Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What kind of animal...

...is warm-blooded, can swim in bursts to ~45mph, travels intercontinentally, will inhale ten plus pound fish in a single bite, and can be taken within ten miles of land by those salty and lucky enough to get one to jump on a bait?

I give you a fine example of Thunnus thynnus, the mighty giant bluefin tuna. This baby was taken just hours ago by my two buddies with rod and reel. Its initial run was a quarter mile, pulling 45 lbs. of drag. It pulled the boat a mile and a half before they were able to stick it with a harpoon. Too big for the boat, so was dragged in. Weight was 1027 pounds. My boys got a grander. Unfreaking real. Way to go, you fishy bastids!

I still can't believe the quality of the pics. Rrrrr!

dang big guppy! awesome!

Madre de Dios!!!

"We're gonna need a bigger boat!"

day-um! like being hooked up to a VW

I reckon a fish like that is worth a [bleep] of money.

It's all about fat content and the luck of hitting the market (auction) at the right time, but yes, that one fish may very well pay half the season's fuel bill. A grander is on my bucket list. It's a lofty goal, I know. I also know I *will* get one.

A once in a lifetime fish is worth far more than half a seasons fuel bill.....at least it should be.

Not sure if you meant that literally, figuratively or some other '-ly' , but trust me, even for hardened, full-time commercial fishermen, a majestic, awe-inspiring fish like that one are, in their hearts, more than just dollar bills with fins. I know these guys are on cloud 9. I've caught giants with them. It never gets tired for those who love the ocean like some do.

As far as the dollar aspect, however, let me put that into perspective a bit: his fuel bill for the season can run to $40K.

I got a call from Flounder right after the fish got rigged to travel back to the barn. Said Mike was sure it'd go better than 9 bills. The horn will be mounted and will live in a place of honor for years to come. Some day, I'd like to think, some child will ask about it and be sat down and told the story of the fish that his great-grandfather took it from. But then I realize I have a propensity for being something of a romantic, sentimental fool...

"I have a propensity for being something of a romantic, sentimental fool..."

Stay there,...when something works, don't screw with it.

GTC

Note I didn't write, 'old'. Yet.

Domo, tomodachi.

excuse my land locked ignorance but exactly what is a tuna horn??

Outstanding catch!!!!

The 'horn' is the local term for the tail. A giant class tuna, anything from 73" on up, will almost always have a horn that measures 24" across or better. As there are huge fines and other nastiness that can come from killing short fish, sometimes a questionable sized fish--while still alive-- is tailroped and hauled above the waterline and measured, before any bleeding is done. If under 24", you better get a tape out and make sure.

There was no need for a measurement on this guy.

The kind that we need to pursue with gusto - that's what kind!

What size line do they have on their reels ?

+1

Very nice indeed...

I too wish they'd drop $200 bucks so they could take some High Quality shots. Once in a Lifetime deserves better than camera phone pics....

Generally we run 200# mono with a Dacron backer on a Penn International 130. At one point, they were down to 20 feet of backing. That giant had no idea just how close he came to breaking loose. One or two more tail thrusts and he would have been gone. And so it goes in this game. Sometimes ya lose, and sometimes ya don't...

Agree, but no biggie. There'll be others.