30 Minute Muskie Fight!?

[Chrisper4694]

Well Saturday I had the longest fish battle I've ever had...but it's not what you think. I'll just start off by saying I hate all sailboat owners!

Anyway, we struck out at the first lake we tried and made a rare decision to just completely pick up and go to a different lake. less than an hour into the switch i get slammed by this sea serpent about 10 ft from the boat and it goes berserk mode.

I quickly realize the back of my boat is right next to a sailboat mooring buoy that is sunk just under the surface of the water because this moron like to leave hidden ropes right at prop level. With the fish going nuts just a few feet away i knew i had to get away from it but when i tried to slide the boat it sucked the rope right into the prop and we were stuck...seconds later the fish dove directly into the rope!

At this point I start cursing all sailboat owners to the depths of hell as I hand JDtuna the rod and pull the motor up. I undo the wrapped prop. I thought for sure the fish was gone at this point but i pulled the rope and could still feel it fighting. I couldn't budge the rope...i pulled it so hard i almost dipped the side of the boat...I tried to unwrap it to no avail...but the fish was still stuck.

I knew if we broke the line from our end the fish would be stuck there and die. I took the long net and started poking downward blindly hoping the fish would brake off from his end and be able to swim away. Didn't work.

30 minutes we did this and FINALLY with me pulling the rope and fishing line in opposite directions and Justin working the fish up with the net something slipped and the fish's tail came within a foot of the surface and i put the death grip on it.

Justin was then able to wriggle the fishes head up the rope a bit with the net, he tossed me a wire cutter and i just start cutting somehow freeing the fish and landing him after over 30 minutes!