giants in the canal

[BasicPatrick]

Thanks Stiff Tip for posting what needed to be said...there is no way on God's green earth anyone could land a 100# BFT in the Canal with the very rare execption of a "stunt" that cut the fish so it bled out and then just the dead weight would be hard to pull in...nope...no way...fun for a fantacy but unrealistic on so many levels.

Now a 20# fish is a different story...that is possible on Canal Gear.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

Thanks Stiff Tip for posting what needed to be said...there is no way on God's green earth anyone could land a 100# BFT in the Canal with the very rare execption of a "stunt" that cut the fish so it bled out and then just the dead weight would be hard to pull in...nope...no way...fun for a fantacy but unrealistic on so many levels.

Now a 20# fish is a different story...that is possible on Canal Gear.

After landing a lot (and I mean a lot, like a gross, possibly unethical but entirely legal number) of 20# bft on 10 weight fly rods and also light spin rods with 14# Fireline (neither of which results in a excessively long fight) I'm guessing a 20# fish would just about skip across the surface on heavy Canal gear.

Obviously this all all speculation as the scenario is rare on multiple levels, but a slack tide, a heavy surf rod, 300 yards of braid, some good luck, and 100 pounds of tuna has a chance of coming to shore. I wouldn't want to hook it at the very end of a hero cast though. Crank the drag into the upper teens, palm the spool when you can, and you'll gain ground. Someone call me when you see a school of them raging in there at slack tide and I'll prove it.

What a lot of guys are landing that size fish with from the boat just isn't that far away from a heavy surf rod. I've seen personally and had too many friends beat 100# fish quickly without chasing the fish with the boat to think it's not possible. If the tide's moving, well, that's a whole different ball game. Almost no chance then.

[Pete_G]

Pondering this ridiculous scenario even more I think the lack of real depth in the Canal is a GOOD thing as far as the fight goes. It's the up and down part of the battle that's usually the toughest in the boat on spin gear, not the straight line runs.

And dealing with a fish once you got it near the rocks without a gaff would be difficult at best...

Yes, I've put too much time into thinking about this. No, I'm not going to try it.

[keeperreaper]

Ant tuna over 50/60 lbs would be a bear to land in the canal based on the current and the rocky shore. I would bet on the fish winning this one if the angler was using regular canal gear. The canal being shallow favors the fisherman. Bur remember it is illegal to land one from shore since the permits are for VESSELS only.