Posted on 08/16/2011 2:18:41 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Annette Gutierrez embarked on her first-ever fishing trip recently out of Valdez, Alaska, and returned with a monstrous Pacific halibut weighing 335.7 pounds and measuring 88 inches from mouth to tail -- or nearly two feet taller than the 5-foot-6 angler.
Chalk it up to beginner's luck, or Lady Luck, but Gutierrez, a New Mexico resident who works seasonally in Alaska, has joined the elite few to have landed a "barn door" halibut topping 300 pounds.
"It was insane to get such a very big fish my first time," said Gutierrez, in an interview last week with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. "Oh my God, it was huge."
The catch vaulted Gutierrez, 47, a truck driver for a Fairbanks construction firm, into first place in the Valdez Halibut Derby, which will pay $15,000 for the heaviest halibut after the season-long derby ends on Sept. 4.
(Excerpt) Read more at grindtv.com ...
Halibut are very easy to clean, even the big ones have the smallest stomach and gut ever saw. They eat constantly, so when full they will lay over top of food until hungry again. When long lining, many catches were made where when picked up gear, the halibut would get the baited hook snagged in their undersides.
When hoisted up by the tail, Wife could fletch out a big halibut in just a couple of minutes.
You are right, have caught halibut deep as 300 fathoms. (1800 feet)
Would sometimes haul up an occasional red fish with their eyeballs exploded.
Me too, very similar to what you describe. Physically the most demanding job I ever had.
With a $15,000. prize for the biggest of the season, you’d better believe I’d bring it in!
Fishie ping girl.
Good for her! My biggest catch was a 97 pound tuna. What fun and fresh tuna tastes sooo goood!
She’s kind of a looker, isn’t she! Personally, I’d rather catch her than the fish.
She caught that fish first time out!? Wow,what a fluke!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.