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Originally Posted by Skolmann
Wonder how much weight was lost with the blood loss after the first gaffing attempt.
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Honestly, I am quite certain that if we had the opportunity to weigh that fish immediately upon capture, it would have probably beat the standing record. I am sure that fish lost a lot of water weight, blood. mucous coating, etc. before we got it back to the docks.
Rich's 1st gaff shot was a perfect shot for a tuna or just about any other fish, but this fish was simply tough enough to be able to shrug it off by ripping its throat/gills open while simultaneously twisting the gaff hook in directions it didn't used to go.
Sadly, you're gonna lose some blood gaffing a live fish that big; and, you're also gonna lose weight by the time you get to a scale. I'm sure the 87-pounder that holds the record was probably bigger when it was 1st caught as well.
Quite honestly, missing the state record doesn't diminish the thrill of the experience to catch such an awesome fish; and it actually makes it easier to enjoy the fish another way ... ON THE TABLE! Luckily, we stowed the fish away in a closed cooler to avoid having its body scavenged by raccoons before we could have it properly weighed or filleted.
- Gr8ful
