6/9/07- Bigeye bite OI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Left OI at about 5.15 after a nice cell passed by us. Connor(C-Note), Barry(twobyfour), Paul, mike, and myself were the crew. Got out quick to the 650 and trolled north. About an hour into it and bam four rods go down and only one goes tight. It would be an omen for our day. Set back out an we get on top of those bait balls that everyone was fishing. It was a train wreck as their was too many boats in too tight an area. Ending up getting 2 bites trolling and losing both to an inexpereinced angler reeling a swivel into the guides. (Thought he knew better) Nice 60lber. Next bite is a screamer and I'm up. Hook pulls after 5 minutes&^&*%^*%&*. Keep trolling and we get smacked by kings. Bite offs, fish skying out, it was pandemonium. We wanted tuna though so off we went deeper away from the kings and boats. I'm driving and I spot a great slick with a fresh odor. Something was feeding. Circled on it twice and nothing. Straighten out and I see a huge explosion from the side. He hit the short star board rigger and jumped twice through the spread almost making it to the port short rigger bait. I thought it was a marlin. Fish stayed on the surface throughout the 45 minute fight. We called it a marlin, a shark, a tuna, back to a shark, and we didn't know. Finally get him to the boat and its a monster tuna. I caught a 200# yft in mexico this nov. and it was close. 5-6ft in length. Probably 150#. Had him on the leader just under the water when he got pissed. Ran hard for a few seconds and I thought I had him bested. Seconds later hook pulls and everyone's hearts sank. Cool to see the fish but damn I wanted him for the scales. Barry drove the baot like a pro and I fought him with all I had. Wasn't meant to be. Weather was nice and we didn't run out of gas . The season was going too well, it was bound to happen sooner or latter.

Cmac

Good job Cmac...those big eyes will stress everything on the boat...from the rod, reel, line, swivels, knots, hooks. ANGLERS !......they're hard to land....but you got leader so you can count it as a catch and release 200# Tuna....Bob

Man...sorry no weigh in for you, but like Bob said...release with leader in hand. You'll scale him next time!!

CMAC,
You'll get him next time...and 40 lbs heavier from feeding! Great to see and experience though.
Tight lines.
Dave

great story cmac ... heart breaker for sure. hey dude ... you were there and got to feel the experience. that is what counts!

bo

Good story, you'll get 'em next time.

Great effort and a great story. Now I know that I won't sleep tonight. Leaving tomorrow at noon to head offshore I and will be fishing all day Friday on "The Big Tahuna". I work for the best boss in the world....taking his superintendents fishing....all expenses paid including Friday's "not at work" day. I'm so stoked and thanks for making it all the more fun to look forward too. Sorry you didn't get to land big boy but it's obvious that you know how to make it happen. Good luck next time out friend. I hope to have the "story of a lifetime" when I return and will post it Monday.
Matt of the Real America

Good luck Matt!!! Sounds like a great time planned!! Let us know how you do.

I feel your pain about the Bigeye