Spearfishing Giant Atlantic Halibut in the FREEZING Arctic!
This trip and video was inspired by Daniel Mann's adventure in the arctic circle back in 2018, (Spearfishing Giant Atlanic Halibut in Norway). Ever since seeing Dan's video I was desperate to go in search of one of these incredible fish.
I journeyed to Norway back in 2021 and had no luck, but this time, I returned with Carl Christell and Nick Baxter and found the Halibut!
In this video, after weeks of planning and preparation, we travelled 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle to a remote and beautiful fishing lodge. After hours of drifting in Freezing cold water, we found four delicious halibut. After spearing, nothing was wasted as we each brought home 20Kg to our families.
Huge thanks to Daniel Mann, Andrew Gomm and Ricky Scott, who shared details of the fishing locations and taught me the techniques I could pass onto my teammates Nick and Carl.
Filmed by Nick Baxter, video edited by Joe Pike.
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0:00 - Intro
0:23 - The Mission
0:58 - Boating
3:29 - First Halibut
9:26 - Giant Halibut
15:00 - Monster Halibut
16:04 - Cod
19:14 - Deep Halibut
Kudos to you for NOT taking the shot on the big one. There are just a limited number of slow breeding halibuts in the sea, and there is at the moment a high pressure on the fish. It is of outmost importance to protect the big breeders. Unfortunantly there is a "big game" mentality strongly present among alot of sea anglers and spear fishers. I can absolutly understand the urge for catching the bigges of them all, but holding back is the responsible and most noble way to go. Preserve a healthy stock of fish, and you will be rewarded with nice eating size fish for your next trip to... :-)
I agree, but do question how many halibut they actually needed for themselves? Had they fished stand up rod & reel style, they could of released a few & only kept the largest.
Thanks for your comment. That free swimming one was truly a monster. The gopro really doesn't do it justice. It's hard to get a sense of scale but I have a feeling it was close to 100kg...
@@JoePkSpearfishingDo you agree with the comment above? Killing Big breeders is just for show
On the other side of the debate is keeping one bigger fish so you don’t have to take more than one.
Not many divers and fishermen think about protecting the big breeders and taking the smaller fish. Worst of all, take only what you are going to eat. The endlessly providing ocean we once thought it was, no longer exists. It is time to start spreading the idea about the preservation of the big fish, and taking only medium to small ones, which of course are the best eating.
Glad you had an epic trip the second time round, seems to be a rite of passage for the Arctic! A most enjoyable video, a great reminder that I need to get back to Norway next year.
Thanks again Mr Mann. If it wasn't for your coaching though in round 1 I'd have probably just caught a cold.
What a video. What a trip. Real touch of class letting that last giant halibut go, I think many others wouldn't. Shows real character. Keep up the good work.
As a Florida man that loves to catch flounder, I'd love to catch halibut. But not with a spear because it's WAY too cold for me in that water. They're such interesting fish, jigging for them would be a good time to me. Thanks for showing us the hunt. And also thanks for not killing the big breeders. Small ones are probably much better to eat and the big ones need to make babies. I'm not into keeping huge fish, medium sized are much better.
Perhaps a trip to alaska? Think you've got some pretty amazing halibut to be had there.
Amazing video Joe! This must have been indeed an adventure of a lifetime. Catching halibut in that scenery is something we spearos all dream about ❤
A superb adventure Joe, thanks for sharing
Thanks for your comment David 👍
Yes Mr Pike you hero- missing old biology days at Churston.. glad to see you're bossing it on here!
Fantastic video Joe. Thanks for that one. Great when a plan comes together like that and you score the conditions you've been praying for 🙏
Thanks! You're so right. There is so much that can potentially go wrong on a trip like this but everything seemed perfect 🙏
Best video yet Joe. Well done for taking on the cold conditions for experiences of a lifetime. Fantastic decision on letting the big halibut go. Some of my best fishing experiences this year havent been taking huge fish to eat but taking the right sized table fish and putting some big ones back to keep breeding. Looking forward to more of your videos in 2024.
Glad you enjoyed it! Look forward to sharing more in 2024.
Well done Joe, bucket list for me.
Thanks!
What a superb production, cinematic footage. Epic stuff!
As always, amazing video! Thanks Joe!
Many thanks!
Such an awesome adventure! Loved this video, definitely one of your best yet, so well produced! 👏🎬
Great video Joe, thanks for sharing!
I felt relief when you let it go. Such a wonderful sea creatures. Let them live.
Always a joy to see a new Joe PK upload. Amazing video.
Thanks so much for your comment!
Mad respect for not pulling the trigger on that Dozer Hallibut.
Absolutely Amazing footage. Thank you. Plus the narration was clean and memorable !!
Many thanks, really pleased to hear you enjoyed my narration too!
First time I’ve come across your Channel and I absolutely enjoyed every minutes of this video. I can’t wait to watch more
Thanks so much!
Congrats on the stunning halibut! Love the editing too, it feels like you upped the game on this one and it came out amazing
Many thanks! Yes I'm really happy with how this one came together.
Brilliant video and amazing adventure, well done Joe!!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Best thing Ive seen all year. Id be totally happy shooting big Plaice all day long. What a destination 👏 👌
Thanks so much so glad you enjoyed the vid! Haha! I left them be I can spear them ten minutes from my house 😀
Brilliant video I seem to have lost you lately but amazing that I can watch you again
Thanks Thomas. I have plans to post a lot more in 2024 👌
Madagascar to the Arctic. Excellent work fella. Its a bit of a bucket-list plan for me to take my own boat from the UK to arctic to hunt for Halibut, so saving your vid for research.
Delicious fish. So good.
What a fab adventure with some truly spectacular drone footage too!! Amazing editing there captain very well done, one of your best videos yet dare I say!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Very nice Joe. That looked like an amazing experience all around.
It really was incredible! Thanks so much for your comment.
Love your vids they are always so chill!! Especially in the arctic 🥶😀
Haha! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Epic, fantastic show there guys. Thanks for sharing what I won’t ever participate in. Well done 👏 to you all.
Thanks for watching Andrew, glad you enjoyed the video.
Absolutely awesome. Dreams do come true , great video
Still can't believe they did!😍
8 years of spearfishing in the northern parts of norway and i have never seen a halibut swimming, that must have been quite the experience ! great video !
Yes it was incredible. I couldn't work out what it was at first!
I did all summer runs for 5 years scouring different kinds of location until I got my first one. It’s about finding the right place. I was confined to doing it from the shore, so it was a bit of research but actually really worth in terms of looking for the right circumstances. Once you find that good spot for the right time of the year - there is a lot more of a guarantee. In my experience it’s been best last half of august, when the water clears a bit from dying seagrass and algae and on into september or november. But I’ve heard old fishermen say differently also, this is off the shore, it may be different further out but they seem to come into the shallows to rest in warmer water after feeding or soak up some vitamin D. I’ve killed 20+kg halibut in just 2-3 metres of sea water. In the old days people would spear them with a long weighted spear from a boat spotting them by looking into the water with a makeshift telescope. Anyway - part of the trick seems to be that you want a patch of good sandy, rocky, gravelly seabed with at least periodically strong current going through and it can be sorta shallow in the 1-20 metre range, and then if there is some nearby deep water that drops to like a couple hundred metres or more that’s a good combination. They can hunt, lounge, rest, move according to temperature and water quality, they can escape seals etc. The good thing about doing it from the shore is that not a lot of boat fishermen usually hang out there. A few locals may, but the tourists tend to overlook it.
Bellissima avventura, bravo Joe!
grazie mille Antonio!
Lovely watch mate, looked so epic and beauties of fish for you all.
Thank you Mr Jamie X
Spectacular! 👍
thanks 😍
loved watching this ... ive been to north and south poles.... hats of to you gents
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Spectacular trip!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
That was a fantastic video! You've been living the dream lately! First Madagascar and now Norway!! Awesome mate!
Thanks! I definitely have been spoiled this year, but eating all the better for it!
@@JoePkSpearfishing I bet mate! Have you got any more trips planned or are you waiting for the weather to turn in the UK like the rest of us??😂
Very exciting, excellent video..just found your channel, thankyou for sharing
Phenomenal. Excellent video. Definitely on my short list of must do! At least being from Wisconsin, the cold water is more often than not! Cheers
😮 just wow! Never seen anything like this. Incredible content. Such a cool video.
Thanks so much!
Unreal trip that! Some amazing fish
It was unreal! Thanks 😀
Love Your Spearfishing Style Bud Too ''DEADLY''👍❤
haha thanks!
Good job
Молодцы Здоровья вам
beyond glad to see you still uploading Mr Pike!
Glad to see you still commenting Mr Robson!!!
Awesome adventure 🥰🤗👋😘👍🐟🐠🎣
Thanks 😍👍
Another super video . Excellent stuff . What a location .. 😁👍👌
Enjoyed immensely, well done on your halibut good sir. Greetings from Scotland
Super 😊
What dreams are made off. Congrats !
Amazing...👍
Thanks a lot 😊
EPIC!
This is the first one of your videos I've ever watched and it's a halibut video the first video I ever watched of Daniel was a halibut video. I have seen you before on Daniel's channel but a very well put together video and very good narration by you. I'd love to get one but F the cold lol
amazing fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!cheers boys
Cheers to you!
Great video!!
Halibut!!!😊❤
In South America lives their cousins 😂, we call them “Lenguado”! Great video!! New follower from Perú!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
far out this is epic. awesome catch on those massive halibuts! i remember the 1st video i saw of u was spearing for big conger eels.
Woah that was a while ago! Thanks for still tuning in dude!
厉害👍🎉
Really cool... Cold😅😂😂😂😂😂 you tha beast guys
Sick video. Definitely a bucketlist trip for me.
Thanks for your comment Joey! Make it happen!
WOW amazing buddy
Incredible video mate! Good on ya!
Thanks Russell 👍
Really nice video, my friend, and nice fishes! Keep doing it Gui
Thank you very much Gui! Hope all is well
So fn awesome
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
This is such an amazing video
Cheers Mr Dunn!
Epic trip and spectacular fish. Very well produced video too. Malcolm R
Thanks so much Malcolm!
Wonderful vid production Joe. Your harpooning adventure looked to be about as good as it could get🧜🏻♂️
Thanks so much mr wyness! I think the fishing gods were looking down on us with a smile this time 😀
Great video!👍🏻
Thanks 😀
Amazing video. Hope you enjoy the meal!
Hi joe, Great to meet you last year fishing on slapton. Something i forgot to ask, have you ever dived on the monument reef off the middle of slapton, start's around 170 yards out.
That one you let goooo... wowza it was a big ol one.
Yeah it would have been angry if I'd speared him for sure.
Great video
Thanks 👍
Nice work boys! Greetings from your fellow spearfishing friend from off shore
Massively respect your decision to leave that big Halibut fella. Sometimes its just about the ride and not the destination, especially when you get vis and weather conditions like that. Fan of your work and love the vids.
It was hard to do when we were out there for halibut, but glad I did now. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Amazing trip. Its on my bucket list to fish in Norway, maybe shore fishing though, as my spearfishing got along way to come
Thanks! You should go for it! Beautiful place.
Brilliant.. Beautiful stuff men well done..
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Thats a Huge Halibut😮😮🤙🤙
Awesome, nothing else needs to be said!!
😍Thanks
I recon a good photo of the Camo pattern of that last one for a wetsuit would work wonders any where in the world!!!!!!!
Cracking video mate, pure golden results, possibly one of the best fish to eat
Thanks so much and great to hear from you Mr Sinclair. I hope there will be more spearfishing stories next year 😊
I’ve had a very busy year and not got in with the camera much, plan to do a lot more recording next year, keep your videos like this coming
@@sinclairsspearfishingstori9310 This is fantastic news, look forward to seeing them
Great video and I echo the comments below about passing on the really large one. Nice to see conservation-minded spear fishers.
Thanks Matt, I just hate the idea of wasting fish.
You showed remarkable restraint, especially given that it was a split-second decision.
That the best fishing video l seen
Mksh bos.... Mantap Sekali
Excellent vid, brother! I dive year round on the North Shore in New England, so conditions are fairly similar this time of year. 8° water maybe 10m vis last weekend with some cod hiding in holes around 15m. I mostly dive for lobster and keep the spear at home, but I've always wanted to land a Halibut. Do you have any specific knots you like to use for connecting shooting line to reel line, attaching floats, or for rubber bridles/saddles? I'm still stuck on bowlines, figure 8's, and those Rob Allen ugly knots he uses for bridles. Curious to know what knots are your go-to's. Thanks for the great watch and best wishes for New England!
Insane mate ❤ i was thinking about the plan and going to do the same this year, but reality came around and stopped planning 😂 some year i will go. When i will be ready i will need some advice 🤜🤛 beautiful vid mate
Many many thanks 👍👌
Thank you for not shooting that last big one! Good on ya, and good fishing all of you!
Thanks!
Looks like the most amazing experience out there! Bumped in to you a couple times and every time it seems like you have a new story haha currently out in western Australia if you have any recommendations for places or goal species? Would love to hear back!
It certainly was! I'd love to visit aus (the underwater bit) but not been there yet. Good luck 👌
Дуже гарне відео! Дякую.
Great Video Cappo. Keep it up
Many thanks admiral!
Those Were Little Baby, Halibut😉🫥
Now this is something different than the dives here in the south pacific, we couldn't dive in that cold
I love how Carl jumped straight to the floor for scale 😂
Carl is a legend!
Watching from Arabian Sea, your content is super, subscribed
Awesome! Thank you so much for subscribing!
And Daniel wasn't there with you WTH lol. 😂 Great video
Joe... love your videos since a very long time!!! 😊😊🏳️🌈 Great!!! Greetings from germany.
Fantastic video cpt, Very nice edit. Could be one of the best.....
Thanks Mr Grigg!
Woweee!!! Amazing fish and video, Joe! One of your best. What thickness of wetsuit are you guys wearing in this water?
Cheers Jack! We were all wearing 7mm 👍
I usually can only bring a single speargun but it’s a real good idea to always bring two for the bigger ones. Especially if you don’t get them in the heart region right away. Some of them pack quite a fight. A few can be more docile, but you never quite know if that’s gonna last, until you put it in a shot that will weaken it. Important to let time work for you with these, especially of you’ve only got that one gun. And just never skimp on gear with these, no small guns, no thin spearsk thin lines or worn lines you’re not entirely sure about and keep a properly sharp point. Really a slip tip seems to be the most economical solution, even if they can be a bit annoying because these fish can bend your spear completely out of shape - or hit you with it on approach. Also it seems they freak out less when they don’t feel the weight of a spear through them and when they don’t have that weight to work against, it’s harder for them to tear lose. I was sceptical about slip tips at first, but really it seems the best solution to me on the whole, at least for first shot. And when they’re in they stick. My buddy has killed a ton of these and he swears by slip tips. Only downside is you can’t control by grabbing the spear on both sides of the fish, but really I’d avoid having to if possible. We catch them off the shore, but it would also make it easier and less dangerous to haul on a boat that way. I’d never let it take of with my speargun on the line though. On a fixed line I shoot a size I can reasonably manage and still fight that way which is probably in the 20-30kg range. After that I’d go for a reel or set it up so the line detaches from the gun and just goes to the buoy. And I’d use a rubber coated line that offers some slack, it helps the fish relax when they don’t feel that hard counter-tug. But a reel is good for a big strong fish so you can work with it a bit and let it wear and bleed itself out without too much needless tug of war. In my experience they have some 3-4 good runs in them depending on size and how well you got them. Maybe more if it’s just a flesh wound and it’s still got all the fight in it.
Haven't seen this yet but I'm expecting someone shouting "HALIBUTTTTTT!!!!" (For those who know what I'm talking about)😂
Something like this!! 😁
@@JoePkSpearfishingYees!! 11:30 is what I was waiting for! 🤣👍 Amazing fish and very clean filleting! Can't wait to go spearfishing again