biggest fish i ever caught !!!

[Harry]

Pic's to follow. LONG day and lots of fun. fishingsmilie*

[Willie]

what a tease heading................*kickrock* come on were waiting ....

[small boat junkie]

Waiting, waiting, waiting....................*kickrock*

[Gary13]

still waiting rotflmao.....without pics, it didn't happen fishingsmilie*

[Harry]

Oh it happened.,,,,,,,
Long day with lots of celebration and cigars last night*Cheers**003*

After shaking out the cobwebs and fixing my sore back I got the pics uploaded;D

After a 78 mile dash to an offshore canyon and shoving off at 4 am, we arrived around 6:30-7. Not much happening so we set a course for another canyon. We miss a nice Mahi along the way, but stay the course.

Around 10am and dodging some T-storms we start seeing life. Pilot whales, Bonita, porpoise,,,,etc. Even saw a 15' hammerhead !

Land a small chicken dolphin about 10 minutes later.
Finally our first tuna bite,,,,,,, line starts peeling off and we slow the boat to a crawl.My buddy Len who doesn't make it out much gets the rod

We clear the teasers and a few lines when the short left rigger pops, which had a sinking rainbow spreader bar !
I tell my buddy Ken (the Captain) to get it, he says go ahead...... *006*OK;D

I'm in one corner, Lenny in the other. His line hit first and smoked off line,and he had it half way in. I waited and just kept pressure on the fish and gained line slowly. I don't think the fish even knew he was hooked yet to be honest.
Since our lines were close to crossing I wanted to get his on board first. Len pulls in a nice 40 lb YTF.
Captain says time to get yours on board*rod*

Once I start putting the pressure on I could tell it WASN'T a 40 tuna and the dance was on.

In about 15 minutes I get him to the top where we could see color AND he could see the boat, he didn't like that and like a slow dump truck started peeling off line and heading to the bottom*001*

20 minutes later he's up again but not for long, this time Ken see's it and says HOLY S*!T thats a BIG fish dude. Down he goes again. All that line I got back is now leaving........ Dang.
At this point my back is smoking using a waist belt, 50 wide, and stand up tuna stick.
Not wanting to lose the fish because of fatigue I figure the smart thing to do is pass the rod off. Len is ready. He stays on the fish for about 15 minutes, lots of tug a war and line paid back out and his back going out too......

Ken says get your belt on!
I'm back in the game and grab the body harness this time.;D
Get clipped in and it's time to put the screws to this fish and get it on board.*008*

Another 10 minutes of short pumps and gaining line slowly on what feels like a Buick on the other end, it surfaces out about 40 yds away and when I saw the head break the surface my jaw hits the deck*001*

We get it boat side and Ken slams and gaff in it and hollers grab the other gaff !! I secure the rod and stick the fish too. High five all around but we still need to get this beast IN the boat. Instead of risking hauling it over the side and pulling the gaff we swung it between the outboard and port corner on the engine platform. Almost in the boat but not quite yet.

Get the tuna door open on the starboard side and FINALLY get it inside the boat. NOW the cheers go out !!

Offical weight........ 229 Lbs, but I'll always call it and even 230 ...... HAHA

[Harry]

Here's Len with the fish

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/aclineman/Bigeye8-20-2011.jpg

Got her on the boat, I'm a happy boy !!

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/aclineman/Bigeye28-20-2011.jpg

Me and Ken with a double gaffer

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/aclineman/Bigeye48-20-2011.jpg

Too big for the fish box, but who cares if the tail hangs out a little? ;D

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/aclineman/Bigeye58-20-2011.jpg

[Willie]

Wow you were not kidding.........that is one big tuna......steaks all around please.....;D;D*yay**yay*

[small boat junkie]

NICE FISH!!!!!!!!!*yay*

[Larry Herrmann]

NICE fish!!!*Cheers*

[MartyJ16]

WHAT A TUNA!!!*thumbsup**thumbsup**thumbsup*

[Gary13]

Beautiful fish Harry....great job

[Harry]

Thanks guys. I'm still jacked up about it.*Cheers*

[Redfish]

I'd be jacked too. Nice fish and great story. Thanks for posting.

[craigcox]

Great fish !!

[Gunnar]

*018**018* Awesome*Cheers*

Gregg

[Harry]

Yummy
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/aclineman/Bigeyesteaks8-20-2011.jpg

[Dave]

OhRaaaaaaaaaah... that is a biggun... well done Harry, thanks for the pics and the great blow-by-blow! *Cheers*

[NCwill]

Congratulations Harry... awesome story and one helluva fish!

wow... just wow...

*Cheers*

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Nice catch buddy and a hell of a fight.

[Harry]

Thanks guys, bitter sweet actually with the boys passing away in the car wreck......

I know life has peaks and valleys, but it shouldn't be on the same day*kickrock*