MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => Maine => Topic started by: Scalloper on May 18, 2021, 03:17 AM
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Today is the opening day for Maine's 2021 halibut season. The numbers are on the rise with fishery managers on both sides of the border stepping up regulations to continue to increase the numbers/size. There has never been a better time to catch a halibut in Maine on rod and reel then now. I know of several guys that landed 24-31 fish opening day a year ago. most were released looking to fill their tags with fish 50 lbs +. Any areas of sandy mud bottom from Pulpit Rock East of Jonesport, to Libby Island and all the way to Quddy Head is a great choice. Water from 100'-200' right now through June is preferred. Fresh elwives or suckers would be a great option and also mackerel and squid. Fresh elwives can be purchased in Warren or at the outlet to Gardeners Lake in East Machias. There are some great websites online that sell the best tackle for halibut. I loaded up last year so the next good day on a weekend I plan on going. ;D
(https://i.postimg.cc/cgTgC3bH/5-A6-C8-C78-2-F62-4005-B62-B-1831-BBF5182-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cgTgC3bH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/t7CnfrsV/770-F03-DC-76-F4-47-FB-851-C-92-BA2-A648-E82.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t7CnfrsV)
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ive caught 1 a couple years ago.60 plus lbs. was awesume
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The one. 219 lbs landed today in Cutler Harbor
(https://i.postimg.cc/JGdhkjNH/9-E17-C53-A-9-F0-E-484-E-A6-AA-542559-B53-AB3.png) (https://postimg.cc/JGdhkjNH)
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Wow, that's a big slab of fish meat.
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That halibut was 6' 10" and caught within 3 miles of shore.
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man let me know when you go out . im game! never caught one. would love to!
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So a halibut released back to 100 to 200 feet of water will be O.K.? Do they have an air duct connected to their intestinal tract to belch excess air like some fish do, or are they brought up slowly? Just curious.
Cool looking fish! Thanks for sharing!
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The one. 219 lbs landed today in Cutler Harbor
(https://i.postimg.cc/JGdhkjNH/9-E17-C53-A-9-F0-E-484-E-A6-AA-542559-B53-AB3.png) (https://postimg.cc/JGdhkjNH)
Do you know if it was it hand-lined or on a rod? Must have been one hell of a fight either way! Good luck!
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ive caught 1 a couple years ago.60 plus lbs. was awesume
I remember that and it was awesome.
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So a halibut released back to 100 to 200 feet of water will be O.K.? Do they have an air duct connected to their intestinal tract to belch excess air like some fish do, or are they brought up slowly? Just curious.
Cool looking fish! Thanks for sharing!
I don't believe halibut have a air bladder so bringing them up doesn't seem to harm them. I know of 100s of halibut that have been tagged and released from waters 250-300' that have been recaught years later.
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Do you know if it was it hand-lined or on a rod? Must have been one hell of a fight either way! Good luck!
Tub trawl "trot line"
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I don't believe halibut have a air bladder so bringing them up doesn't seem to harm them. I know of 100s of halibut that have been tagged and released from waters 250-300' that have been recaught years later.
Thanks for responding.
So no air bladder as there is no need for one as they are always on the bottom apparently.
I assumed there apparently weren't any issues but wasn't sure why.
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Tub trawl "trot line"
thanks
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(https://i.postimg.cc/PPnfRLjW/98-C93-B67-5712-4077-BDB0-490-B85564-AC6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PPnfRLjW)
I have some fishing to do. Planning on the first trip later this week.
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good luck!
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good luck!
Odds are slim but if I have a hook in the water I have a chance.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/PPnfRLjW/98-C93-B67-5712-4077-BDB0-490-B85564-AC6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PPnfRLjW)
I have some fishing to do. Planning on the first trip later this week.
So those are tags you are given for your quota?
Sorry about all the questions but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to this.
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The tags issued are your allocation for the season. More rules about the state waters halibut fishery can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science-research/species/halibut/documents/DMRHalibutComplianceGuide%202021.pdf (https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science-research/species/halibut/documents/DMRHalibutComplianceGuide%202021.pdf)
It's a little murky, but you have to keep in mind that these requirements apply to the state waters only, EXCEPT that if you are fishing in federal waters, OUTSIDE the state fishery you still need halibut tags to legally land the fish in Maine.
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The tags issued are your allocation for the season. More rules about the state waters halibut fishery can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science-research/species/halibut/documents/DMRHalibutComplianceGuide%202021.pdf (https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science-research/species/halibut/documents/DMRHalibutComplianceGuide%202021.pdf)
It's a little murky, but you have to keep in mind that these requirements apply to the state waters only, EXCEPT that if you are fishing in federal waters, OUTSIDE the state fishery you still need halibut tags to legally land the fish in Maine.
Correct. Now that the state season is over if we want to fish we need to get a federal hand gear B permit (Free) and only allowed 1 per trip. That also needs to be tagged with the state tags shown. I did reach out to DMR and asked them why the recreational season did not go longer then the commercial season. There would be a few taking advantage of this fishery if they could stay up inside during the good weather months. The reply i got was the normal BS about over fishing blah blah. And I say that because recreational fishing for halibut with rod and reel or handline would have little or no impact on the stocks as success rate is quite slimm.
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Did anybody get a halibut ?
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Did anybody get a halibut ?
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They got a lot of TAGS!!!!!!!!
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Did anybody get a halibut ?
I have only had one opportunity to get out
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I hope no-one minds I share this. This is a large halibut replica a fellow taxidermist did. (Matt Welsh) And no I am not advertising, just thought it looked massive and well done. I only mention his name to give him credit for the picture as he gave me permission. The replica is 6 feet 2 inches.
I didn't ask but probably cast from an Alaskan Halibut?
(https://i.imgur.com/1SuHKSkl.jpg)
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Woodchip, you could make one of those !
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When there out of wood they are hard to eat!!!!
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When there out of wood they are hard to eat!!!!
Fiberglass too which is what that is made of!
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Great replica 👍
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Correct. Now that the state season is over if we want to fish we need to get a federal hand gear B permit (Free) and only allowed 1 per trip. That also needs to be tagged with the state tags shown. I did reach out to DMR and asked them why the recreational season did not go longer then the commercial season. There would be a few taking advantage of this fishery if they could stay up inside during the good weather months. The reply i got was the normal BS about over fishing blah blah. And I say that because recreational fishing for halibut with rod and reel or handline would have little or no impact on the stocks as success rate is quite slimm.
No recs go to the ASMFC meetings and the commercial fishermen lobby hard for the season they have. Try to go to a meeting...always weekdays during the workday. Same madness with stripers. Continue to reduce rec harvest while commercial harvest numbers remain very robust. Spring inshore dragging banned last season and reversed this season. Federal fisheries management is such a joke I stopped participating in the meetings. All about $$$.