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.













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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.

Fantastic pictures and account (as always). Thanks for sharing.

We better get you tight. If not, you're going to freeze to death.



BTW, my buddy owns both boats. Depending on how we fish, we'll be on one or the other. Or both. Better get those tickets, Tex. You wait too long, sticker shock might slap you across the head...

Thanks, John. I appreciate it. BTW, not sure how many folks are familiar with bioluminescence, but steaming for the barn last night the boat's wake, wash and hull was glowing an eerie neon green. So amazing. You can practically almost read by the light when they're thick. If you run your hand in the water and swish it about, your hand will glow.

Too dark for pics, but it's incredible to witness. This is a random vid that gives the idea, though ours are neon green, not blue.

That looks like a LOT of fun!

It is. The long steams, hours of getting beat up, sweating, preparing flat after flat of herring for chumming, jigging bait fish, running lines and rigging are all part of the game. As are the hours of waiting for something to happen once the work is addressed, hoping hard for something to happen--something that sometimes just doesn't. But let me tell you, once it gets in your blood, being OTW is addictive, and when things come together and one of the big 130s start screaming? Holy shyt, man.

I'll never tire of it. Won't be able to do it forever, though, so when I get a free day and things work out timing wise, I'm in. In the fishing world, to me, there is nothing out there more challenging and exciting than fighting a giant on rod and reel in the north Atlantic. Nothing.

Homeboy on the Grady must have a phd in dragsetology, one good kick and he is swimming. Good on the small boys for workn it.

Nah, not really. It's not as precarious as it appears. Smaller CCs rigged for giant fishing often have boats set up for fighting fish from the bow. It allows some serious advantages.

1. The man at the helm can see exactly what the man fighting the fish is doing.

2. As the fighter is in the bow, the helmsman can often see where the fish is, roughly, based on the line's angle to the bow.

3. It's a tactical choice. When fighting big fish, particularly those that can and will sound in waters hundreds of feet deep, with the heavy drag of the 130 class winches we run, with the drag cranked to the stops on a tired, but sulking fish staying down, the seas themselves can be used to beat the fish, especially when the seas are pitching several feet. As the bow rises with the ocean, the force of the lifting can be used to gain line. With every fall of the boat, you crank like a bastard. On every rise, the fish is pulled up with it.

It's not visible in the pic, but here's a few shots of what the resting/fighting post on the bow looks like on a CC rigged that way. That rod and reel combo is mounted on a ball bearing swivel rocket launcher. It's not going anywhere. You wouldn't want a greenhorn out there, especially in sporty seas, but it's a common setup here for smaller boats. I call it the Monkey Seat.

KG,

please do not mind this silly kraut. I could not have misread your post more, if I had been trying.

I am 100 % with you. I see why you go out any chance you have and pull your weight.

I thought, the shark was the one that got away...



Thank you for the pictures and your tales.

No worries, and my pleasure, sir.

Kamo that is badass, you are a lucky man to be able to tag along!

Keep the pics comin, this Pacific guy appreciates em!

Dat is a long way from "where I live" but waaay cool. Thanks.

Gracias again, gents. By the bye, the fish that I said was estimated at 750 that was towing that Grady by us? Turns out it weighed over 900, and the fat content was superb. Tough to say how well it'll do at market (Tsukiji in Tokyo), but the buyer that brokers the bluefin sales, packs and ships for lots of the boys, including my guys, predicted it would bring upwards of $15K. Same guy got a 630 pounder today. Sometimes, lady luck smiles wide on the tuna hunters...

Very cool indeed, The monkey seat is a an awesome concept. Always remember gravity works always has always will and it just so happens we don't have gillz. Just sold my 31 contender and have landed many a fish over the 5 mark. Used to have anglers fight standing or sitting on the bow as shown, it only took one buddy spilling off the front to end that practice. I switched to standing them in the anchor locker, worked better than a greased pig in preschool lunch line.