Hi everyone Captain Zac here - this was an absolutely unforgettable outing! The fog was so dense in the morning we didn't even know if we would get to the fishing spot. We had to slowly chug out to the spot using the radar and going very slowly. It is hard to believe a day with such a slow start would yield a once-in-a-lifetime catch!
My friend Mike hooked up with what he thought was just an ordinary "chicken" (smaller but good eating) halibut. I actually missed the gaff the first swipe - probably because I was distracted by the highly abnormal coloration of this halibut. Once I finally landed the fish, it was like no other halibut I've ever caught - and I've caught plenty of halibut over the years! A piebald halibut!!!
Since I gaffed this fish, we kept it. At the cleaning table, there was no difference with the fillets - still awesome firm white flesh with good thickness.
I'm not sure whether genetics or an injury caused this, but in any event, it was truly a remarkable catch. You never know what Alaska will serve up!
Tight lines my friends!
Captain Zac