And the winner in Mako Mania Saturday was......

[Sharkyispy]

Headed out with Dave Daley early AM on the Jenny Lee seeking out a shark that would in the end make us all proud. Capt. Dave and kevin had everything well prepared. Set up first location and drifted a good distance but no bites. .made the run to next spot and with in the hour we were hooked up. We fought the beast valiantly, passing the rod countless times. Dave did EVERYTHING possible assisting us to fight this monster. 3 1/2 hours and 5,miles later we came un buttoned. Not for lack of effort on any one our parts. Was the beasts turn to win that day! Jenny Lee again did not disappoint. Thank you Dave and Kevin!

[SaltLife1980]

Damn thats a long fight to come unbuttoned. Sorry to hear that. I was routing for you guys!!

[Duffman]

Damn Mike, thats a heartbreaker!!

Nice job Cap and crew.

Ever get a look at it?

[Sharkyispy]

Duffman, Unfortunately/Fortunately not, would have been great to get a glimpse at how big it actually was after all that time. I'm guessing with the strength it had to endure that long of a battle and yet still keep winning, it was massive. It never breached as a typical Mako would do so I guess I'm glad I didn't see that it was a monster Mako money fish and then lose it. I learned a lot during the battle as most do when fighting a fish this size.....and today? I ache like I never have fighting fish before..:eek:

[AndyS]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !! 3+ hours !!

[Sharkyispy]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !! 3+ hours !!

New record for time fought with a "fish" on the Jenny Lee...consolation prize!!!:rolleyes:

[dakota560]

Sharkipsy,

Great story even though it didn't have the desired ending. Was it a mako or Thresher? Line break or hook pull. If line broke, was it cable or single strand. Sorry for all the questions but curious. One of the disadvantages of cable which I've learned the hard way is during long battles it doesn't hold up. Had a huge mako three years ago eat through 325 lb cable after a 2 1/2 fight. 3 1/2 hours is an amazing battle, at least you guys got the right bite. You had an experience most others never will! Great effort!

Dakota

[Sharkyispy]

Sharkipsy,

Great story even though it didn't have the desired ending. Was it a mako or Thresher? Line break or hook pull. If line broke, was it cable or single strand. Sorry for all the questions but curious. One of the disadvantages of cable which I've learned the hard way is during long battles it doesn't hold up. Had a huge mako three years ago eat through 325 lb cable after a 2 1/2 fight. 3 1/2 hours is an amazing battle, at least you guys got the right bite. You had an experience most others never will! Great effort!

Dakota

Dakota, never got a glimpse of the beast. It hit the bait and took off nearly spooling the reel in the beginning. We gained and lost back and forth from there. It appears the mono came unbuttoned at the wire connection from the stress of the lengthy fight with about 50 -60 feet to go. My opinion is it was a very large thresher having fought one a couple years ago with a very similar fight and this fish never breached as a mako "typically" would do during the battle. A memory of the one that got away in the fishing treasure bank...

[dakota560]

Mike,

Epic fight. Agree it was most likely a huge thresher. Sounds like you guys might have been in an area where some huge threshers are hooked every year. Not seeing it sucks but will leave your recant of the epic fight with a denizen of the deep subject to your imagination! You can fill in the blanks any way you wish!

Experience of a lifetime, thanks for sharing it with the site! And great job it appears as usual with the Capt. and crew of the Jenny Lee!

Dakota

[formakos]

Any chance it could have been a giant bluefin??? That initial run-off seems like it could have been???

[dales529]

Mike,

Epic fight. Agree it was most likely a huge thresher. Sounds like you guys might have been in an area where some huge threshers are hooked every year. Not seeing it sucks but will leave your recant of the epic fight with a denizen of the deep subject to your imagination! You can fill in the blanks any way you wish!

Experience of a lifetime, thanks for sharing it with the site! And great job it appears as usual with the Capt. and crew of the Jenny Lee!

Dakota

Dakota,
Cant say enough good things about Jenny Lee Captains and Crew. Lots of encouraging words during the battle;) Lots of teaching, ball bustin and laughs throughout. Also how many captains would have called it a day instead of setting up a whole new slick just to try and get us a mako to take home for the table at 4PM and fishing another 2 hours knowing we had a 2.5 hour ride back:D . I sure after cleanup they didn't get home until very late.
Epic trip

[dales529]

Any chance it could have been a giant bluefin??? That initial run-off seems like it could have been???

We discussed that possibility but unfortunately we will never know so now its to everyone's imagination and whom ever is telling the story. The Rod didn't seem to be " pumping" like a Bluefin but again just a guess.

[Sharkyispy]

We discussed that possibility but unfortunately we will never know so now its to everyone's imagination and whom ever is telling the story. The Rod didn't seem to be " pumping" like a Bluefin but again just a guess.

Dave, agreed. A bluefin fights differently and probably would have never stopped the "freight train" on the initial run off. I've experienced that before also. And the head shake was not there. More of the stalemate of a thresher "hovering" and holding it's place without running constantly until we switched anglers of course:(. Either way, Wow! A fight we can all remember for a very long time....I'm pumpin' up for the tuna already...

[Joey Dah Fish]

Oh man what a heart breaker :mad: glad I missed that :D good news is another great fish story. Hope you gettem next time. Jenny Lee is top notch