Subject: Another Amateur Maneuver
Dear Lynn,
My first mistake was trusting my younger brother and not checking the reel. Lynn, I know you take good care of your fishing tackle, have many years of fishing experience, and so I figured the reel you gave me after our last trip to Christmas Island was in top shape. [[ I always take the reels apart for cleaning and replace/check line after an extended trip...............whoops! ]]
My problems started as we left the lagoon and headed around Cook Island down toward Paris Point. I had the Shimano Calcutta reel on the Ocean Master 3 piece travel rod. You said it was spooled with new 20 pound test line. I was trawling with a 6 inch - metal lip Rapala on a 40 pound test leader. [[ Sounds good so far! ]]
The first strike came with in less than a minute and the fish pulled off 50 yards of line. That's when I found the first back lash. [[ I don't think I can cast that far, must have been Chris! ]] I thought why would someone just leave a backlash and reel in line over it? [[ They knew they were going to give the reel to their brother and thought it would be a funny trick down the road? ]] I locked down the drag and quickly horsed in a 6 pound omilu (blue fin GT).
After pictures, I cut off the lure and let the line trail out behind the boat. There was a backlash all right. I cleared it, and another one a little deeper inside the spool. I'm now wondering if my little brother did this on purpose just to get back at me for some unfortunate misunderstanding from one of our previous fishing adventures. [[ No way......!!! ]]
Mistake number 2.... I should have let out all the line just to be safe.... but ignoring the advice of the guide and a fishing companion, I just reeled in the line and tied on another lure. [[ Big mistake is right! ]]
We were still headed for our original fishing spot then the rod was almost jerked from my hand. The fish made a short run, and turned. I gained line. The fish didn't make a long deep run like a tuna. It didn't have the strong head shaking pull of a GT. I figured it was a big barracuda. Then, just 20 yards behind the boat, a beautiful sailfish, all lit up in florescent blue, began tail walking around the boat. I had never seen a sailfish before. That picture of that fish up out of the water walking on it's tail around the boat will forever be etched into my memory. It was beautiful.
Then the fish took off. The boatman threw the outboard in reverse and the catamaran slowly started backing down. The sailfish jumped again, then took out another 150 yards of line. Not a problem. I had the perfect rod, reel, and calm water conditions. My fishing companion was a Kona charter captain with years of marlin fishing experience. I was going to catch my very first sailfish. That's when, with about half the line out......... I discovered another backlash. The sailfish jumped again. I was trying to pick out the backlash and lean as far over the back of the boat as my arms would reach, yelling for the boatman to back up faster...... when the line came slack. The sailfish was gone. [[ The hook got thrown? Broke line? Man that is one sad, sad story, LOL. ]]
How could you do this to me with not clearing your backlashes in the reel. I said was sorry about the bear spray. (After all, the bear didn't get you ....did it?) And your broken leg is healing nicely, right? And I agreed... no more fishing trips involving horses. [[ I just feel out of my chair from laughing so hard! Remind me never to ask to borrow any of your fishing gear
) especially since you don't take care of it............ha, ha, ha. Besides loosing the fish of a lifetime how was the trip? ]]
Aloha,
Stan