Jigging Q & A - Lets get started

[Sea Draggin]

I guess I never realized there were Halibuts in the Atlantic, since all my fishing has been done in NC. My quick research this morning produced some info that commercial fishing had decimated the population.

I would love to jig up a 100lb flounder. That would be some good fun right there.

[ancient mariner]

Hi:
Didn't mean the double post. Sorry 'Bout that.
Had the camera on a couple of outings up there. Last trip was in a 21 foor Nova Scotia build open boat(my boys). On the way back we took a "BEUT", right over the open bow when trying to get inside an inlet . DUMB on me. . The boat was o/loaded up in the bow(scary when u take STUPID chance). The weather went from smoother than a spanked baby's butt to a roaring crashing sea(back door cold front). MY FAULT, that I didn't react much sooner to the approaching weather change that I watched come at us).
I had to get the boat up and started to run in and keep the boat from SURFING thru the inlet and turning broadside to the waves. AGAIN, DUMB ON ME.
When I break one of my OWN rules( ALWAYS WATCH THE WEATHER WITH MY OWN EYES) than it ALWAYS comes back to bite me!
When we did tie up to th dock, and inspected everything, the camera was junk(Y did I ever get away from my old Brownie).The gear was slopping around on the deck and I am glad that the "late 'n Great JC" let us all get back ok.
If I can get some pics from some of the other guys, I'll post them.
When I get back up there again and S.W.M.B.O.(She Who Must be Obayed) lets me out of her site, I'll remember to take the old regular camera again.
The Halbut Fishery HAS been Decimated by teh commercial guys. the days of 20-30 Halibut were over quite a while ago. Can you still get a decent few on a days outing? YES,"BUT" your now fishng way offshore. no more going out 10 miles and getting a lot of them.
The ONLY time we got one close(5 miles) to shore was when one ATTACKED a three pound Cod on the way up . All the local guys said they couldn't believe that we got one that close.! I fished that area for two(2) years now, and haven't had a shot at one on bait. To many Seals around. They will just about steal anything off your hooks.
To fish for Halibut close to shore(5 miles+) then you have to the Cape Breton and fish the deep edges and ledges up there in deep(250-450 feet) water.
WHAT GETS ME , is that there are hundreds of wrecks and they numbers are kept secret . The DIVERS all know where they are.I found a few wrecks by looking for the dive balls over the wrecks and taking the numbers and then START searching the area when the leave. Right now, I'm good for a coupld wrecks to try next year.
INTERSTING ASIDE:
Called, e-mailed, wrote to the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Governments to see if they would part with their own wreck lists. All wrecks belong to the gov.
Got back email, letters, that all said"THE WRECK LIST WAS STOPPED.DOES NOT EXIST. Did U ever believe that any Gov WOULD THROW OUT ANY LIST? MMMMMMM. There IS NO WRECK LIST ANYMORE" . HUH? What happens when the Canadian Coast Guard goes out and saves wrecked fishermen from the sea? They ALWAYS put out a WRECK and HAZARD notification to mariners! MMMMMMMMM. Guess they don't do that anymore.
ANOTHER INTERSTING ASIDE:
A few years ago, A SALVAGE COMPANY applied for a permit to salvage a wreck OUTSIDE HALIFAX . They wanted to get at the GOLD that ship had carried . Thats correct. They wanted to SALVAGE the wrecks GOLD.
They did and got lots of GOLD. The Salvage co., HAD TO HAVE GOTTEN THE WRECK NUMBERS FROM THE GOV. MMMMMMMM.
I know of few FEW wrecks that MIGHT contain GOLD that the GERMAN SUBS SANK off the approaches to HALIFAX HARBOUR. Try and get a permit HAH. Fish them? HAH! Try and get ACCURATE numbers? HAH.
I went to three(3) dive shops and asked around to try and verify what I had. ACTING like I was DUMB, they sent me on a few wild goose chases.
TWO(2) great guys were kind enough to share with me . For them, I sent a compendium of accurate numbers that I had amassed of East Coast wreck numbers for them to dive on.
Enough of my ranting and raving. I'll still go out and do my research. I'll still go and look for them on the ocean. I'll still fish for Halbut and Wolfish next to them and ENJOY teaching the local kids up there how much fun it is to find a wreck and fish it.
WACKM 'N STACKM
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner
www.ancientmarinertackle.com