Re: Texas Giant
Thanks guys, Went out friday and hooked one just like it but threw my lure. Then I hooked a big shark(This time of year they are thick and you can see them chasing fish on top)and he shredded my 80 pound leader. So went home and rigged up a wire leader and stepped up to a 10/0 circle hook, same Storm mullet. Went out Sat. morning and wasnt there 20 minutes before I hooked him. He jumped almost immediately as they usually do and this is where they throw it back at me. But he stayed hooked so I slammed him a few times to try and set the hook better. He took off for the other jettie and jumped twice on the way. I knew from experience and losing so many that I had to stop him, so I put both thumbs on the spool and leaned backon him and prayed that everything would hold. It did but he was still going and my thumbs were starting to burn, when he finally stopped. We stayed that way for a while and then he came up and jumped again. Finally I started making some progress on getting line back. Id pump and reel and get about 50 feet back and he'd take 30 back. Got him most of the way back, but then he went down trying to get me on the rocks. He got me around one but I ran down the jettie and got it off before he could cut it. Then he took off for the other side again but I kept the pressure on and he only made it about 1/2 way before I stopped him. But big problem now, shrimp boat coming down the channel with coast guard escort. These tarpon love to cut you on boats. So he takes off for the shrimper and its thumb burning time again. I know if he makes it its over, so I screwed down on the drag and held on. College kids looking on, yelling,"Dont let him pull you in!" cuz Im at about a 45 degree angle now, rod bent double. Praise God, everything held again and that seemed to take a lot of the fight out of him. Got him back close again, Im sweating and panting like a dog by now, its been about 30 minutes of constant strain. Have to put the rod in the crook of my arm to rest hands for a while. Then he jumped again right in front of me about 15 feet away, but he was too tired to take any more line. So I worked him in close and he really helped me out. A big wave came in and he surged and he ended up stuck between two rocks. I threw my rod to a bystander grabbed my gaff and went down to get him. I wear titanium spiked sandals so I can actually go into the water on the slippery rocks with these big fish. It was a little like a rodeo but I got my gaff in his jaw and drug him out. Got some bystanders to help me measure him and then let him go. Went home and laid down. Total time about 45 minutes,Have to say spiderwire stealth is some awesome line. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
That is one nice fishy! Congrats! <br />Caught a walleye almost that big once...yeah.....almost.... 
