Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Heartbreaker

We lost what was probably a 800-900 lb giant today after a 75 minute fight. The dart was ready to be hurled, and we were seconds away from celebration mode, but the fish made one last run, and despite the 130's drag at full, Flounder could not stop him. All three of us watched in horror as the beast B-lined and headed for the ball, sounding. Well, the magnificent fish, in a desperate last run, managed to hit the only thing other than the boat in the water--the anchor line-- and cut us off.

We spent the rest of the day with four rods in the water without a sniff, though the skipper's son managed to land a fatty of perhaps 400 in the 9th inning, thereby managing to save the day in a financial sense for the family.

I volunteer to crew for my buddies, and as such, my reward is in the adventure. As usual, I enjoyed virtually every minute of it. Well, save for the first few hours, as we steamed east out to the fishing grounds in solid sixes, with some eights and the odd ten tossed in. It's considered a trash fish, but I was pleased to have been in the presence of the largest blue shark I've ever seen. He went 500 if he was a pound. Anyway, I'm wiped out from 17 hours OTW and a long drive, but tomorrow's another day. Win some, lose some. A few pics.













[img]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/...nd%20Flounder%20Sept%202012/IMG_4015.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/...nd%20Flounder%20Sept%202012/IMG_3997.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/...nd%20Flounder%20Sept%202012/IMG_3993.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/...nd%20Flounder%20Sept%202012/IMG_4110.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/...nd%20Flounder%20Sept%202012/IMG_4424.jpg[/img]

That looks like hard work. How can you possibly tag along for the fresh air?

Major b. on that shark. Find myself bummed out on this side of the ocean...

Fantastic pics Leighton! Appreciate you sharing your stories of the sea with us.

How can I tag along for no payoff? Because I'm a fisherman, and I love it, and the payoff is the adventure for me. Oh, and not for nothing, but people pay big money to chase giants, and those boys have put me on to countless days of epic fishing, never asking a nickel to have me suffer along. That means a lot to me, and I try to repay the kindness in some small way by helping out.

"Major b. on the shark..."? I don't get it. Help me out, please.

Frog: thanks, and you're most welcome.

It would be fun to watch the show when this guy finds that 800-900 pounder on the other end of his line.

Or the 500 pound blue!

Actually, that fella is tight to a 750 lb brute. The pic was taken an hour into the fight, and by that time, the fish had dragged that Grady a mile and a half...

They landed it after fighting it for more than 2 hours.

You need a bigger boat!!!!

+1. I run a 24' Thompson and I wouldn't get caught dead running it in 8' foot seas after tuna. I fish Lake Ontario and limit myself to waves 4' or less. You're a better man than I am.

Great pics and story Kamo. thanks

that tuna got away so i could catch him in 3 weeks when i get up there.

Thanks for the story and pics Leighton. I enjoyed them!

And Roger I hope you do!

Nah. We knew it was going to lay down. It sucked for a few hours, but after that it flattened right out. I'm the last guy who wants to be out in heavy seas, trust me. The 36' downeast style rig we were fishing from handled the seas well. Even so, I was hating it for awhile. I've said it before, but I'll tell you what: the guys who make their living at sea are a whole lot tougher than me. I'm damned glad I don't have to do it every day, especially in foul weather or snotty seas.

Thanks for the comments.

Totally different world than the farm fields around here, that is for sure.

That's for sure. We're fortunate as Americans to have the amazingly wide variety of resources and geography that makes up our nation. Gives a man choices. I'd rather cut off the head of a half ton tuna than a head of broccoli myself. But variety is, well, y'know...

Naw, big boats sucketh. 4-6 is a good day for deep vees, surface drives and 50-60 mph. More fun than 6 Flags...

Still beat hell out of a day at work didn't it KG?

That hull, a 32' Holland, eats up big swells with rollers pretty nice. Repowered with 400 horse diesel. Sips fuel. Rides real nice, and has a big dance floor. She'll do 16 knots easy. Kicking around the idea of heading for George's, but have to think hard on that one. 120 miles out is a bit far for a swim home...

Skipper took the tower and pulpit off, deciding to give the harpooning a break until next year, but this is what she looks like rigged for tuna on the skewer. Rides a LOT nicer without all that steel on top and at the nose. In heavy seas that sucker pitches. But then some folks, like DD, probably don't exactly suffer from motion sickness. He did puke at least once that I'm aware of, though, but it wasn't on a boat at sea...



Here's a very similar rig:

That's a fact, Mistah Lee.