Should have stayed in bed

[ballyhu]

Went day timing yesterday and talk about the trip from hell. It started out good....about 10 miles out we find a board and pick a dozen dolphin and a wahoo off it. Then we get to the area I like off Palm Beach and make about 10 drops without a nibble. It's now about 3pm and we are down to the last drop. Bam...fish on and a nice one at that. The fish doesn't want to leave the bottom and about 15 minutes into it, the ceramic insert on the swivel tip pops out of it's frame. I don't think too much about it because I'm thinking that it's just a line guide and really isn't subject to much pressure. Anyway, the fish decides to finally come up and we have 2 hours of jumping and long runs and one of those chineese fire drills you will always remember. It was really cool. So the fish settles down , its about 200' from the boat and just steady coming in, right on the surface. I've got 2 poons and a big flying gaff ready to go and there's going to be some serious metal flying around. Then all of a sudden there's an awful sound and the line breaks right where the ceramic insert wasn't. Well, you've all been there. It's just a really sick feeling. So, it's now 5pm and we are 23 miles from the Jupiter inlet. I throttle up and she won't go. Clogged racor filter. I search the boat and no spares. I change the secondary filter and still no go. Well, you can do the math. 23 miles to the inlet and 5 more miles to the dock at 6 knots. There simply wasn't enough beer on the boat for that ride. Got home in the wee hours and went to bed. Should have never gotten out of it yesterday.

[krisis7]

Does'nt sound too bad, bunch of 'fins and a wahoo. Did you troll all the way in? Still a bad day beats a good day at work...

[Jesslyn]

We had that happen once, once for the guide causeing the line to break and once on the filters.

[billspilingup]

You'll get her next time.

[Gaitor]

Thanks for the report Ballyhu.
Tough breaks, but there's always next time

[bajakian]

Too bad that you lost a nice fish due to tackle failure. Still sounds like you had a decent day with fish in the box-Beats our skunk of a day. Tell us more about the fish that broke off. Were you on an electric reel or hand cranking? Was it a monster? How well did you see it?

[B767]

Too bad. I know bout that "sick feeling". Only prescription I've heard of? Scotch!!!!!..........Still, got some in the box though...Tight lines!!!!!

[Max'd Out]

"Le traquetea".. Translation: Not a good night.

Better luck next time.

[Harry Klauber]

Tough break but if you fish long enough stuff like that happens. It's one of those 'hidden things" that you don't check and never know is waiting for the "right" moment to fail. It's all connected to Murphy's Law where the bad things are made worse by occuring at the worst of times. I'd have to say that your moment of failure was at the "worst possible time". So far for this month you are on top of the leader board for the hard luck story but the month is still young and anything can happen. Don't get discouraged, and don't give up. There is ALWAYS a bigger one out there. Go get her!

[Disco Lady]

Ñoooooooooo better luck! next time. on the fins, and wahoo!

[girber420]

ballyhu
what depth did you hook that fish at? and what time?

[ballyhu]

Thanks for all your encouraging comments. I wasn't about to jump off any bridges or anything but it really bit to lose that fish...and then to have to think about it for a 6 hour boat ride really stunk. Anyway, to answer some questions, the fish was hooked in 1475'. We had tryed from 1750' on in without a nibble. The fish ate within a minute of hitting bottom and tried to stay there. We fought the fish with manual pressure at first. I have a Diawa 3000 so can go either way. The way I do it is if the fish is taking out drag we fight it manually. If he's just coming we use the power assist. So after about 15 minutes the pressure was off and the fish was obviously coming up on it's own. At that point we went to electric and came tight at about 300'. She stayed there just dogging it for about 20 minutes and then came to the surface. If you've never seen one on the surface it's really something. This fish jumped 3 times and raced around, making several long yard runs. It finally settled down after over an hour of give and take and I felt like we were going to take it. She was coming in nicely with none of that high/low stuff. Just on the surface, coming down current to the boat. Then the line broke on the metal guide (minus ceramic insert). The party was over. The fish was a good one. I'd call it between 300 - 400. Maybe bigger, not smaller. Thats the breaks. I'm itching to get back out there.

[snooknreds2]

Originally Posted by ballyhu

I'm itching to get back out there.

it is these kinds of days/nights that keep the addiction strong

sorry to hear about your fish, you will get them next time

[DORADOsteve]

Ballyhu-

Your doing well daytiming up north


At least you came in under your own power. Being towed in, only adds insult to injury.

[quack quack]

As my dad used to say sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.

[billspilingup]

Or, somedays you're the windshield, somedays you're the bug.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Good post Hu. Don't like those ceramic guides for that very reason. Plus when the insert comes out, which eventually they always do, you have to replace the whole guide. I tend to be hard on gear, so its rollers, or metal guides for my stuff. Sounds like a mighty fine battle on the surface nonetheless . One you won't soon forget, and maybe we'll get her to breed a few more times before she's hooked again .