I was in a hurry and trying to catch a legal butt. My roommate and I were cooking for some fine ladies, and I was in charge of the fish supply. It was either catch a halibut or pay 50 bucks at the store for commercially caught. I finally got to bed at 3:30, woke up at 5:30, remembered I had forgotten to buy a fishing license, back to sleep, overslept. I eventually was paddling out to the one mile when I noticed a few baitfish in the water and a nice color. I baited up, and as soon as my rig hit bottom I was on! Literally around 5 seconds. After my first gaff attempt failed and one last powerful run down to the bottom and then out to sea, I gaffed a nice 13 pound flattie after a very respectable 10 minute fight. More than enough for dinner for 5! I packed it up and headed in.

We served 5 courses and the fish was a hit. Marinated it in lemon juice, lemon pepper, and dill. Barbequed with high heat and served with a lemon butter cream sauce...oh yea!!! The fish was almost as big as the one that broke me off just before winter near the same spot outside the harbor.