"The
Big One Doesn't Always Get Away"
Viking - Montauk
October , 2001
sometimes
when the stars are just right and the moon is smiling down on
you...that big fat tuna that you've been searching for is yours.
Cherish the moment. I wish I could tell you that one of the lucky
lad had top of the line gear and that everything was set just
right, but that would be a lie.
Capt. Steve
stood by his side staring down on his rod, scratching his head
on this one. He had not thread his line through the first guide
on the rod. So as the line peeled out, it was rubbing against
the rod's side. This does not make for a good scenario. This young
dude fought the fish for a good half hour and that line kept twanging
against the side with maximum pressure against it.
This is when
the "God" factor comes into effect. As this giant was
doing the death circle, both my fingers were crossed and one eye
was closed. Up she came, inch by inch...two gaffs, no three gaffs
were ready to hook this trophy into the boat. He made at least
six circles right out of reach, then went under the boat. Finally,
he made his wrong move, just scratching the surface, where Capt.
Steve and Richie nailed his hide. One more gaff under his gill
plate and up this trophy came. >>>
Once it hit the deck a sigh of relief came over all of us. Thank
God that fight is over and done with. This tuna was a good 160
pounder.
Later that night Pete, a long time regular on the Viking, hooked
into a real rod smoker. Right rod, right reel, kicking fisherman...Pete
has been in this scenerio many a time. He fought that fish hard
using all of his knowledge....short pumps inch by inch.
Then the tuna saw the boat and Pete exhaled knowing for sure
that the tuna would make a run, taking all the line he had battled
for and then some. Back to work, inch by inch. The longer the
fight the less chance of landing a large fish, for the hook
set is losening and getting wider by the minute.
Pete really
socked it to him, as the tuna came into sight, it was larger
than the first beast. Thank God, Pete didn't look over the rail
to see the pig he was wrestling with for over 45 minutes. Steve
and Richie gaffed that puppy with big grins on their faces.
This fish weighed in at 175 pounds, easy and that was Pete's
fish of the year. Good going Pete!
Many more tuna came over the rail that evening, but these two
are what it's all about...going for that trophy and winning,
all stand up. But Pete...now that means that you have to go
for a 200 pounder...Good Luck Dude!
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sometimes when the stars are just right and the moon is smiling down on you...that big fat tuna that you've been searching for is yours. Cherish the moment. I wish I could tell you that one of the lucky lad had top of the line gear and that everything was set just right, but that would be a lie. Capt. Steve stood by his side staring down on his rod, scratching his head on this one. He had not thread his line through the first guide on the rod. So as the line peeled out, it was rubbing against the rod's side. This does not make for a good scenario. This young dude fought the fish for a good half hour and that line kept twanging against the side with maximum pressure against it. This is when the "God" factor comes into effect. As this giant was doing the death circle, both my fingers were crossed and one eye was closed. Up she came, inch by inch...two gaffs, no three gaffs were ready to hook this trophy into the boat. He made at least six circles right out of reach, then went under the boat. Finally, he made his wrong move, just scratching the surface, where Capt. Steve and Richie nailed his hide. One more gaff under his gill plate and up this trophy came. >>>
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Pete really
socked it to him, as the tuna came into sight, it was larger
than the first beast. Thank God, Pete didn't look over the rail
to see the pig he was wrestling with for over 45 minutes. Steve
and Richie gaffed that puppy with big grins on their faces.
This fish weighed in at 175 pounds, easy and that was Pete's
fish of the year. Good going Pete!
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