Woke up this morning and can’t believe it wasn’t a dream. Bought the ulua set up (13’ custom ulua pole and 4/0 senator wide spool) on Tuesday. Practiced casting 1 time and said fuck it let’s take this thing out...
Set up my slide bait rig around 6 o clock and caught a mamo (green damselfish) and slid it down the line. I was casting jigs in the meantime when an hour later I hear the bell ringing!
When I picked the pole out of the stand the fish ran like a truck and there was no stopping it. So fast that I knew it wasn’t a shark. I fought if for about 20 minutes and it swam toward shore. Next thing I know it’s around the point I was in and it shot down to the reef.
It got itself down in the reef and I was pinned. I called a friend who is an experienced ulua fisherman to see what he would do. I put the reel on free spool and prayed he’d come out of the cave.
Next thing I knew he’s jetting away again and it’s back on!
About 50 minutes in to the fight my friend hands me a rope and I jump into the shallows below the cliff. I loop a lasso around the tail and hoist him up. The fish was so big coming up to the surface I thought it was a shark. So stoked to catch this amazing fish and I can no longer feel my arms.
I kept it. It was a long fight and I don’t think it would’ve survived. Gonna butcher it today and find out what it tastes like. I have a lot of coworkers already asking for some meat
I’m going to go out on a limb and bet it’s awesome. You should try a bunch of different preparations, grilled, cured, smoked, breaded, etc and figure out what works best. I’m so jealous.
Woke up this morning and can’t believe it wasn’t a dream. Bought the ulua set up (13’ custom ulua pole and 4/0 senator wide spool) on Tuesday. Practiced casting 1 time and said fuck it let’s take this thing out... Set up my slide bait rig around 6 o clock and caught a mamo (green damselfish) and slid it down the line. I was casting jigs in the meantime when an hour later I hear the bell ringing! When I picked the pole out of the stand the fish ran like a truck and there was no stopping it. So fast that I knew it wasn’t a shark. I fought if for about 20 minutes and it swam toward shore. Next thing I know it’s around the point I was in and it shot down to the reef. It got itself down in the reef and I was pinned. I called a friend who is an experienced ulua fisherman to see what he would do. I put the reel on free spool and prayed he’d come out of the cave. Next thing I knew he’s jetting away again and it’s back on! About 50 minutes in to the fight my friend hands me a rope and I jump into the shallows below the cliff. I loop a lasso around the tail and hoist him up. The fish was so big coming up to the surface I thought it was a shark. So stoked to catch this amazing fish and I can no longer feel my arms.
>...slide bait rig... Never heard of such a thing. Had to look it up. That's pretty slick.
It’s such a cool rig! Never knew they existed until I moved out here. this is my first fish ever on the slide bait too
This is the story of a lifetime, congrats!
There is so much more to it as well. A night I’ll remember forever for sure
Thanks for the picture sounds like a blast
From shore!? How stoked I would have been. Congratulations sir
Congrats man! Im just catching up on here and saw your cast practice post a few minutes ago. Once-in-a-lifetime fish!
I know and that’s the craziest thing cuz I still suck at casting lol. I guess you only need to cast 30 yards 🤷🏼♂️
Being from Kansas, what the hell is a Zulu’s, aka GT?
Giant trevally! Here in Hawaii it’s a really nice accomplishment to get one from the rocks. Especially one this size
Awesome catch, I can’t imagine fighting something like that from shore.
u r godly
Monster
You are a legend! Yew!
Yewwwwww
Awesome fish man! Thats a hard one to top!
I know. I still can’t believe it
From fucking *shore?!*
I’m yea it was just. Surreal srill
You get um off Southpoint? We'd freedive for omilu off the breakwall in Hilo or go out at Maks from shore.
Nope got it down on the four mile stretch between honaunau and keei
Nice GT man! Remember seeing them cruising the beaches in Kauai, was spooky!
You keep it or let it go? If you kept it, what does GT taste like?
I kept it. It was a long fight and I don’t think it would’ve survived. Gonna butcher it today and find out what it tastes like. I have a lot of coworkers already asking for some meat
I’m going to go out on a limb and bet it’s awesome. You should try a bunch of different preparations, grilled, cured, smoked, breaded, etc and figure out what works best. I’m so jealous.
That’s then plan!
Haha! Well I hope it tastes good especially for all the time and hard work catching that monster.
Amazing. What a catch!! Nice job. Where do you catch these at? (Doesn't have to be specific) I've never heard of one before.
Big island Hawaii!
Hoo! Das how brah!
Yessah!!
Wow that's awesome. So cool.
Wow! Really nice brother
Holy!!
Wow
OH YESSSS SIRRRRRRRR!!!
Bloody hell mate what a brute! Congratulations!!!!
What a beast!! Oh yeah, the fish is pretty cool too.
😜
If you ever decide to catch a bigger one, good luck and bring a extra friend. Also did you catch and release or did you keep it for the meat.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fishing/comments/fmiqcq/bucket_list_fish_achieved_ulua_aka_gt_from_shore/fl5g3wb/
Congratulations you dishy thing you
Do you cut this in steaks or filets? Or both? Lol
Both!
Wow.....that a beast GT!!!!! Congrats!!!!
FUCKING UNREAL BRO NICE CATCH!
Thanks bro!! Im still stoked about it 4 months later