Fishers have been recognized to spin a yarn or two, however three Quebec males out on a scientific ice fishing expedition within the Saguenay over the weekend made positive to doc their adventures.
And it’s a fortunate factor too, as a result of Mathieu Aubin reeled in a 109-pound Atlantic halibut on Sunday for the catch of a lifetime.
Aubin stated the trio, consisting of him, his uncle Rémi Aubin and a pal, set out on foot Sunday morning after first ensuring the ice on the fjord was thick sufficient.
Each on occasion they’d cease and drill holes, to verify not solely the ice thickness but additionally the depth of the water.
To catch a halibut, they figured a depth of about 650 toes was perfect. It’s data the group has gleaned over the three years halibut fishing has been allowed there.
Not a lot is understood in regards to the species dwelling within the Saguenay — therefore the necessity for a scientific research.
Anybody hoping to catch the fabled fish must be registered to take action.
After strolling for 2 kilometres, dragging their gear and drilling their holes, the lads put of their strains and settled in as finest they may.
“It was troublesome,” Remi stated. “It was very chilly on the ice with excessive winds — as much as 40 kilometres an hour.”
Mathieu dropped his line and instantly pulled up a cod. It will be one other hour earlier than the motion actually received underway.
Within the meantime, there was a little bit of backwards and forwards and Mathieu was reflecting on his new fishing rod. He made it himself, particularly to catch halibut, on the fishing store he now owns. The shop has been within the household since 1932 and handed down from one era to the following.
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“So I used to be telling my uncle I actually appreciated the hatch and I actually appreciated the rod and I’m so pleased about it,” Mathieu recounted. “Then 5 minutes after I received actually an enormous hit.”
He stated he knew immediately that it was a halibut due to the drag on the road and yelled out to his uncle who didn’t fairly imagine him at first.
“It’s not true,” Remi yelled to his nephew. It was solely when he noticed the road bend himself that actuality began sinking in.
Mathieu was struggling to maintain the fish reeled in and ultimately needed to move the road over to his uncle to take a break.
They took turns after that, switching off each 20 minutes or so, because the fish saved pulling and combating.
Realizing that they had an enormous fish on their fingers, Mathieu determined to start out hacking away on the ice to make the fishing gap larger.
For security causes, fishing holes are saved at round eight inches, he defined. “So I made a four-foot-wide gap.”
By all accounts, it took about 4 hours earlier than they have been in a position to haul their catch onto the ice.
“We have been sore all over the place,” Remi stated.
“We have been actually, actually, actually drained,” added Mathieu, who couldn’t fairly fathom how they’d be capable to make the journey again to shore lugging a fish weighing greater than 100 kilos.
Fortunately for them, a person with an ATV occurred to be within the neighborhood and was in a position to ferry them again to their car.
In the meantime, the group referred to as the Musée du Fjord to report their catch and allow them to know they’d be dropping by.
The museum is among the companions concerned within the fish research and is accountable for harvesting the wanted organs.
By the point Mathieu and firm arrived on the museum, information of the catch had unfold.
“It was unbelievable, like 50 to 60 folks have been there,” an incredulous Mathieu stated. “All people was actually having fun with the second.”
After the official weighing-in, the photographs and the lab, Mathieu was in a position to take the rest of the fish dwelling.
He stated he didn’t title his fish, however gave it the respect it was due.
His cousin, who’s a chef, cooked up a meal for the entire household and the leftover meat was put sous-vide to be delivered to these in want.
“Me and my uncle, we determined to offer again, we need to share with individuals who perhaps don’t get to take pleasure in some good fish,” Mathieu stated.
Whereas the halibut fishing season is barely kicking off, Mathieu and Rémi would possibly discover Sunday’s expertise arduous to high.
Mathieu stated he’s pleased to have been in a position to share such a second along with his uncle, who not solely taught him to fish when he was little but additionally served as a job mannequin for him rising up.
“He handed on not solely his ardour however extra importantly his values,” Mathieu wrote in French on Fb.
He went on to thank his uncle for being a supply of consolation through the years and for making him the individual he’s right this moment.
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