Took my float tube out to Goleta Beach this weekend. Went to my top secret spot and started dragging my favorite bait (live goldfish) around and got bit immediately. If you keep live goldfish in an aquarium and slowly over the course of 10 years add salt they will be tolerant to saltwater and not die when you use them for halibut. You must use a trap rig setup with goldfish. A size 6/0 hook through the lips, then 1 inch of 60 lb. flourocarbon to a 1/0 treble hook near the tail. The first fish turned out to be a 47 incher. My trusty lightning rod was bent over and the line on my Cardinal spinning reel was smokin'. I use my spinning reel upside down so I can control the drag pressure more easily. I let the first fish go as I'm always trying to catch those ultra-yummy 15 to 18 inchers. After three more pesky legals I finally hooked into a keeper. A perfect 16 incher. Immediately bashed it over the head and threw it in the backrest of my tube. I take the bladder out of my backrest because it makes a perfect place to put fish and the DFG never checks it. Ended up with 5 legals and 3 keepers. Stopped to pee on the beach on my way back to the car and didn't get busted. Great day!

Here's me with a nice tasty keeper

http://www.mindspring.com/~petenjen/images/halibut_god.jpg

HALIBUT GOD
Bow down and pray you will ever be as good as me!

Halibut God, Don't be a "Halibut Dork" and BS us with another story! Also that "made-up" pic is the guy on top of the World Trade Center (fake) that was circulating around the internet...You gotta do better than that!!!

http://www.touristguy.com/

Nice catch halibut king! I tried the same with my siamese fighting fish once. Didn't work too well. I think my bait ate all the bitesize halibut. Each time I would bring the bait up, he had halibut scales in his mouth and was just getting fatter and fatter. Eventually a 52 13/32" halibut bit, but it was way too big to keep. I think there should be a 10-14" slot limit on those. Like you said, they're the best tasting ones. I'll have to try the goldfish next time.

- 'but pirate

halibut GOD, not halibut king. Bow down to the GOD...

- 'but pirate

Who are you really?

It's all in the IP address (click the little "IP" button at the bottom left of the messagea), Leapin' Bass. Funny stuff.

TL,
Adam

Hey Adam. I tried that but I guess I didn't check it against yours. 'but Pirate - great!

Can I interest you in writing an article for the barni zone?
I really shouldn't encourage this kind of stuff, but this was actually hilarious. Your last name isn't Beck by any chance is it? This is right up Jamon's alley.

...somebody found it funny. I was beginning to worry that my attempt at humor was going over like a lead balloon. I thought surely the absurdness of my posts would be a dead giveaway to their falseness. I thought the URL for that picture matching the URL for my avatar image would give me away but I just had to post the picture. Rob, did you notice that the halibut is the one you caught at Goleta off the stairs?

In all fairness Rob (or Jamon) a good deal of inspiration came from the Barni Zone. Does the phrase, "...is a weekend angler who thinks he is the legendary bassmaster and knows all there is to know about fishing." ring a bell? There you go! I've always loved the Barni Zone.

I guess was also trying to make a point. I don't mean to offend anyone but let's think about it folks. It is rediculous to come to a message board you've never been to before and instantly start ranting and raving about how great you are and expect all the regulars to take you seriously. Most fishermen I have met are very humble and are sponges for fishing information - not the other way around. We all know that there is always something more to learn about fishing - that's what makes it fun!

Developing a reputation for being good fishermen over time by posting informative reports, helpful information, nice pictures, etc. is how you become a true "king".

Damn, I knew it! I thought it was Jamon, but I thought it could also be you because of the photoshop work. Why is there only 1 IP address??? Tryin to be sneaky eh? lmao. I thought it was funny.
-Brian

The "lame" Photoshop work. If I created a picture that bad at work I'd be fired! :) :) :)

Have you seen that touristguy website (link in above post)? It's pretty funny.

pssst... check out and compare the IP addresses by clicking on the IP link at the bottom left of the message. Hehehe...

TL,
Adam

They're different.

One is work, one is home.

oh, duh, nevermind...

Very Well Said.

Hey Leapin Bass...is your new name Halibut God now? Also, no major offense taken regarding your story, but what got under my skin is some people actually are like that story...keeping the 47 incher of course, as well as EVERY short they can get with total disregard for the ecosystem and future halibut population!! My guess is your story was a response to all of the recent "trash-talking" done recently regarding the upcoming harbor tournament.

Halibut God? I would rather chop of my right hand than choose a username like that.

No kidding there are a-holes out there that keep all of the shorts. They get under my skin also - more inspiration for my absurd post. Hopefully my keeping of only 10-15% of my legal halibut and none of my legal calicos (EVER!) will somehow make up for there short sightedness (no pun intended!).

Luckily the DFG is currently working on some kind of volunteer warden program for fishermen. We won't be able to issue tickets but we will be able to issue warnings or information.

And your guess is correct.

Actually you're pretty correct about individual enforcement of DFG rules coming by way of private action. I think it's called a Private Attorney General Action, and its where non deputized citizen can bring suit against someone who violates some statute. Its allowed after you get an "OK" from the DA's/ AG's office validating the cause of action and checking out the evidentiary matters. It's mostly used in conjunction with fair debt collection violations but that'd be pretty kickass if someone did one under DFG. You could even pick up attorney's fees I think.

As far as warnings go, I've tried that one a couple times and it never goes over well at all. I remember swimbait posted last spring where he described how he told some dude not to snag largemouth with a kastmaster yet the guy still strung his catch. That's shameful, but is it preventable on the spot? tough one.

From what John Ugoretz told me the volunteers would have official DFG printed warnings or information that they could hand out to violators. You wouldn't even need to say anything if you didn't want to.

Please don't forget about this phone#. I used it when I saw a family down the street from me unload a bunch of Trout and a net late one night. I called and later found out they were picked up 3 days later after 132 trout, 2 bass (undersized), 17 catfish and a gillnet were found on the premises and no fishing licenses of any kind were found. Evidently they had netted at night at Uvas and were reported by me and someone at the lake. The DFG gave me $65.00 and a nice letter for that.

Tight lines,
Wade

Awesome!! I love hearing stories like that.

That's actually the number. Keep it handy.

TL,
Adam

Good job! Thanks from everyone. Its great to hear about these lowlife poachers getting nailed.

Hey "HG",

You are one funny guy! I actually got a good chuckle out of your post. I especially liked the part about the upside down spinning reel for ease of drag control. :D LOL.

Thought I'd make you jealous with this pic of a lil feller my buddy caught on my boat last Sunday.

http://home.earthlink.net/~beachikeen/_uimages/LilHali.jpg

I'm guessing you would call this a pan fryer?? I can picture you salivating like Pavlovs dog right now. Unlike you however, we sent the little guy back home to Momma. ;-)

Dave(Outrage19)

PS - How did my user name change from "Bluerunner" to "Outrage19"? Very perplexing!

I thought people would get a kick out of the upside down spinning reel thing. I don't know why that bugs me so much but just cringe when I see people doing that.

One reason my son Pierce will NEVER touch a spincast reel.

always see that!

most likely the funniest thing i have ever read.LMAO

You are one very sick puppy. i have sent a copy of your photo and "Tasty" short to the fish and game Dept. Enjoy.

Maybe you should include a link to the thread explaining that he was being sarcastic, in an effort to make fun of poachers such as those. Did ya read the thread George?
-Brian