GUSTAVUS, Alaska - A Utah man caught the fish of a lifetime June 17 while halibut fishing near Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park.

Shane Long of Talmage, Utah, caught a 215-pound halibut on the carcass of a king salmon he landed the day before.

Long was part of a group from Utah and Colorado staying at Alaskan Anglers Inn in Gustavus, a small fishing community west of Juneau.

"Before this my biggest fish was only four or five pounds," said Long, who battled the giant halibut for nearly 45 minutes before his fishing guide harpooned it after it reached the surface. The big halibut was then shot with a .410 shotgun before being brought aboard the Icy Rose, the charter boat Long and his friends were fishing from.

During their five-day trip with Alaskan Anglers Inn, Long and his three fellow anglers caught three halibut topping 100 pounds, and dozens of halibut from 50 to 90 pounds. They also landed five salmon from the cold waters of Icy Straight.

The group's guide, Capt. Andy Martin (www.wildriversfishing.com), saved a few of the salmon carcasses from the previous day and threaded one onto a size 20/0 Eagle Claw hook. The salmon heads had been marinating overnight in Pautzke's Halibut and Rockfish Nectar. Shortly after Long lowered it to the bottom, a big halibut inhaled the carcass and took off on a long run. The fish stayed near the bottom for 15 minutes before Long was able to begin forcing it to the surface. It was caught in 110 feet of water less than 10 miles from the Gustavus dock.

After filling eight 50-pound boxes with fillets during their first four days of fishing, Long's group decided to catch and release on its last day. One of the fishermen released a 150-pound halibut, while three more fish just under 100 pounds were let go.

Fish Species: Halibut, king salmon
Bait Used: Salmon carcasses, plug-cut herring
Tackle Used: Wright & McGill halibut rods, Wright & McGill mooching rods, Penn reels
Method Used: Anchor fishing, trolling herring
Water Depth: 110 feet
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Shane Long of Talmage, Utah, poses with his 215-pound halibut caught June 17 while fishing with Alaskan Anglers Inn in Gustavus, Alaska. Long caught the halibut on a whole salmon carcass fished with a size 20/0 Eagle Claw circle hook. Photo by Andy Martin
Shane Long of Talmage, Utah, poses with his 215-pound halibut caught June 17 while fishing with Alaskan Anglers Inn in Gustavus, Alaska. Long caught the halibut on a whole salmon carcass fished with a size 20/0 Eagle Claw circle hook. Photo by Andy Martin

Shane Long of Talmage, Utah, and Ryan Chapman of Roosevelt, Utah, with a pair of king salmon caught June 16 while fishing with Alaskan Anglers Inn in Gustavus, Alaska. Photo by Andy Martin.
Shane Long of Talmage, Utah, and Ryan Chapman of Roosevelt, Utah, with a pair of king salmon caught June 16 while fishing with Alaskan Anglers Inn in Gustavus, Alaska. Photo by Andy Martin.


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About The Author: Captain Andy Martin

Company: Wild Rivers Fishing Oregon and Alaska

Area Reporting: Oregon, Alaska

Bio: Andy Martin is a well-known Oregon and Alaska fishing guide and charter boat captain. He targets trophy halibut in Alaska, as well as six-fish-per-person limits of silver salmon. In Oregon, he catches some of the biggest salmon in the Northwest, including trophy king salmon over 60 pounds. Oregon salmon and steelhead trips are done out of clean, heated jet boats and drift boats on the Rogue and Chetco rivers. Andy also is a prolific outdoor writer, regular contributing to Fish Alaska, Salmon Trout Steelheader, Saltwater Sportsman, Game & Fish, Oregon Hunter, California Sportsman, Northwest Sportsman and ESPN Outdoors.

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Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Andy Martin