I'm not sure if I will be able to switch - time will tell! Good luck on your first halibut trip of the season - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice catch. Im gonna try in the strait of juan de fuca saturday. Ive got 30hrs logged this year with no fish so im due. Derby next weekend
Hey @gmoney1762 best of luck on Saturday and next weekend during the derby! You've been putting in the hours and it is only a matter of time before you'll be shouting "FISH ON!!!" Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice day ❤
Hey John thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season adventure! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice fish y'all !
Hey Thomas thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Zac good job saving your wife. That halibut was trying to take Mary over the side.What a beast of a halibut.
Hey Piscatorian thanks for watching and I appreciate the positive comment! Haha yes indeed when a big halibut goes for a run it is definitely "all hands on deck" until the fish is landed! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
The new slot limit is less than 40" and bigger than 80". Does that apply to where you fish? I am coming to Shelter Island in August and would like to know. Thanks.
Hi @Mahigeer1 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! You are referring to the Guided Halibut Fishing regulations for area 2C. Although this is the same area I fish, these regulations don't apply to me since I'm self-guided sport fishing here. Here are the details in case you are interested:
Area 2C (Southeast Alaska)
One fish daily bag limit: Charter vessel anglers may catch and retain one halibut per day.
Reverse slot limits: From February 1 through July 14, retained halibut must be less than or equal to 40 inches or greater than or equal to 80 inches in length. From July 15 until the end of the season, retained halibut must be less than or equal to 36 inches or greater than or equal to 80 inches in length.
Friday closures. Charter vessel anglers in Area 2C may not catch and retain halibut (except GAF) on all Fridays beginning July 19, 2024 and continuing through September 13, 2024.
media.fisheries.noaa.gov/2021-02/AK-charter-halibut-regulations-fact-sheet-akro.pdf?null
Tight lines!
Captain Zac
very nice fish
Hey Don thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey Zac, I have a quick question! Are you happy with that reel? Which reel is that if you don’t mind sharing info?
I guess that’s two questions. 😂
I see there is a Diawa for 270 dollars on Amazon and then there are several almost to a 1,000. I like the 270 range, and it has maroon and so does yours….
Anyway, thanks in advance!
Hi @FR-sr9sy yes I am very happy with this reel so far - it is a Daiwa Seaborg 500mj. I chose this reel because it is small enough to fish "in hand" instead of exclusively out of a rod holder. This is important to me since I really enjoy jigging for halibut and this reel allows me to fish much deeper spots. Tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Zac, thanks for getting back to me, the videos you share and the jigs that I bought from you! I appreciate all your help!
Thanks for the support and positive feedback!
Hey man great fish what buddy blade knife you running
Hi @zachreynolds3727 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! I'm typically running a 9" tapered flex but I also have a 9" flex (which is a wider blade) which I sometimes break out for larger fish or especially bony fish like rockfish. I believe I used both blades during this cleanup. I typically bring a few knives to the tables to ensure a razor sharp edge - most commonly two 9" tapered flex knives which are extremely versatile. Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac thanks for the info tight lines
Super fish 😮
Thanks John! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
It works good Mary hooks em , and Zac reels em in .
Haha well said! It's all about the team work! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Just found your channel, loving it a lot.
Could you explain how the deep release works, and why you do it. I’m guessing it is so the fish lives, and do you have only a certain amount of time to do a live release???
Hi Victor thanks for stopping by and welcome to the channel! Yes - in Alaska we are required by law to use a deepwater release when catching and releasing rockfish since their swim bladders expand on the way to the surface which prohibits them from swimming back down. A deep water release device is basically an upside down barbless hook that is attached to the lip and a heavy weight that will carry the fish back down to the bottom. Once on the bottom, you give the rod a big yank and the fish pops off and the pressure regulates which enables the fish to stay on the bottom and continue on with its life. I typically try to send it back down as soon as possible to reduce the time spent out of the water. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
I think we have the same boat. 240 Ocean Pro?
Nice fish'n, btw.
Thanks @JeremyVeleber! Mine is a 210 Sea Runner - Hewescrafts are halibut fishing machines! Tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac I am in Washington. We brought home 11 halibut from Neah Bay this year (3 of us).
Congrats on the halibut success!
I'm looking to get a searunner 210 in the not too distant future. Are you still loving everything about your boat?
Hey @benmirka3648 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Yes - I'd definitely still recommend this boat. It enables tons of adventure and is still relatively gas efficient. One tip - if you plan on leaving it in a harbor in saltwater, I'd suggest getting a bottom paint applied. We had our bottom paint done this past off season and it would have been better (and cheaper) to do it right when we bought the boat. If you have further specific questions, please don't hesitate to reach out! Thanks and tight lines - good luck with your boat search! Captain Zac
Thank you for your candid response. Great program. Congratulations to you and your wife.
@@CaptainZac awesome glad to hear you're still loving it!!
Capt Zac….do you go to Oregon to fish Halibut? Husband and I are headed to PNW and are looking for a guide to fish Hali off coast of Oregon.…?????
Hi Cinda many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! Wow that sounds like a fun trip to fish for Halibut in Oregon! Unfortunately, I'm not much help on the Oregon halibut fishing scene since I'm here in Juneau. I know there are some subscribers to my channel who are avid halibut anglers in Oregon - perhaps they can weigh in with recommendations! Thanks again and tight lines my friend - have a great trip to Oregon! Captain Zac
Thanks again Capt Zac. Yes if anyone knows a good guide for halibut fishing please contact me. Enjoy again …the early season.
Stupid question but why is so much meat left on the halibut? Bad? Worms?
Hi Joseph thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! The meat near the stomach has a much higher likelihood of worms hence most anglers avoid harvesting this section. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Great video Captain, clear to the very end with your friends. How much meat weight wise do you think a 100 lb. halibut yields? It looked like a pretty big pile. What a beautiful day on the water too!
Hey Steve thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early-season action! This fish weighed 115 lbs and probably yielded about 40lbs of fully trimmed and skinned fillets. Yes indeed it was a fantastic day out there on the water, especially for so early in the season! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That was a big cat!
Thanks @markleonard-pe3os! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Awesome catch Zac. How long did it actually take to bring that in ????
Hi Bradley many thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season halibut action! All together this fish probably took about 20mins to bring in, with a few more minutes dispatching it on the surface prior to pulling it aboard. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
What a nice fish and a great fight. Good start of the season. I hope it's that good when I'm up there in late July. What was the final weight? Keep up the good work Captain.
Hi Wayne thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! I'm sure the halibut fishing will be AWESOME by late July when you visit. Generally the halibut fishing gets better and better as the season goes on. This fish weighed 115lbs - 61 inches. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great flattie and video as always. Those Star Fish are hard to hook
So …April fishing can be fun… cool
Hey Joseph thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this early-season action! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Having never cleaned a halibut I'm curious why most videos i see the meat over the ribs and the belly meat aren't taken?
Hi Sam thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! The meat near the stomach has a much higher likelihood of worms hence most anglers avoid harvesting this section. Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks for the reply. New subscriber and I am enjoying the videos!
Thanks! Welcome to the channel!
what do you do with the rest of the fish after you filet it? Do you use for crab bait?
Hey @tonyn1628 that's exactly right - I keep the remains for crab bait! Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
Good job landing the lunker. Did you get a weight?
Hey @jago76 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this early season action! Yes I did - this was a 115lb halibut (61 inches). Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Captain. Do you use J hook or circle hook?
Jigs Jigs Jigs! I almost exclusively fish with my own Fire Eye Glow Jigs which have J-hooks. I really like feeling the fish bite and setting the hook vs. the "wait and don't yank" approach for circle hooks. Here are my jigs: captainzacalaska.com/. Do you prefer J hooks or circle hooks?
Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
@CaptainZac just ordered 4 jigs. Happy to try out here in WA.
Awesome thank you very much! I'll get them in the mail right away. Thanks again and tight lines while jigging for halis in WA! Captain Zac
@CaptainZac captain, I just ordered one more jig. 24oz. Do you have any heavier then 24 oz ? I have place that, I want to fish, 400 fow to 500 fow. Do you have any recommendations, how to add weight on your 24 oz jig ?
Thanks for the follow-up order @jaychoi12345! 24oz is the heaviest that I sell however I've fished this 24oz jig in 1000ft of water before while back trolling. It shoots down through the water column very quickly. You should be able to fish 400-500ft no problem unless there is extreme current. If you really wanted to add extra weight, you could run the jig off a spreader bar and add even more heavy lead but that is probably overkill for 400-500ft. Just this past weekend I was fishing 16oz jigs in 500-700 ft. Is this helpful? Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Nice job cap but I hate those reels fight that fish man!!!
Hey @ervintaylor6508 thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment. The main use of this electric reel is to fish in very deep water - 400-1200ft where traditional gear is either difficult or impossible to fish. I'm still getting "dialed in" with this reel hence why I was using it in about 200 ft here. Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
from Manitoba
seen sturgeon , pike and catfish steel rods
even rods not put in holders properly r lost
I 've seen the safety rope on other u tube channels
just passing it forward
have never lost 1 of my own yet
Thanks for the tip Don - I appreciate it! Tight lines! Captain Zac
That real is a arm saver
Hi Paul well said! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this early season footage! Yes indeed - the electric reel does save the arm, especially on the deep drops or big halis! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
should have a tie off rope 2 the boat on ur electric
Thanks for the tip Don - tight lines! Captain Zac
When you live in Ak it's pretty easy to keep the freezer stocked without ever taking the out the breeders.Just sayin.
Hi @shawnmoore9714 - agree, which is why I typically release barn doors. I even mentioned it in this video that I thought this was more like an 80 pounder and if I had to do it over I would probably have let this one go. Tight lines! Captain Zac
watch blue gabe u tuber how he ties his safety lines
thanks I'll check it out!
Mute the reel. Everything else is heaven.
Hi @thejayjoint5713 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage, other than the electric reel noise. Unfortunately, this is just the sound of the reel so if I mute all audio then that would mute any commentary as well. I do have an external mic which might reduce the electric reel noise in the future. Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
a safety rope could save u a couple grand
Hi Don yes you are right if this reel went over the side of the boat that would be an expensive mistake! Thanks for the tip and tight lines! Captain Zac
Oh ya they make fake scallops out of Them Ray wings you threw a great tasting fish back
Yes a few have mentioned that fried skate tastes like scallops - perhaps I'll give it a try one of these times!
I didn't see him take the cheeks out of the butt head
Hi Richard yes I did harvest the cheeks out of this fish - the video moves fast but I assure you that I wouldn't have wasted the cheeks off of a large fish like this.
Non mi piace il mulinello elettrico.....vuoi mettere un Penn 8500 a bobina fissa e la lotta con gli alibut da 10/20 kg? Non c'è storia. Molto meglio il mulinello tradizionale.
Apprezzo che tu abbia guardato questo video! I mulinelli elettrici sono ottimi per la pesca in acque molto profonde qui in Alaska: da 400 a 1200 piedi. Pescare in acque così profonde è difficile se non impossibile con gli attrezzi da pesca standard. Sto ancora imparando a usare questo mulinello, ecco perché lo sto pescando in acque relativamente poco profonde in questo video. Grazie e buona fortuna con la pesca! Capitano Zac