Pound for pound, what is the hardest fighting fish in the world?

[Dominick]

Hard fighting fish to me are those that fight well above their weight class... like Bonito, Skipjack and Jack Crevalle! If Jack Crevalle got to be size of GT's you'd probably never land one!

I agree with you on Jack Crevalle.  The Mexicans call them El Toro, because they are strong as a bull.  Hook a nice sized one and you will be arm weary getting it to the boat.  Dominick

[mbg60]

The question is "POUND FOR POUND".  Here on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii we have very limited freshwater fishing so I have only encountered Peacock Bass and Catfish.  As for saltwater, I have only fished in the Pacific Ocean so I'm unaware of the strength of fish from other areas.  The strongest fish with the most blistering initial run here in the Pacific is the Bonefish. It's too bad most people will never get to fight a Bonefish in the double digits.   A close 2nd would be any of the Tuna family.

[oc1]

Once you catch an oio you'll never pursue anything else.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Once you catch an oio you'll never pursue anything else.

You make it sound like a deadly virus

[oc1]

Yes, it is.

[funhog]

Any five, 10" Mackerel who get hooked-up all at once on the shrip flies of my Lucky Joe bait catcher after sunset when I'm tired and can't see a thing . 

[MarkT]

I hooked a seal on the Klamath River a couple years ago.  Man can they fight hard, broke me off.

lol. I've yet to land one.

I "landed" a Sealion at Benito's on a 5 day. It was crying for its mommy all the way in! I dragged a hammerhead to the boat... it wouldn't bite through the line!

[ourford]

I've caught makos and threshers and a variety of other sharks. They're a decent fight but not overly difficult. Same for yellow fin and blue fin tuna. The fish that proved to be the biggest challenge were 150-200 lb big eyes. Been spooled and snapped numerous times.

[slosh]

I hooked a bottlenose dolphin on 12 lb test once while surf fishing. Might as well have been hooked to a boat!

Seriously my experience is admittedly limited but I can't picture many fish pulling harder p4p than an amberjack.