captainzacalaska.com/ Captain Zac and friends fish for halibut near Petersburg, Alaska and get a once-in-a-lifetime surprise when a 60lb halibut completely devours a GoPro!!! AUGUST 2021
Thanks! Yes indeed I was pretty excited when I reviewed that footage and saw a halibut eating my GoPro! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Gerald many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! I appreciate the kind words! It was so surprising that this 60lb halibut was able to effortlessly spit out that razor sharp hook after chewing on it for what seemed like an eternity! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi CRASH ALEXANDER thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! Haha that's hilarious - great name for the underwater camera, the heartbreaker cam! Gives a glimpse into all the fish you miss every time your bait hits the bottom! haha Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Charles thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action, especially the underwater footage! It is amazing that a halibut can "chew" on a bait for 20 or 30 seconds and then just spit it out - crazy! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Jonas thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! Yes indeed - I was pretty pumped when I checked the footage of this unattended rod and saw this halibut doing a number on my jig and my GoPro! I appreciate the kind words - all the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Jeff thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Yes indeed - this halibut was quite persistent... just kept on striking the jig (and camera! haha) until I finally picked up the rod and delivered a hookset! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Ryyy4n thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Yes indeed - I was very surprised when I checked this footage! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Haha hi pascalb1974 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage! Yes indeed - I'm equally glad he didn't like the taste of that case or I almost certainly would have lost that GoPro!!! The 2022 season is almost here - I'm dropping my boat in the water in a few weeks. Sounds like you are getting geared up as well! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Good day Captain Zac, awesome video and magnificent footage for sure.A big 60 pounder that is a real BIGGEN, what a footage.Thanks for great show.Just back from Trout fishing, not a best day, 15 or soTrout was hooked, fought hard and lost them all but one.Thanks again greetings from Down Under, Tony.
Hi Tony thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! A 60 pounder is a great size fish since the fight is a blast and the fillets are still very tasty. When they get over 100lbs the meat starts to get softer and it is best to throw those back since they are the breeders. Ah sounds like you had a lot of hookups on your recent trout fishing trip! Too bad that many of them escaped - sometimes no matter what you do they find a way off the line. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi SJP 277 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater footage! I was totally surprised when I reviewed this footage - just crazy that this halibut nearly bit the camera completely off my line! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Jimmy thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater footage! I appreciate the kind words - I'll definitely be targeting more underwater halibut footage this season! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Stas kig thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! Thanks for the positive comment - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Midnight Sun thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Haha if I was holding the rod the whole time I would have delivered a big hookset MUCH MUCH sooner!!! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That’s the most amazing footage I’ve ever seen. Great job . The halibut are starting to show up again in central Cali got all my rods ready . Let’s see what this years brings . Got my first 50lb out here last year which is rear for this area . This footage is going to help out for sure . Awesome fish , footage , day of fishing . Keep stacking them up
Hi Savage Stacker thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! CONGRATS on your 50lb halibut - that's an awesome fish anywhere, but especially down in Cali where they tend to run smaller. I'm right there with you - can't wait to get the 2022 season kicked off! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hy Scoopeddad Drone thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I appreciate the kind words! A lot of stars had to align for this series of events to play out just right, and fortunately, it resulted in some nice halis hitting the deck and cool underwater footage! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Martin thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater footage! Haha "surreal" is a great way to describe it - I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked the footage! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Got Fish thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Haha yes indeed I was pretty excited when I checked the footage and saw this CRAZY series of events that transpired while my rod was sitting unattended in the rod holder! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Lots of fun! Glad I’m not the only one who catches scads of sculpins. I’ve now had my boat on the bay 3 or 4 times, trolling for winter kings. So far no fish, but a good time on the water.
Hi Kim thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Awesome to hear that you've been out a few times already - the winter king bite is always a bit slow... keep putting in those rod hours and you'll be rewarded soon! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Wow, that was an incredible bit of good luck, with that big boy taste-testing, hanging around, having another taste . . . the *kabam* and he's really giving your line the "what-fer" as my dad used to say. Then GoPro video all way right onto the deck. Thank you Zac. New sub.
Hi Flying Beaver thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this crab ring action! Yes indeed - sometimes having a go-pro running can make you frustrated afterwards to see what was missed! Almost every time I check the footage, I am surprised at how much life and activity exist on the ocean floor! Tight lines and thanks for the sub! Captain Zac
Hi Mark thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I appreciate the kind words about the underwater footage - I'm hoping to get more of this during the 2022 season! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Tristan thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! Pretty crazy that this fish ate my go pro!!! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Piscatorian thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Haha yes indeed - that halibut had every chance in the world to swim away but just kept coming back for the Fire Eye Glow Jig! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Martin thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! I couldn't believe how persistent this fish was - it just kept biting the jig and almost ripped off my GoPro! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Steven thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! I'm aiming to do more of this type of footage this season! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That is some incredible footage Captain Zac. It is amazing how fish manage to not get hooked. The action of that jig while the rod was stationary is perhaps very realistic to what they are used to seeing down there? Another great video my friend. Have fun, be safe, and good luck out there.🎣🎣
Hi David many thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I appreciate the kind words! Yes that's a good point - halibut are probably more used to feeding on slower moving bait (dead crab / shrimp / herring / salmon) vs. an erratically moving bait, thus, the "jig in the rod holder" approach works out just fine (certainly a plausible theory!). Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Dem Poway Boys - Fishing - San Diego - thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! Sounds like you've fished in the area before - after you fish in Alaska it is hard to leave! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Peeling Line thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Haha yes indeed - I was one "head thump" away from a lost GoPro on this outing! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That was Dope… thank goodness for the GoPro learn more everyday with those things. It’s funny (fish behavior) sometimes wether it’s Fresh or Salt. I see a lot of underwater footage where fish engage after a slight pause and it’s Hammer Time. Awesome Video
Hi Justin thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! Yes indeed - I agree that often a strike will be triggered by a motion followed by a pause and then BANG!!! Thanks again for stopping by and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Noah thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! Alaska is definitely worth putting on the bucket list - sometimes you can catch both salmon and halibut in one trip! If you have any questions when planning a trip please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Swampy Douglas OBannon thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Haha I agree these 60-pounders are a blast to catch! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey Capt- it was tremendous fun...... and learning, to fish with you that day. Son, Erik, and I always enjoy the adventures we get into with you on the water. As I watch the videos that you've made with Erik and me, I think that I come across as a quiet-type guy. Nothing could be further from the truth huh? :) Anyway, I think maybe you need to start making a habit of regularly stating your signature fishing-phrase that you say to us so often on the water- "The right spot, the right time (tide wise), the right bait, the right presentation!". Wishing you some crazy good success here in 2022. I'll be employing lessons learned from you when I fish the Petersburg area this season! Tight Lines
Hi Geoff thanks for stopping by and I appreciate the kind words! This trip was a total blast and just goes to show that if you stick out the fishing in a great spot with the right bait around a tide turn - good things usually happen! Perhaps I'll bring that phrase more into play year this - premium spot + premium bait + the right tide : ). Thanks for the well wishes and I'm glad to hear you'll be employing some newly-learned tactics this season! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Bryan thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! Ah yes I've seen these fish called many names - some refer to them as Irish Warlords as well. While they aren't very good to eat, they are still fun to catch! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Kenny thanks for watching and that's awesome you've fished the same area before! Petersburg is a great location - lots of wildlife and not too much fishing pressure. I'm sure you've got tons of memories from fishing that area when you were little! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Joe thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! That's too bad we didn't get to cross paths last year - I'm not sure exactly when I'll be down in PSG this year but if I'm in town during those dates I'll definitely let you know! How did you do last year? Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey CONGRATS on the barn door Joe! What a great way to start the week - I'm sure you ended up with plenty of fillets to share with your friends and family after that! Tight lines!
Hi there Jake thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Yes it is - this footage is from Sunday of that week. It was awesome meeting you and your dad at the lodge. I'll never forget the 100lbs of crab bait in the dungie pot!!! haha Are you guys planning another trip to Alaska this year? Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac yes! My dad got a boat! He was inspired by you! He was thinking about it since he goes up there so much, but you gave him the extra push! I’ll text you a pic of it
Hey @FishermansChronicles thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage! I have a go pro rigged up to a spreader bar and various zip ties. Lots of trial and error involved in getting the right angle, water clarity, etc.! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi I3rycie thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut footage! Wow congrats on your big halibut during your Alaskan fishing trip! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
This is a probably good argument for the jigs with a circle hook. Although it would be impossible to setup a similar situation, i'd be very surprised if a fish could swim away 3 times and pull on a circle hook without getting it caught in the corner of the jaw.
Hey littlegoobie thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! One of the biggest benefits of fishing with a j-hook jig is that it is an active (and fun) form of fishing - right when the fish strikes you feel the strike and deliver a big yank! In this case I happened to be landing a fish on the other side of the boat thus had the rod sitting unattended in the rod holder. Circle hooks tend to be a much less active style of fishing - sitting the bait on the bottom and waiting until the fish hooks itself (where yanking often causes a missed fish). Both j-hooks and circle hooks can catch halibut - anglers preference! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Blaine thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater footage! I appreciate the kind comment. I don't have a video on my setup but may create one this season - lots of trial and error!!! haha Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
i caught a hali off bamfield in its stomach was a big pepperoni with bright orange plastic case attached with medal on either end still had a week left on best before lol we ate ir all
Haha that's insane! I suppose if a halibut will eat a GoPro or a pepperoni roll then a halibut will eat just about anything!!! haha Tight lines! Captain Zac
Awesome! Can’t wait to learn how to fish the ocean (Oregon Coast). Any suggestions on how to learn ocean fishing? I recently purchased a 2015 21’ Seahawk. I was thinking of doing a few guide trips but wasn’t sure if would be appropriate to mark the guides fishing spots on a handheld gps.
Hi stoweman34 thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Taking some charters may be helpful to learn local tactics but I'd encourage you not to mark any spots on a GSP - that's a big frustration for charter operators. You could learn some halibut tactics by checking out my page: captainzacalaska.com/halibut-tips/ Congrats on the awesome boat! I bet you can't wait to get the 2022 season going! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Great video! I’ve been to Petersburg a few times halibut fishing with some decent luck. Just wondering, have you ever fished near Leconte glacier for halibut?
Hey @fordclassics5861 yes I have fished down in that area before - not quite right at the LeConte glacier but in the Frederick Sound towards that area. I've caught fish over there including barn doors. Have you fished near the LeConte glacier before? I'll actually be heading to Petersburg for a week mid-July. Tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac never fished near the glacier. We’ve caught a few nice ones in the Fredrick Sound. There was a spot I was looking at near the entrance of Leconte Bay that came up and flattened out then dropped off. Was just curious if you’d had any luck around the milky glacier waters. Guess I should’ve just asked that. lol
Yes I catch halibut up near Juneau in silty glacial runoff waters. Also, Thomas Bay in the Frederick Sound is another example of a glacier-fed bay that is packed with halibut! I just scanned the charts and actually there are plenty of good looking spots back in LeConte Bay if you can dodge the ice "burgees" (the smaller ice burgs). Tight lines! Captain Zac
@CaptainZac we got one 20 lbs. Going again Saturday. 20 knot winds on Thursday kept us from getting to our normal spot. Saturday should be 10 kt winds. Have you heard of hein bank?
That's fantastic @gmoney1762 congrats on getting a nice one! Yes I've heard of it but never fished there - is that where you are running to fish for halibut?
Captain Zac love your videos thanks for sharing. I notice you use a spinning reel for halibut, what size line and set up do you use? Is there a reason you prefer the spinning setup? Thanks
Hi Nathan thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! I do prefer a spinning setup for halibut - I use a Penn Slammer III 8500 high speed model w/ 80lb PowerPro on a Penn Carnage II jigging rod. I like the feel of a spinning rod while jigging (reel below the rod thus an upward "pull" vs. the conventional reel on the top of the rod causing more of a "push" jigging motion upward). I also like this setup because is has a soft enough feel to enjoy catching small ones but enough backbone to land barn doors. Some of the conventional setups are basically pool queues thus it is hard to even feel if you have a smaller fish on the line. All that said, I do have conventional rods on my boat as well and sometimes switch it up just to avoid getting sore from the exact same jigging motion (but often I'll have my limit before this happens haha!). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater halibut action! I use a combination of zip ties, an underwater housing and lots of trial and error! A lot has to go right (water clarity, camera angle, battery life, etc.) to get quality underwater footage. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Kael thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! This was taken in about 100 feet of water. That said, the video clarity depends a lot on the water clarity, light from the sun, contrast on the bottom, etc... I've been in 30 or 40 feet where the video comes out totally dark... lots of trial and error! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi BK thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this underwater footage! Yes - I have the GoPro attached to a spreader bar... lots of trial and error to get the footage to come out (camera angle, water clarity, etc.)! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi there I use a go-pro housing attached to a spreader bar and zip ties - lots of trial and error based on depth, water clarity, camera angle, etc.! Good luck on your upcoming trip! Tight lines! Captain Zac
they are amazing fish to eat but even better then that is to catch 1. I saw this video where hali was laying on the bottom a pink salmon was right in front of the hali about a foot in front when the halibut lifted its head and sucked it right into its mouth tail first the salmon was trying to swim but suction was to much was unreal
Hi Eric thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Wow that video of a halibut eating a pink salmon sounds intense - I'll have to go find that one! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac if you do find it let me know i havent been able to rtack it down again you just see the mouth open wide and the gills fish is trying to get away by swiming but gets sucked backwards couldnt believe it.
@@CaptainZac by the way you should tig your wifes reel to break people are going to get the idea women are better at fishing so its on your shoulders for all are sake lol.
Hey TOutdoors thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut footage! Late in the summer halibut will come in shallow near the mouths of rivers and bays to feed on spawned out salmon. I've caught a 200lb halibut in 25 feet of water. My friend caught a few last year fly fishing in similarly shallow water. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Ed thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! Generally I'm in 100ft or less with the GoPro but there is a big difference depending on water clarity, sunlight and bottom contrast. Sometimes I get clear footage, other times total darkness - always cool when the stars align and the footage turns out to reveal some unexpected action! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac I've always wanted to get one of those wired live cameras to watch halibut but it seems most, if not all, don't go down far enough and the reviewers pretty much all say theirs develop leaks.
@@littlegoobie Yes indeed it can be tricky to film halibut - the deep water creates lots of pressure and the visibility can be a challenge... plus the drag a camera creates on any lure impacts your ability to precisely feel a bite... all that said, still cool when the stars align and the footage turns out! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi David thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! The hookset is key when jig fishing - if the hook is buried on the initial hookset then the fish is far less likely to get off at the surface, assuming constant pressure is held. Do you use circle hooks instead? Tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac no the hook is out of there mouth. They just hold the head of the jig only all the way up. I've been using a double drop rig with circle hooks. Works pretty good keeping the bait off bottom. So I have less issues with skates or rat fish.
Hi @hh-60cyclehumlicopterflyer93 I'm using a Penn Slammer IV 8500 with 80lb PowerPro braid on a heavy action Penn Carnage III Jigging rod. Thanks and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi @colinjones3991 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage! Lots of trial and error including a go pro, zip ties and a spreader bar. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi AKBowhunter1 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this halibut action! My halibut setup is a Penn Slammer IV Spinning Reel and a Penn Carnage III Jigging Spinning rod. Tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks a bunch for the reply. I am up in Skagway and very happy I found your videos. I have been binge watching them all day makes me want to get the boat in the water
I prefer the highest probably shot which is just above the center line of the fish behind the gill plate - the head is a much smaller target and you run a risk of the gaff deflecting off the gill plate.
