Halibut harpoon technique

I'm going to make my own pole next. I was impressed with Chris' that I think he made from a broken hiking stick.

I believe that Chris actually made that from a broken fishing rod.  That thing weighed almost nothing but focused the energy enough to punch thru the stomach effectively.  It didn't feel substantial enough at 1st but after a couple of fish, my confidence was rock solid.  I have a butt section that's just waiting for me to prep and epoxy in a metal dowel.

-Mark-

What about a hybrid of sorts? (Shark-poon) Take a harpoon head and fix it to a retrofitted shark hook or bent stainless rod.
Basically using an upward motion of inserting the harpoon instead of downward.
Would that be helpful or be combining the worst of both worlds? (I'd guess it's been tried before)

I like reading about this discussion btw. Even if I never get a chance to spear a halibut, it's great to think about it. Those few seconds where a big snag makes me hope for a monster 'but and pumps the adrenaline while reefing on the rod. Having a Shark-poon nearby while I determine if the "headshakes" are just choppy swell may help me feel better about myself.

I'm not thinking of a flying gaff either. More like a small gaff with a harpoon tip.
This one looks BA:


just dull the tip and insert your regular harpoon setup.

Here's a price you probably can't beat for a commercial or DIY harpoon:  a Danielson halibut harpoon for $35.22 on Amazon.  See http://www.amazon.com/Danielson-Harpoon-Halibut-2-Inch-6-Feet/dp/B006L128F2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1RZ1MZFC9BZ587PCE22F .  Danielson makes a shorter harpoon which is available for $33.74, but Amazon has free shipping on orders over $35. This particular advertisement doesn't have a picture of the harpoon, but you can find pictures of the harpoon elsewhere by Googling "Danielson Halibut Harpoon."

6' seems pretty long for the kayak.

Here's a clip of Chris Mautino gettin it done with his super lightweght DIY.  Jump to 1:40 or so for a better view of the tool and the application.



-Mark-

Rudy, I have a couple of questions about your halibut harpoon:



1.  What are the loops for in the portion of the rope which is next to the cable which runs through the slip-tip?  Are they to provide purchase as you pull a halibut up to your kayak? Or to clip a (hopefully) deceased halibut to your kayak?

2.  Do the floats which are attached to the butt of the harpoon flap around as you are plugging a halibut?  Have you tried attaching floatation directly to the harpoon shaft?

3.  Does the slip-tip stay on the shaft of the harpoon if you aren't holding onto the rope?  Have you messed around with shock cord arrangements to keep tension on the slip-tip?

Rudy, I have a couple of questions about your halibut harpoon:

1.  What are the loops for in the portion of the rope which is next to the cable which runs through the slip-tip?  Are they to provide purchase as you pull a halibut up to your kayak? Or to clip a (hopefully) deceased halibut to your kayak?

2.  Do the floats which are attached to the butt of the harpoon flap around as you are plugging a halibut?  Have you tried attaching floatation directly to the harpoon shaft?

3.  Does the slip-tip stay on the shaft of the harpoon if you aren't holding onto the rope?  Have you messed around with shock cord arrangements to keep tension on the slip-tip?

Good question.  Keep in mind this was my first year trying this off a kayak.  Still very much in development and I am 100% positive my system is not optimal.  So all ideas welcome.

So

#1) The extra loop was there so I could clip the buoy closer to the big fish as I towed it in. That way the fish would have to pull the buoy down before it jerked my arm off as I was towing it the first mile back to shore. Turns out I didn't need it since I did manage to get it strapped on to the back of my kayak for the last two miles.  It did sink my rudder line holes below water and I had a couple gallons in the hatch once on shore. 

#2  They flop around and are a PITA.  But they have saved the pole a couple of times when I have had to drop it rather than risk getting rope burn because I wasn't holding it perfectly.  I place it tip up in my factory rod holder so floatation would have to be towards the tip.  Don't like that.  With a custom pole set up like Chris's, the handle could be the flotation.

#3 It does NOT stay on. This is the ONLY issue I have with the harpoon...I think.  What you are supposed to do is what Chris Mautino does.  Put a rubber band on it.  For the most part it does stay on since I keep it point up in the factory rod holders.  Grab the line while you take the pole out, and that should keep the tip on...till the fish runs and you freak and you don't have time to put the pole back properly so you lay it across your lap and the tip falls off and...and...and....  The golden rule of harpooning.  Make sure the tip is secure until you are ready to strike!  I have screwed that up a few times. 

6' seems pretty long for the kayak.

-Mark-

Hmmm....  If you are clipping it off to the top of the harpoon like chris does, thats at least 2.5 ft up the pole and 2.5 ft down...that' 5ft right there.  You need the buoy to lay on the water with as little resistance as possible.  You don't want to go strike, and have the weight of the buoy either weaken your strike or worse, prematurely pull the rope out of the rubber band.  I would clip it off in the middle with a rubber band about where I am holding it in the pic pmpete put up.  This if done right ( I have video where I don't) eliminates that fancy move Chis makes to have the rope slide over his arm.  Might not be so fun when a bigger fish heads straight down.  That's asking for rope burns and a A2 buoy smacking you across the side of the head full force if you weren't quick enough,  Not gonna hurt ya but it could knock you off your kayak.  At least that's my line of thinking.  I could certainly be overlooking something.     

6' seems pretty long for the kayak.

The only reason I ordered the 6' harpoon was because it cost a few cents more than $35, so the shipping was free.  I'm planning to shorten the shaft considerably, and would probably have shortened the harpoon with a 5' shaft as well.

6' seems pretty long for the kayak.

The only reason I ordered the 6' harpoon was because it cost a few cents more than $35, so the shipping was free.  I'm planning to shorten the shaft considerably, and would probably have shortened the harpoon with a 5' shaft as well.

Oh wait, i thought we were talking rope length.  Mine extends to 6 or 8ft But i think I keep it in the 4ft length all the time. 

I picked up that 6' Danielson 'poon from Fisherman's yesterday. 

It comes with an o-ring in the tip to hold the dart in place.  However, I felt that the o-ring was way too tight and would possibly just hold the tip on the 'poon upon pulling it back out.  Cut that sucker off and have a better idea to hold the tip in place.  Goes along the lines of the rubberband, but better. 

Also, that dart tip is about as sharp as a ball point pen.

Soooooo....

I put two deep tapers on the underside of the tip, and shallower one on top to bring the point to a three sided stoopid sharp tip, much like a fishing hook. Polished everything back up to reduce drag.  I may go so far as to make a tip cover to protect me from the sharp tip. 

Also, put a taper on the back end of the dart that slides over the 'poon shaft.  I figure it would assist the dart in flipping outward upon pulling the 'poon out. 

I have a few more things to do to it before I get a picture of it. 

Just need to decide on how many feet of what kind/diameter rope to use between the 'poon and the A1 bouy.

Also considering adding some kind of snubber like shock absorber just below the bouy to reduce meat damage from the cable if the 'butt is tugging hard.

Here's a shock cord setup which should keep the slip tip from falling off the tip of the harpoon.  It isn't drawn to scale.  The shock cord should probably be a thin one, strong enough to hold the slip tip on the tip of the harpoon if you point the harpoon downwards, but not so strong as to make it harder to pull the tip of the harpoon out of the slip tip after you poke a fish.  I'll post a photograph of the setup after I make it.



If you don't like broccoli, you can make rubber bands to hold your harpoon rope against the harpoon shaft by cutting rings of any width you want off an old inner tube from a road bike.  You can get old inner tubes from any bike shop, which throws away damaged tubes.

Damage from an A1 has been minimal. I'd only use a shock system that I absolutely knew was rated high enough.   If it's big enough to really do damage, not that I condone wastage, will be minimal relative to the non damaged meat.

Here's a good chart to see what you are up against. I think I'm good to something close to 200 pounds. If I can get it in position to harpoon it, I'd think that plus an A1 should get me cracks at it to bleed or something....

http://www.blueoceantackle.com/polyform_a_series_buoys.htm

Also, that dart tip is about as sharp as a ball point pen. Soooooo....

I put two deep tapers on the underside of the tip, and shallower one on top to bring the point to a three sided stoopid sharp tip, much like a fishing hook. Polished everything back up to reduce drag.  I may go so far as to make a tip cover to protect me from the sharp tip.

Round pencil-style spear tips are easier to sharpen than tips with flat surfaces and edges.  Here’s a low-profile spearfishing spear which a friend made for me.  The barbs fit in recesses in the side of the shaft and are held down with the ring, and spring out when you whack a fish.  I had him make the spear with a round tip.



If the tip gets dull, it’s really easy to sharpen.  I set the tip on a sharpening stone, set the butt of the spear on an elevated shelf, and draw the tip back and forth on the stone while rolling it over and over.  It only takes me a few seconds to sharpen the tip, unless I plugged a rock and have to reshape it.



An uncovered spear tip can make nasty holes in vehicle upholstery, body parts, and anything else in the area.  Here’s the kind of tip protector I use on my spears when transporting them.  The piece of cord is just to make the tip protector more visible, so I don’t lose it. 



I'm mulling over ideas for a tip protector for a harpoon for use when kayaking.  It needs to be easy to remove with one hand while playing a fish with the other hand.  For example, if I decide to keep my harpoon in a paddle holder, I could make a tip protector like the one shown above, but with a longer cord.  I could tie the cord to something on the gunwale of my kayak.  Then when I need to use the harpoon, I can take it out of the paddle holder with one hand and jerk the tip out of the tip protector.  The tip protector will remain tied to the gunwale of my kayak, ready to be re-installed when I put the harpoon back in the paddle holder.

I don't halibut fish and know guns on a boat are a hole waiting to happen but anyone consider a 12 gauge blank on a bang stick, wouldn't the concussion kill it if hit in the head , I forsee an Insayn invention coming....