06-09 popping trip: we fought a giant and were defeated.

[kilsong]

We left early to take advantage of eary bites and we succeded it but unfortunately(?), it was wrong kind of bluefin. GIANT.
We arrived there, we saw birds working and tuna were jumping. Immediately all three popping rodgs got bent. At the initial run, Kevin's and Yong's tuna plulled hook, by mine was not. I immediately asked Capt to chase the fish as I knew my SR20 filled with #60 JB Hollow would get spooled. Once I felt it was secured, I passed my rod to Kevin as I accomplished my job to hook a tuna and I didn't want to give any pressure on my bad back.
Kevin, Yong and Choi enjoyed fighting, but one it past one hour mark, they were not fighting, but just were hanging on.
They only could gain line not because their fishing skill was great, but because tuna was swimming toward our boat. Even we fought over 30 lbs drag of Accurate SR20, the giant took line right back after we gained it. After two hour fight, I told Capt it doesn't look good. Guys didn't show any mercy to me after they struggled and they urged me to join the fight even they knew I had a bad back problem.
Unfortunately, the line departed after fighing 2 hour 58 minutes. I think it was uni to unit knot which went in and out the guide so many times. I didn't realize I had the knot on the main line until I saw it.

It was a huge giant It should be even I didn't see it. Even after three hours, the giant was still green and it did not make death circles unter the boat.

However, the three hour fight gave me a chance to test 8' Black Hole popping rod.
All I can say is the rod is ready to go for any tuna.
It cast beautifully and it is light to cast all day without much fatigue, it has right bend, it has enough power and backbone.

Even I used hollow line, I used Mid Knot which was used on the previous trip. I just applied Zap glue and it held up beautifully for three hours.

I shall be back.


I love to leave the dock early in the morning.




The hookup was at 5:08 am.




fight continuous for three hours.











Choi even tried the porta rail.






Even I had to join the fight as they demanded it.






new style of tuna fighting.






After losing fish, action died down. Even we saw lots of feeding whales later we couldn't locate tuna.







Tackles Used:

Black Hole 8' graphite prototype popping rod
Ripple Fisher 78XH
JM 7'6" GT Monster

Daiwa Dogfight
Stella 20000SW
Accurate SR20

Jerry Brown Hollow #60
Varivas Avani PE8

Yozuri #100 fluoro carbon pink
Varivas #100 fluoro carbon

Daiwa Dorado Slider
Volador
Souls Brabus

[Sea Draggin]

Sounds like the black hole popper has been tested well. Thanks for the update.

[pametfisher]

...
Unfortunately, the line departed after fighing 2 hour 58 minutes. I think it was uni to unit knot which went in and out the guide so many times. I didn't realize I had the knot on the main line until I saw it.

It was a huge giant It should be even I didn't see it. Even after three hours, the giant was still green and it did not make death circles unter the boat. ...

I shall be back.

...

Jerry Brown Hollow #60
Varivas Avani PE8

...


----------

Ksong,

Great, great report. What a terricfic job you guys did fighting the fish. It will be a wonderful memory for everyone, I'm sure.

You guys are all such good anglers that I hate to be a backseat driver but from the sound of your report, you used a Uni to Uni connection to connect JB 60# hollow-weave to Avani PE8 solid-weave. In doing that, you certainly cut the strength of your line to about 55 lbs. Two better choices would be a line to line splice (you can get a splicing wire down the center of hollow) or a solid/hollow splice--either of these would have left the strength of the line intact. Another choice would be to fill the reel with 60# hollow and avoid the connection altogether.

Keep up the great reporting, and land one of those big suckers.

pametfisher

[Sea Draggin]

I broke off a fish that was north of 105" out at the Sea Bouy in Morehead, after a 2.5 hour fight. It was raining and cold. That fish still haunts me to this day.

[smokerking]

hey ksong,

i'll come and fight those fish for you anytime.
Good job guys!
i've been trying to find a pr bobbin do you carry it?