Longline Fishing for Halibut

Longline fishing is a widely used technique to catch halibut, and sometimes cod and haddock, due to its efficiency and effectiveness. The method involves a heavy central line, known as the mainline, to which short lines or "gangings" are attached at right angles every few feet. Each ganging terminates in a barbed hook, which is baited to attract the fish.

To deploy the longline, an anchored line with a float and flag is fixed to each end of the mainline. The anchor ensures the gear stays on the ocean floor, while the flag, floating above the surface, marks the gear's position. The process begins by throwing the float and anchor overboard, followed by the mainline with its baited hooks, allowing it to sink to the seabed. The second float and anchor are then deployed, completing the setup.

The longline is left in place for several hours, allowing time for halibut, cod, and haddock to take the bait. After this period, the retrieval process starts by hauling in the float and anchor at one end. The mainline is then pulled into the boat, either manually or with the help of a rotating block or cylinder, especially for larger halibut.

As fish are pulled up, they are either flung onto the deck or removed from the hooks by hand, sometimes using a "gaff" – a large, unbarbed hook with a short handle. The line, now devoid of fish, is coiled into tubs for easy re-baiting and redeployment.

Longline fishing can cover extensive distances, often over a mile, making it highly productive. Recent advancements in gear technology and sustainable fishing practices have further enhanced the efficiency of longline fishing. The use of circle hooks, which reduce bycatch, and the implementation of GPS tracking for gear positioning have been significant improvements.

Moreover, regulations and quotas have been established to ensure the sustainability of halibut populations. Fishermen are required to report catches and adhere to strict guidelines to prevent overfishing. This balance between efficiency and conservation is crucial for maintaining healthy fish stocks and the long-term viability of the fishing industry.

In conclusion, longline fishing remains a vital method for catching halibut, cod, and haddock, combining traditional techniques with modern innovations to maximize efficiency and sustainability.
Longline Fishing for Halibut

Fish of Halibut species

A flat saltwater fish found in all oceans that is one of the most important food fishes. Species of the genus Hippoglossus are:
*Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus – lives in the North Atlantic
*Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus stenolepis – lives in the North Pacific

The Pacific halibut is a subspecies of the Atlantic relative and is found in the North Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea and Alaska to the Sea of Okhotsk and the California coast.

Both are in the same Pleuronectidae family as other flatfish like flounder, reached popularity in the nineteenth century, when the size of the individuals sometimes reached heoric proportions of six hundred pounds.

This fish can reach lengths up to 7.5 feet (2.3 meters). In rare cases, halibut grow to be giants. In 1884, near Hammerfest, Norway, a halibut weighting 528 pounds was caught. The largest halibut ever recorded was 15.4 feet (4.7 meters)  and weighed 726 pounds (330 kilograms).

Halibut has a firm, sometimes dark flesh; large, easy-to-find bones; and a meaty texture when cooked. Because the individual fish were so large, halibut was almost always sold as steaks, which can be fried or baked.

Halibut is an excellent source of protein, potassium, selenium, and vitamin B12. In addition, it is a very good source of vitamin B6, niacin and phosphorus. Halibut liver oil is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin D and is a primary commercial source if these vitamins.
Fish of Halibut species 

Long Lines Fishing

Long Lines Fishing
Long Lines are used to catch halibut and in some instance, cod and haddock. The long line has a comparatively heavy central line to which short lines or “gangings” are attached right angles to the main line and at distances of every few feet.

A barb hook, which is baited, is fasted to the end of each ganging. An anchored line carrying a float and flag is fixed to each end of the central line, the anchor holding the gear on the bottom and the flag, which rests above the water surface, serving to indicate them position of the gear. In setting the long line, the float and anchor at one end are thrown overboard, and the central line, with gangings and baited hooks, is run and allowed to sink to the bottom. The anchor and float at the other end of the line are then thrown overboard.

After the set has been allowed to lie for a period of several hours, the float and anchor at one end are taken in, and the line is pulled into the boat with (for halibut) or without the aid of a rotating block or cylinder. As the fish reach the boat they are flung onto the deck, or removed from the hook by hand with or without the aid of a “gaff” (or large unbarbed hook with a short handle). As the line, with fish remove, is brought into the boat, it is coiled into tubs so that the hooks can be baited without difficulty. Long lines may be set over a distance of one mile or more.
Long Lines Fishing