Sweeeeeeeeet Mike!
1.5 hrs is a long time. Your drag was too loose.
My buddy tells me 15-20 mins of course he has drag super tight and he puts the screws to it the whole time as if he was trying to bust the fish off/destroy his gear.
First time out on w/ two guys one of them gets into a decent fish and he had it on for a LONG time. 2.75 hrs into it, the captain and I are looking at each other like - OK, you have to either break it off or get it in the next 15 mins. 3 hrs and fish breaks off when we are trying to gaff it.
Lessons learned the hard way. I have a blast just watching it live, but even more fun when you are holding the rod.
Way cool that you took it on a HABS needle!
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