I am going to Florida in a couple weeks to fish vintage tackle. I'm taking along, for the first time, a 16/0 Senator and a vintage rod that is so massive it could handle anything catchable in the sea. I took the reel to the Shark Hunter so he could work his magic on the drags and put some new line on it. Going to his abode is like going to Disney World for me. There is always something amazing to see. It could be the biggest reel made, one of a kind custom big game reels and rods or the herd of Penn reels. But today might have been the topper. Today he showed me his garage .... it's not my place to tell, but what I saw truly stunned me. I doubt I'll ever see another one. Anyway here's a few pics of the big rig.
Nice rig!
Dude you gonna be rollin' OG (Original Gangster) style with that rig :o :o.....Bill
You're loaded for Bear now!
Enjoy Mike. Hope you been doing some strength training to handle whatever you're going to pull on that rod ;D ;D
Really nice gear,,,,what line are you using :D
Nice combo Mike...good luck!
Sal
I like the idea of fishing with that big classic gear. I considered spooling up my OC Panama and mounting it on an old Harnell and drag baits with dacron backing for a few hours.
Good Luck!
John
I'm going to use this rig for shark fishing from the pier. It's going to be spooied with 1100 yards of 100 lbs mono with another 1000 yards of 200 lbs braid. The kayaker takes the bait out 400 - 500 yards beyond the end of the pier near a man made reef. I see this rig every night and every morning as it sits in my bedroom and I wonder what it would be like to fish with something like that. So I decided to find out. I know it's going to be heavy but at least on the pier I can roll it around on a cart. Tomorrow I'm going to disassemble, clean and lube all the rollers. Daron was gracious enough to check out the drags and put some line on.
So you're the one, Mike :) I was bashing your choice of line somewhere here and still think 200# mono would be better. Especially if you are going to drop near an obstruction. No offense. Is that a 54 thread Harnell?. Can't see the blank. Nice mildrums too.
-steve
interacting with the tackle (does that mean i need therapy?) is a big part of the fun for me
if so sign me up,
Jay
Good luck on your trip. What part of Florida are you going to be fishing. Joe
Dang, Mike that's a lot of line! That rod looks like a Harnell, as Steve asked, I think. I have one similar that I'm refurbishing.
Good luck cant wait for report!
Panama City Beach. Been going to that part of Florida for years. As far as the mono vs. braid goes, the guys I fish with are a highly organized and motivated group. They are fishing about 300 nights per year for sharks. They tell me to use braid because it will give better hook ups and play on very large fish. So, when I'm in Rome and the Romans are telling me to use braid because in their experience it works best, I'm using braid. They have a complete system they have worked out from bait deployment to landing fish and everything in between. When I'm fishing from the beach I use straight mono.
Makes sense. No bar out in front of the pier to get over. I have reels spooled both ways to cover the bases.
I have the first guide taken apart. All pieces look sound and solid. What's the best way to clean and service these parts?
I really wish I could help you out with the rollers. But you have an awesome setup - a real blast from the past, and an awesome setup for stud hunting sharks!
I do have to ask though - why so much line, and why only 100#? 2,100 yards of line is a LOT of line - about 1.2 miles. With a 400-500 yard drop and basically a 130W reel, you're talking about targeting STUD sharks - 8', 10', 12', and even bigger. These are animals that can take hundreds of yards of line in a few minutes, some even less. I won't try to explain it, because it's done in this thread:
http://www.sharksonthesand.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3968
But essentially, once you have a certain amount of line out in the water, the drag force of the line being pulled through the water can be enough to break it alone. That is a great thread on the topic, I'd highly recommend reading it.
Most guys running 16/0's on SOS are running straight mono or straight dacron - although I have seen a few guys using 200# hollow core or 130# dacron as a backing, and then topping with 130# or 200# mono. Most guys are running with about 1,000-1,300 yards of line on these reels - looks like between 1,000 and 1,100 yards with straight mono and closer to 1,200 with straight dacron.
On your 16/0 - you are looking at an incredibly high line capacity, beating everything but the biggest Everols and of course the commercial electric reels. 100# topshot wouldn't be my first pick on this reel when targeting large sharks, especially around structure. 200# would be the minimum I'd personally go, and if I had enough braid I might even go with a topshot of 250# mono.
Personally - I would spool with about 1,000-1,200 yards of 200# hollow core. Then top off with 200# mono - you could get 450-500 yards on there if you pack it on well. With this, you can make your drops and have 1,000+ yards of line in backup. Now, not likely that you'll need or use all of it - and by the time you get 1,200 yards of line out anyways, there's a good shot of water drag breaking your line anyways. But that setup allows you to have a great shot at landing a giant shark.
Daron will be able to help you out as well - he's got far more experience than I do, my information is based off of years of researching forums like SOS and AT. My guess - he will tell you to spool straight 130-200# mono.
Best of luck with your endeavors, and don't forget to post a report!
Drew
Nothing wrong with staying with the system. Reel oil may be best for the rollers. Grease will collect grit. Those things will pass any splice. Don't recognize the blank.
-steve
Quote from: The Great Maudu on July 31, 2017, 02:55:20 PM
I have the first guide taken apart. All pieces look sound and solid. What's the best way to clean and service these parts?
Hey Mike, they look really clean; if you have a little green crust anywhere treat it like a reel part: white vinegar. Push the bushings out of the rollers. If they are stiff, hit them with PB Blaster (outside!! stinky stuff), Liquid Wrench or similar. I use an ice pick and they will usually pop out with this method. I then soak everything in 50% Simple Green to de-gunk, rinse, dry, and Corrosion X the bushings when I replace. Reassemble, wipe down whole assembly with Corrosion X or Corrosion Block, or whatever you use on reels...I treat them as I would a reel bushing, obviously it won't last as long exposed rather than in a reel plate.
Quote from: oc1 on July 31, 2017, 08:17:52 PM
Nothing wrong with staying with the system. Reel oil may be best for the rollers. Grease will collect grit. Those things will pass any splice. Don't recognize the blank.
-steve
That eases my mind on the braid to mono knot.
Mike, I've shown my toys on here before.
Here is a shot of that motor you didn't get to see.
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=13569.30
Quote from: The Great Maudu on July 31, 2017, 05:07:38 AM
I'm going to use this rig for shark fishing from the pier. It's going to be spooied with 1100 yards of 100 lbs mono with another 1000 yards of 200 lbs braid. The kayaker takes the bait out 400 - 500 yards beyond the end of the pier near a man made reef. I see this rig every night and every morning as I sits in my bedroom and I wonder what it would be like to fish with something like that. So I decided to find out. I know it's going to heavy but at least on the pier I can roll it around on a cart. Tomorrow I'm going to disassemble, clean and lube all the rollers. Daron was gracious enough to check out the drags and put some line on.
I put 1000yds of 200lb fins braid,,,,245yds 200lb
mono top shot,,i got plenty of room for more there's math involved i didn't get it right ;D you luck on your trip,,, i know your going to have fun and get the big one
Benni, when are you going to put a bend on that rod ::) ;D.
Looks like Mike is going to beat you to it. ;D
Panama City was my old stomping grounds when I was a kid. Never fished for sharks. I can envision the pier though. We usually fished the jetties and fished the pier at Fort Walton. Also when I was a kid, we fished for sharks off of Bob Hall pier in Corpus Christi. We didn't have kayaks back then so we would flake about 300 yards of line on the T, put a nail in the leader connection and spin it up over your head. You would get about 200 yards distance if you were good. I wasn't. If you got caught up in the line you had a problem. Good luck, post a report. If you like honey, get some tupelo honey from Wewahitchka. I think the family that sells it and mine were in a feud back in the day but whatever. Still the best honey there is.
Quote from: Alto Mare on July 31, 2017, 10:09:55 PM
Benni, when are you going to put a bend on that rod ::) ;D.
Looks like Mike is going to beat you to it. ;D
lol,,,that's why I went back to work to charter a boat :D but it's my girlfriend turn to pick where we are going ??? But don't worry I'll plan something like a bank robbery on tv to get to the fish 8) or I will tell her I'm going to get ice cream but guess where I'm Really going ""fishing""
As far as the rod goes, there are no markings or decals on the blank itself. The butt is marked Aftco and the reel seat is marked Varmac RS-6H. The guides are Mildrums. The fore grip is wrapped leather. I'm going to take the rollers apart and soak them in vinegar to clean. Then lube lightly with reel oil and reinstall. I feel confident the line arrangement will be fine as well.
JND, I must be younger than you because when we were chucking bait off of Bob Hall we used a dumbbell-shape faucet knob at the first swivel instead of a nail. 200 yard throws.... no way. Maybe 40 yards with a small bait if you were really good. But, we had surfboards too.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on August 01, 2017, 07:07:28 AM
JND, I must be younger than you because when we were chucking bait off of Bob Hall we used a dumbbell-shape faucet knob at the first swivel instead of a nail. 200 yard throws.... no way. Maybe 40 yards with a small bait if you were really good. But, we had surfboards too.
-steve
It may have been closer to 40. I was a young kid in the late 60's early 70's. Sure seemed a long way. I don't remember a faucet handle. Maybe that was why I was so lousy at it. I do remember surfboards the last time I was down there but I wasn't shark fishing by that time.
Didn't mean to hijack the post. Just remembering old times.
Quote from: The Great Maudu on August 01, 2017, 02:25:21 AM
As far as the rod goes, there are no markings or decals on the blank itself. The butt is marked Aftco and the reel seat is marked Varmac RS-6H. The guides are Mildrums. The fore grip is wrapped leather. I'm going to take the rollers apart and soak them in vinegar to clean. Then lube lightly with reel oil and reinstall. I feel confident the line arrangement will be fine as well.
It's possible that it is a custom wrap of a Harnell. I have a similar one with same massive varmac / Aftco butt and Mildrums that I was rebuilding with leather wrap and color change; however Sheridan sent me a Harnell label to play with so I will go back stock. Your wrap looks like the wrappings on mine, except 40 years newer lol. Mine was trashed or I'd have left it. Whathever it's lineage, whata very nice piece to compliment your 16/0.
Tightlines brother!
John
So cool! Looking forward to photos of the rig in use and hopefully a great story that includes a catch of a lifetime!
I have wondered about the building of this rod. I would think a company for sure would put their label on it. A craftsman capable of this would want to promote his work. If, it was a custom build for a big gamer I would expect to see his name on as built for. About the only thing I can tell is the maker used quality materials and built a rod for the biggest fish in the sea. Here's a few more pics that might hold clues.
oh wow that is nice. I couldn't tell it was honey gold until the last shot, missed it initially. Now I think it's a Fenwick blank, custom built probably in the 60's-70's. Condition is outstanding. What a great combo. I agree, if I wrapped that it would have some identifier of provenance on it, either builder's or owner's. Truly a top-of the food chain piece in its day.
the red and gold chevron is making me think South Florida, and something affiliated at one point with the name 'star rods'
t and r tackle potentially may have been involved with this build
Some interested in original star have told me they can always tell by the wraps, particularly the shade of red used as a key indicator
Mike
The rod was done really well I really like the fore grip !!! Lamiglas made honey colored blanks as well. Hope you catch a shark worthy of the rod !!! Good Luck ! John Taylor
Dude, this is such a wicked combo, I love it. It has to be so heavy...but I'd love to have it wear me out! 8)
Mo it's really heavy with an empty spool. It's probably going to feel twice as heavy once the 1.2 miles of line get wound on. I've been thinking about my strategy for fishing. First, I'm going to use the biggest, freshest Bonita I can get. Or a big stingray. Second, for years everybody takes their bait in the 400 - 500 zone. I'm thinking maybe dropping about the 250 mark. Bigger smarter sharks might tend to avoid that area where fellow sharks tend to disappear from. Third, if I hook up to a big, I don't want to get into a wrestling match. I have plenty of line so if I set the drag just enough to keep the line tight I can let the creature play itself out without using all my energy just trying to hold on or keep from going over the railing. Opinions? Anyway once she's spooled up I get some pics of the scale and we'll see what the weight is not counting bait and lead.
Figure about 15lbs spooled.
That is just the reel.
I haven't had time to crack her open yet. They are killing me at work.
I figure a complete service to the reel on Sunday. My Saturday has already been taken.
I have to work a double shift Friday Night. My Saturday will be spent sleeping.
The following weekend, I will tackle the task of spooling the 1.2 miles of line.
This reel will be completely stock with new drags as the only upgrade.
With that capacity, you can wear down anything out there, as long as you don't get broken off, or you hook into something that wasn't meant to be caught, like a giant ray, Greater Hammer, or even a Great White. They are there.
Man VS Beast!
That sounds good brother. The other spool is supposed to be here Saturday. I can drop it off Sunday if that works for you. What do you think about my short drop strategy? The end of the pier is 1/4 mike out so another 250 yds is still in plenty of water.
I agree.
When I drop my baits in Navarre. .I try to get even with the end of the pier.
That's 1545 feet. Almost a third of a mile.
Went through Mike's 16/0.
Chrome bridge, steel gears. I don't think it had been taken apart since it left the penn factory.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4353/36246065442_75b68ae884_c.jpg)
It had the old asbestos 5 stack.
7 stack of carbon fiber coming right up!
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4415/35579081254_6b91d0f91b_c.jpg)
The gears had a lot of rust on them, and the old grease needed cleaned.
I've been working a lot of crazy hours, so I busted out the coleman fuel and scrubbed all the parts as clean as I could in a bucket.
This is the quickest method I use. They aren't perfectly clean, but It will do.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4408/36414255355_d0458a2cd3_c.jpg)
Business end all buttoned up. I used Sal's dating method here.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4413/35579142394_c766891d25_c.jpg)
Finished up and ready to rock! Completely stock, ready for Battle! Mano to Shark! ;)
I like the way it turned out. The clicker button is kind of loose, but still works. I didn't have the parts to replace it.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4433/36369356516_ffc57d7f33_c.jpg)
Holy crap! I wasn't expecting all that Brother but I certainly do appreciate it. It looks brand new. I feel completely confident taking it into battle. What's your brand? Ice House?
Nice job on the reel Daron.
Mike, you'll be able to stop anything, just make sure you hold tight😉
Sal, I'll be harnessed to the rod and reel three stories above the water. What could possibly go wrong ....
Milwaukee's Best Ice! The Beast!
My go to.
I am not looking forward to spooling this monster with 2 miles of line.
You are going to help me.
Despite what your guys in the know tell you,
I can spool his reel with straight 130 mono and have the same capacity with a full spool.
How much 130 will it actually hold? Since I'm in the market lol
A 5 lb spool of Exsum is 2400 yards.
I think it will hold most of it.
Quote from: thorhammer on August 07, 2017, 10:20:34 AM
How much 130 will it actually hold? Since I'm in the market lol
Looks like if you packed it SUPER tight you could get 1400-1500 yards of 130 on there (.047" diameter)
Crap. I think the spec says 1000; that's way off.
You are probably right Drew, now that I think about it.
That is still plenty.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on August 07, 2017, 04:30:32 PM
You are probably right Drew, now that I think about it.
That is still plenty.
Yea, if you can't bring a fish in with 1500 yards of line then that fish won't be brought in, plain and simple. I hate to say it but maybe there are fish out there that simply aren't meant to be caught...
But that's what a lot of shark fishing is about, devising ways to catch those fish. Let's hope that by the time we find a way to do it, there are still enough of the big guys left.
There are plenty of Sharks for us, We just have to put in the time. ;)
They were here with the Dinosaurs, and will be here long after we are gone.
I have a question for you.
I don't want this to sound condescending, but lining this reel is going to be a feat, and I want some input.
I have 1000 yards of Chinese solid braid, and 1000 yards of bullbuster mono.
I'm going to back the spool with some Suffix 100 lb mono to give the braid something to bite on, then the bullbuster on top of the braid.
I know the Braid and the bullbuster isn't going to fill the reel up.
I need to take a guess on how much Suffix to put on the bottom, so the spool will be pretty full when done.
Mike is hell bent on spooling it like this, so I'm trying to accommodate his wishes.
The mono goes on first. It's basically going to be backing for the braid. I think that should be plenty of line.
I'm supposed to know what is going on here. ::)
Its a done deal like that.
Mono in the back, braid in front. Got it.
That means I only have to tie one knot.
I know your guys know what they are doing, but It just doesn't feel right to me.
Its #### backwards in my logic.
It's your world, I'm just a squirrel. ;)
I really prefer dacron as backing for big reels. It doesn't have any memory like mono, it's cheap, and it's spliceable.
I've been spooling a ton of big game reels lately. The hardest part is estimating how much line a reel can fit. It doesn't matter if you have a large spool of line and plan to spool multiple reels with it. However, it does matter if you have a spool that is low on line or is only good for a couple of reel. The reason being is that you can end up with only a partially filled reel or end up with not enough line to do another reel.
I've found the best way to do it is to buy really large spools of line. That way you don't have to do any math for the first few reels. You'll end up with less waste in the long run. The left over line can be used for rigging spreader bars or whatever. The other way to do it is to buy filler spools that have the amount of braid you want on the reel and then just fill it up with mono until it's full.
Figuring out how much line a reel can fit is really a monkey show unless you have some kind of a line counter device. All different brands of line are different diameters. Most reel manufacturers post bogus line stats. It gets even more confusing if you are spooling a reel with: backing, braid, a topshot, and a leader.......
I've just been eyeballing it because I don't have any fancy equipment. If I end up underestimating it, I'll spin it off with a drill and splice in more backing. At this point, I've done enough that I rarely have to do that.
Make sure you spool the braid super super tight. The mono doesn't need to be spooled as tight.
Dacron doesn't stretch. It is a pleasure to fish with. But, you can't let it touch the bottom because there is no abrasion resistance.
-steve
Quote from: Shark Hunter on August 08, 2017, 03:59:57 AM
There are plenty of Sharks for us, We just have to put in the time. ;)
They were here with the Dinosaurs, and will be here long after we are gone.
I have a question for you.
I don't want this to sound condescending, but lining this reel is going to be a feat, and I want some input.
I have 1000 yards of Chinese solid braid, and 1000 yards of bullbuster mono.
I'm going to back the spool with some Suffix 100 lb mono to give the braid something to bite on, then the bullbuster on top of the braid.
I know the Braid and the bullbuster isn't going to fill the reel up.
I need to take a guess on how much Suffix to put on the bottom, so the spool will be pretty full when done.
Mike is hell bent on spooling it like this, so I'm trying to accommodate his wishes.
Played around with a line capacity calculator and if the diameters I have below are correct, you could get 1,000 yards of braid and 1,000 yards of Bullbuster on there, with room left over for about 70-75 yards of Sufix. You may be able to pack more line on there depending on how close to the bars you want to go, and how tight you pack it - but under 100 yards would probably be a good amount.
Let me know if my diameters are right:
Sufix 100 lb mono is .039" in diameter
Bullbuster 100 lb mono is also .039" in diameter
200 lb Chinese braid is .030" in diameter
Your diameters are correct. We should be good to go with the braid over the mono. I don't want to be to close to the bars in case I don't get a perfect lay when when bringing it back in. It's been known to happen especially when fighting a big fish lol.
I'm just going to throw this out there.
It's important to keep your connections as slim as possible so they don't get jammed up going through the guides when you are tight. The most important connection is obviously the braid to topshot connection. Since you are using solid braid, you will have to either tie a bulky knot or use a piece of hollow braid/dacron to splice a loop on the end of the mono. Personally, I would go with loop to loop option. On the braid end, you could use a Bimini twist to create your other loop. Twist it up around 25 times. Then you can do a double cats paw to connect the loops. I would do the same for the braid to backing connection too in case you ever got down that low.
I'm very interested in all the connections on this one, D. My spool is on the way but I expect I'm going to back about 500 yds Dacron under. Should've let practice on it lol. What's better than hand reeling 2 miles of line? 4, of course lol
If this helps,,,200lb 1000yds of fins braid and top shot 245yds of 200lb mono and I still got lots of room
I picked up the Big Fella fresh from the Shark Hunter's kitchen where he cooked up a new drag stack and cleaned the internals. I put it on a scale to see what the weight was before I load it up with line. Dead on 11 lbs.
In the previous photo the big reel weighed 11 lbs empty. Now in this series we see her all fed and fat. Underneath the 6/10's of a mile of 200# braid is another 1/2 mile of 100# mono. She weighs 13 1/4 lbs. Put the massive rod in mix we're at 18 1/2 lbs. Throw in an old school leather and brass harness brings it up to 20 lbs even.
Nice job,,,,and love that old school leather harness :D
Hemingway would be proud, Mike!
I just got the call. Tomorrow night the 16/0 is going into action. I don't know how long it's been since this old warrior has seen water but a new chapter is about to start.
Take pics Mike. I want to see how these guys operate.
I'll pay to see the bait delivery swim!
steve
Good idea on the pics. I'll get them.
Jim lacing up the baits.
Bait being kayaked out about 500 yards. First catch 9' Tiger shark. Can't get a good pic but it's being leadered to the beach to release Back into the sea.
More!
Awesome catch!
Man, that was QUICK. Good going Mike.
-steve
After rereading my previous post it may have been misleading. I did not catch the 9' Tiger shark. Jeff, hooked up the fish and once satisfied it wasn't getting off, turned the chore of battling the monster to a young police officer from KY who had come out to watch. Sometimes these seasoned veterans will do that and it gives an onlooker the thrill of a lifetime. Here's a pic of the shark after it was walked to the beach and made ready for a safe release.
Nice kitty :)
A little later in the evening another seasoned veteran had a hook up. He passed the rod to a young boy of about 12 who made his parents bring him back for another night of shark fish watching. He battled for 30 minutes and when we sighted his catch it was a 200 pound Sea Turtle. That prompted one of the most complicated and heroic releases I've ever seen. Immediately the Turtle people were notified but could not send anyone out. The pier manager fully documented everything with photos and the security cameras. A giant hoop net was brought to the side and lowered down. The Turtle was maneuvered inside. 15 men pulled on ropes to the animal on to the deck. It was foul hooked in the right flipper. Bolt cutters were retrieved and the barb was cut off allowing for removal of the hook. Then the Turtle was carefully lowered 30 ' over the side and swam to freedom. Here's a few pics.
Good going on the turtle!
Looks to be an adult female Hawksbill. These guys best in the area. She should have already laid her clutch for the year. Post-release survivability is good when externally hooked, and all gear was removed. Glad the interaction was reported, hopefully to NMFS turtle stranding network? Or FWC? There are forms, and a database for tracking recreational fishing gear interactions.
John
Cool on the turtle release!
Does the turtle try to bite?
steve
Don't worry these guys know exactly what the proper procedures are and what to do in these situations. They do this about 300 nights a year and have encountered just about everything except hooking a whale. When you fish with these people you understand what Ohana means.
Yes but not very aggressively.
Tonight's line up. 3 50 wides, 4 80 wides and 1 16/0 Senator.
Looks like you guys mean business. I hope you hook into something that gives thst reel a workout. Best of luck!
Oh damn Mike. Daron won't sleep when he sees this.
I can't sleep anyway. I'm on 7 to 7 night shifts. ;)
Go get'em Mike!
The gimbal stands are pretty cool but where are the tie-down ropes?
-steve
Steve, if you look close you'll see the leashes laying around. Also, you will notice the bait fish laying by the rods. This was taken just before bait deployment started. It's almost 11:00 pm and nothing yet.
So, they take all the baits out at once? That really is a community sort of thing.
-steve
Shaping up to be a great report, thanks for taking us along Mike.
Sal
The baits are lowered two at a time into the kayak waiting 30' below. They are paddled out, in the dark, and deployed in a fan shaped configuration. The kayaker is in radio communication at all times with the people on the pier. He paddles out anywhere from 400 to 1000 yards and is instructed to " kick out" the bait on the right side or left side of the yak. Once both baits are out he heads back in and positions the boat to receive the next two baits. Last night right after I left one of the two remaining fisherman (jeff and Jim) hooked up. Jeff said he could tell it was a monster by how easy it was able to drag him up against the rail. The fish freed itself by straightening out the 16/0 stainless steel hook. These guys are catching some big fish. 6 weeks ago they beached a 14' Tiger shark. Three nights ago as they were pulling in an 8 footer another shark bit it in half. They have developed a system for catching and handling these fish in a safe, controlled manner. Tonight I saw no action. Jeff and Jim were still at it when I left. I'll let you know what happens. BTW ... when Jeff found out I was renting my pier cart he immediately lent me a brand new one to keep while I'm here.
Wow this makes my fishing look like I catch tiddly winks!!
Go get them Mike, waiting to see the pictures!
Mike,
You guys are probably going to start seeing the effects of the storm moving in soon.
I hope you get to hook up to at least one nice one.
My chance is coming soon.
Best of luck to you and the crew.
Be safe,
Daron
Yes sir. We started seeing it last night. The wind kicked up and Brent,who runs the bait out, said it was like kayaking in a washing machine. Tonight it's back to the beach, weather permitting. The 9/0's will get action and I may drag the 16/0 down there.
Great reports Mike....enjoying this thread....Bill
Getting ready now to go back out. Last night they brought in a 10' Hammer. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go.
Here's a good shot of the leader we use. 30' of cable with 3 16/0 hooks. The first hook is attached and the two followers are strung loose so they can be laced into the bait. For bigger baits sometimes 4 hooks are used. I get a kick out of the reaction this big unit generates. Especially on the 1/4 mile promenade to the end of the pier.
Good Luck Mike!
Wish I was there.
I prefer the Beach, so I don't have such an Audience. ;D
They thin out pretty quick. I've been telling these guys about the Shark Hunter. We need to coordinate schedules sometime and fish together down here. Here's a few more pics. Brent has the yak with two Bonita ready to head out. The second is is headlamp as he paddles out. The third is my thumb getting educated.
I just beached a 14' Tiger. Details to follow.
Great news, congratulations!!
Way to go! --
Looking forward to the play-by-play debriefing.
Best,
Fred
Dang Mike. That's an incredible spot. Congratulations!
-steve
Ya gotta be happy with that! 8)
Mike
Nice Mike! can't wait for some pics.
Sal
Great Mike congradulation, looking forward to the pictures, cheers Don.
Wow....14'..yikes! I said earlier that I didn't think I would want to swim baits out.......but with 14 footers out there, I'd probably be rethinking even a kayak 😁......"we're gonna need a bigger boat, right!"
Brett
Nice Mike!
Photos Mike - photos :)
^^^
Gotta see some pics of this beast!
Last night at 10:45 pm the clicker on the big 16/0 started singing the song every shark fisher loves to hear. I picked up the rod as he was making his initial run with the 10 lbs. Bonita in his mouth. Once he stopped I began to slowly take up slack until I felt resistance. I tightened the drag a little and swung the rod up and back 3 times as I walked backwards to set the hooks. I cranked in more line and then he realized he was hooked. He swam off under nearly full lock down and a young boy with a water bottle began pouring water on the drag housing to help cool it down. A little after midnight I was able to get him in close to the pier and bring the swivel up for Brent to get his leash on him. Here's a YouTube link to see some of the action. https://youtu.be/x0o9kLpjGmw
COOL!!!
great video!!!!
Now that's what you were looking for!
Congratulations to whoever that was!
I'll admit I cringed when I saw the drag getting tightened during a run. This is the number one way to lose a fish. Looks like the drag was nice and smooth though.
John
Love it!!
I was confident I would be ok tightening up the drag a little it was smooth as butter as you would expect after Shark Hunter worked his magic. There was no jerkiness or stickiness. Just smooth and powerful.
Wow!!! Awesome, good job!
Brett
Love the second-to-the-last photo. Suitable for framing.
-steve
Great video!
Congrats! You put in the time and preparation, and it definitely paid off :o
-Jason
Mike great clip !!!!! You deserved it with all your prep work !!! Glad for you ! John Taylor
Cool video Mike!
Just wow!
Love the white handle.
Steve
There you have it Folks!
The power of a Bone Stock Senator.
You see all those Video's of reels getting smoked.
Not one Serviced by the Shark Hunter!
Congratulations Mike!, Well Done. ;)
Yay! Mike. Good work and good video. I looked like great fun. Dominick
Thank you Daron for upgrading the drag washers. I posted earlier I didn't know who built the rod but I know why they built it. That rod was created to slow down and turn big fish. The 16/0 with the 200 lbs braid was perfectly suited to the task. Initially I thought I would just fish the big rig just to see what it would be like. Now I'm thinking this is going to be my go to when big fish are the target. The weak link in the chain was the harness and fighting belt. It kept digging into my thighs to the point of a lot of pain. My legs still hurt. I've upgraded to an aftco setup that gives me more comfort and leverage. I'm not willing to risk my health or safety on inferior equipment if I can afford not to.
Great job and thanks for sharing.
This is just another example of proper preparation -- when a reel like this is set up by one of our experts on site...there are just results -- no excuses.
Best,
Fred
I couldn't agree more Fred. We've all seen herky jerky drag pressure on a spool of line. This spool spun when it was supposed to and smoothly stopped when it was supposed to. The star turned and applied even pressure. It was the difference between a battle that lasted 90 minutes compared to one lasting 4 1/2 hours.
Wow, good going Mike, you put the screws to that one.
Congrats and Cool Beans Mike....a fish of a lifetime on a rig you built with a little help from Da Shark Hunter....you can be proud of the accomplishment...Bill
Awesome fish Mike! Big tigers are some of the best looking fish out there.
Did you get a tape on her? Or is 14 an estimate?
Either way - PHAT FISH!
No tape but I have a Florida fishing license and that gives me the right to determine size and weight, lol. If the fish would have gotten off the hook that same fish would have been reported as a 17 footer ;-)
I hear you. I've never lost a small fish!
Ahh, I see,
It was probably 10' based on the size of his head,
A 14 footer would be wide enough to swallow you whole.
Still very Nice. Bigger than anything I have ever caught,
I am just glad to see a reel I had on my kitchen table three weeks ago, slay a monster like that. ;)
Mike, you are officially, the Shark Slayer! ;)
I stepped it off and that's how I arrived at 14'. It might have been 13' or 14' 6", but who's counting. It was a big male and they don't develop the girth as do the females. Here's my favorite pic of the beast that Julia captured as we pulled him into the surf. If you look closely you can see the tiger stripes.
What an epic adventure! Some amazing photos you posted as well, I love the B & W of the bonita and the reel on the rail. Thanks for sharing, can't wait to watch the video on my home PC. Congrats all around!
Awesome picture, Mike. Everybody needs a Julia on a fishing trip, lol.
That fish looks pretty close to 10-11'. For reference:
(http://sharksonthesand.com/cp/albums/userpics/10130/10ft_3in_TEXAS_TIGER.jpg)
10'3" Tiger
(http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/tiger2-copy.jpg)
14'-14'6" Tiger
That picture of the tiger is seriously one of the best shark pics I have seen, mad props to you for catching that BEAST of a fish!
I am just kidding you Mike,
I take nothing away from your epic Catch.
What a Monster! :o
Way to go, Mike! You know, you flaunted convention going braid on top. I'm thinking lack of stretch here actually helped you maintain pressure on that fish and helped shorten the fight. 90 minutes is enough. I certainly don't want to pull on anything four hours holding that rig, not even a swivel.
What a great ride, thanks for bringing us!
John
Ha! You not hurting my feelings. The only thing bothering me is where that fighting belt was dug into my legs. I think this new set up is the cure. It's an Aftco Clarion belt with a Maxforce stand up harness. I've been telling them about you and all your Penn's and the giant Everol. You would love this.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on August 28, 2017, 12:53:39 PM
I am just kidding you Mike,
I take nothing away from your epic Catch.
What a Monster! :o
when are you going back down? bout three weeks isn't it?
Quote from: The Great Maudu on August 28, 2017, 01:26:46 PM
Ha! You not hurting my feelings. The only thing bothering me is where that fighting belt was dug into my legs. I think this new set up is the cure. It's an Aftco Clarion belt with a Maxforce stand up harness. I've been telling them about you and all your Penn's and the giant Everol. You would love this.
My dad and myself have used that same harness/belt setup since the early 1990s to land numerous big game and it worked great. Of course we always had short 5'6" standup rods on 80s, 12/0, 9/0s, or 50s. All the big fish I have caught on my new boat have gotten caught from the Hawaiian Shotguns though. No one seems to enthusiastic about standup with the 14/0s. Those AFTCO bucket harnesses do look good though.
John
I would love to come Hawai and fish with you John. The braid on top is to do exactly what you said. No stretch makes 600 yard hook ups easier and controlling the fish easier. The guys I fish with use nothing but braid and it works for them.
Quote from: The Great Maudu on August 28, 2017, 01:26:46 PM
Ha! You not hurting my feelings. The only thing bothering me is where that fighting belt was dug into my legs. I think this new set up is the cure. It's an Aftco Clarion belt with a Maxforce stand up harness. I've been telling them about you and all your Penn's and the giant Everol. You would love this.
I learned that same way Mike. You need top Notch Gear to fight these Monsters.
After that Cheap Tsunami plate did a number on my Legs, It was time for an upgrade.
Looks like you had the same one. ;)
No one on that Pier has any Idea what kind of pressure a fish like this can put on you.
(Except for the few that are helping you land it)
It is a Fulcrum effect, and it goes straight to your legs.
Excellent fish and video. That wait to set the hook can seem like forever. Thanks for sharing.
Due to inclement weather we haven't been able to get the big rigs out since Saturday night. However, it looks like tomorrow night is going to be good. It will be my last chance to go this trip. The water temp has dropped significantly and that is good for fishing. There is so much activity in the surf. We are seeing huge rays, dolphin, millions of hatch, lady fish, red fish, blue runners, needle fish and turtles. With all that life you know the sharks have to be around. We haven't been sitting idle though. Surf fishing is second only to shirking in my book. This morning we got in on Blues feeding frenzy and caught about 25 before it ran out. I'll conclude this adventure tomorrow night a report the outcome.
I can only Imagine the way you feel after catching that Monster.
That is going to be hard to top.
I will be happy with a 10 footer.
That is enough Monster for me. ;)
Brother the northeast gulf is full of life. It is only going to get better as fall approaches. F you have good weather you should do real well. I'll let you know how I feel about catching the monster.
Did you get a barometric pressure drop from Harvey? That will really set them off this time of year.
-steve
What a great read! Thanks for taking us along!
Tom
Tom that was a tease. When I see you had commented I expected to see where you are asking for color preference on 14 / 16 plates 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Well, this fishing expedition has ended. After I caught the big shark last Saturday night the weather took a turn for the worse and shut down the pier fishing. I was able to get out 3 nights all total and caught the fish on the third night. For the past two years the big rod and reel sat in my bedroom and I would imagine whenever I looked at it, what it must be like to fight a big fish with it. It was awesome while it lasted and will be a memory I'll have the rest of my life. Here are a few last pics.
Sweet! Florida panhandle is very sharky,Senators rule brother!
Mike this has been a truly epic thread and in every way imo embodies AT. Wow. I hate to see it end; what a great ride, from the gear prep to the fish to the better half getting it done in the surf as well as cradle 0C getting some burn.
I have to go to Cindy soon and maybe work it out to meet you Ky sharkin boys in person.
Great post from begining to end Mike, Thanks. The last picture with you and the rod puts the size of it into perspective. It is huge! Sheridan
Quote from: thorhammer on September 01, 2017, 11:49:02 PM
Mike this has been a truly epic thread and in every way imo embodies AT. Wow. I hate to see it end; what a great ride, from the gear prep to the fish to the better half getting it done in the surf as well as cradle 0C getting some burn.
I have to go to Cindy soon and maybe work it out to meet you Ky sharkin boys in person.
Thank you. If you get to Cincinnati give me a shout and we'll make it happen.
Uhm.....
I am in no way qualified, and can barely figure out how to post pics at time, ....but have to say that last pic in black and white is awesome!!!!! You set a goal, made a plan, prepared, and succeeded in making it happen!! That pic says it all to me!! Congratulations!!
Brett
Thanks Brett. The only thing missing is the Shark, tail roped and hoisted by block and tackle right next to me. But it's a different time and in that regard a better time with catch, photo and release. One thing I haven't mentioned is after getting the shark to the sand and removing the hooks, the revival process started. Brent, pictured below with me, spent about 30 minutes in waist deep water making sure the big fella was rested and ready to return home. Imagine being right next to a 14' shark as its feistiness returns in the dark with only a hand held spotlight illuminating the scene.
Quote from: The Great Maudu on September 02, 2017, 01:51:36 PM
Thanks Brett. The only thing missing is the Shark, tail roped and hoisted by block and tackle right next to me. But it's a different time and in that regard a better time with catch, photo and release. One thing I haven't mentioned is after getting the shark to the sand and removing the hooks, the revival process started. Brent, pictured below with me, spent about 30 minutes in waist deep water making sure the big fella was rested and ready to return home. Imagine being right next to a 14' shark as its feistiness returns in the dark with only a hand held spotlight illuminating the scene.
Mike, I hope to be like you and Brent when I grow up.
Great work!
Steve
Awesome brother....Bill
Awesome thread Mike. Crazy to think two of the best sharkers I've had the pleasure of talking to are from a landlocked state!
Glad to hear you had a good time.
Drew
We're the Shark Brothers, lol and we live 10 minutes from each other. I used to think I had more saltwater fishing gear than anybody who lived a thousand miles from the ocean. That is until I met Daron. I hope one of these days we'll get to fish together. Thanks for the kind words Drew.
Really good Mike, thanks for showing, should have my 14/0 together soon, cant wait, thanks again, cheers Don.
Imagine that bite 8-)
After getting the big reel back home I noticed there was some play between the crank and the sleeve post. Shark Hunter is going to install a new stainless steel sleeve to care of the problem. Here's a pic of what it looks like now.
I call that battle scar....abuse would be if it was green with corrosion and black from dirty grease. That is a scar to be proud of....the old adage comes to mind ( I apologize it it sounds bad and delete if necessary) Pain is short, scars are forever, and chicks dig scars ;)....I bet that shark sure is digging the scars on that sleeve, brother....Bill
Ha, I never thought about it that way. In a perfect world that would never happen. The rod would pull on the fish and the crank would simply wind the line back onto the spool. Shark Hunter will take care of it when I get back in town.
While I'm at it, Might as well double dog it with stainless dogs too. ;)
I'm doing a few 14/0's tonight.
That would be great Brother. I love the click click of double dogs. You should have found something in your today.
Thanks my Man!
I was eyeballin' that piece.
Great story, rig and fish Mike.................
Thanks Mike. It was one of those time when everything came together like it was supposed to.
Classic combo Mike. Very near to the one used in the movie Jaws. I assume it is a 80 or 130 # class rod. The Jaws combo had a straight wood butt; but, matched all the traits of your rig. Good luck, hope you catch a Jaws type shark with it...<:O)
I would say that rod is unlimited class. I have never come across a bigger stouter rod. I didn't catch jaws yet but the 14' tiger was still a handful.
QuoteI would say that rod is unlimited class. I have never come across a bigger stouter rod. I didn't catch jaws yet but the 14' tiger was still a handful.
I have a Montauk built 130 pound class rod built on a Shakespeare blank. The diameter of the rod at the tip end is 7/16 of an inch. If your rod blank is 1/2 inch or heavier I would think it is an Unlimited blank.
A 14 foot Tiger Shark is an amazing fish.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on October 07, 2017, 08:08:11 PM
While I'm at it, Might as well double dog it with stainless dogs too. ;)
I'm doing a few 14/0's tonight.
Quote from: Penn Chronology on October 16, 2017, 05:36:05 AM
QuoteI would say that rod is unlimited class. I have never come across a bigger stouter rod. I didn't catch jaws yet but the 14' tiger was still a handful.
I have a Montauk built 130 pound class rod built on a Shakespeare blank. The diameter of the rod at the tip end is 7/16 of an inch. If your rod blank is 1/2 inch or heavier I would think it is an Unlimited blank.
A 14 foot Tiger Shark is an amazing fish.
That got me thinking I should check it out and see what the diameter actually is.
It's been a long time, but I'm pretty sure the old 54 thread Harnell blanks had tips less than half-inch, but not much less. 54 thread is the old line class designation and equates to about 160 pound test. Those blanks were sort of made for the 16/0 size reel. Broom sticks.
-steve
Steve are you still thinking this a Harnell rod or is it a Harnell blank built by an unknown maker?
QuoteThat got me thinking I should check it out and see what the diameter actually is.
Mike, no doubt, your rod is an Unlimited Class model.
Mike, Harnells were black and I don't think they made one that long. Roddy blanks were about that color but you could see the weave. The reel handle post-dates Harnell and Roddy. I was out of touch when that reel came along. Also, the rod looks like it has an epoxy finish. If the rod is not marked then it may have been made by the original user.
-steve
What a shame to create something like this and leave no record of who did it. Maybe it just wasn't that big of a deal.
I suspect the mentality was that you were going to make it distinctive and then keep it forever. All the people that mattered would recognize it and know the maker. The important part was knowing at a glance who to kick and wake up when the screaming started.
-steve
Back in the hands of the master, the big reel is getting a new stainless sleeve and double dogs. Second pic shows the washer from the bottom of the stack took the brunt of the force.
Yup!...the master at work.
Sal
Master Daron. Sounds like mastodon. :D I remember when he was a noob on the site. Good going Master. Dominick
Mike,
I'm going to have to ask you to check that cell phone at the door next time. ;)
I was very anxious to see this drag stack that reeled in a 14' tiger.
It was no worse for the wear. Only the bottom CF looked glazed.
This still amazes me. A simple 16/0 serviced properly with all stock parts accomplished this task.
I am proud to have made this happen for Mike.
The new stainless sleeve and double dogs will keep her at the ready for the next battle.
I offered a handle upgrade with Adam's new offset arm and Alan's 5.0 grip, but he wanted no part of it.
He wants to keep it old school, but new on the inside. I call that a sleeper. 8)
QuoteHe wants to keep it old school, but new on the inside. I call that a sleeper. Cool
I call that a Sleeper too. Nothing wrong with that. When you are targeting monster you need to get an advantage. It is very impressive to catch these killer fish with old school reels.
Quote from: Penn Chronology on October 30, 2017, 06:17:34 AM
QuoteHe wants to keep it old school, but new on the inside. I call that a sleeper. Cool
I call that a Sleeper too. Nothing wrong with that. When you are targeting monster you need to get a advantage. It is very impressive to catch these killer fish with old school reels.
It's good for the fish and for the fisherman.
Great job as always Daron :)
Mike,
I took the day off to spend with my son and grandkids on Halloween.
It gave me time to knock your reel out.
Double stainless dogs and ss sleeve.
Let me know when you are in town again and I can drop it off, or you can pick it up.
The fee is $50 for the sleeve. My labor cost is a case of beer. ;)
The only thing I won't do as I do to my own reels, is transfer the 2 miles of line.
You are on your own with that brother.
what are you transferring line TO?
A Duplicate reel.
Then swap the spools, if it is the first rotation.
Since Mike's mono is on the bottom, with the braid on top.
It would have to be wound on another reel,
Check the spool, polish, wax, then wind it back on.
That would be 4 miles of winding.
I'm going to have to pass on that one. ::)
Good work Daran, as usual, did you think with the bottom CF washer glazing like that, would it help, if that one was a bit thicker, could the drag stack still fit, just a thought, cheers Don.
Got it. Agree. I still haven't lined mine pending Harnell completion. Btw I'll bring you a case just to sit and observe the work. I'll bring one for me too 😎👍🏻👍🏻👊🏼🍻
Thank you Brother I really do appreciate your work. Those double dogs look really cool. I can't wait to hear how she sounds when cranking. I'll be back week after next and you can bring it over.