You never know what nature may give you. This was a lifetime catch for me and on a lot of fisherman's bucket list. I built a Stub 80 bent butt and put Sal's modified 9/0 on it and it sits on the bow with a live bait usually about 30 ft down. We have caught some really cool fish with it and it is always a surprise. Yesterday we got this giant Goliath and I could never wish for anything bigger. The butt cap on the end of my gaff is 1.5" and it just makes a little dot on the side of that fish. I thought it was going to die on us so tried to stick the gaff on the other side and roll it. Once it got upright it took off. Beautiful beast.
Dwight
(https://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/Goliath_zpswose2fxk.jpg) (https://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/Goliath_zpswose2fxk.jpg.html)
(https://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/Goliath2_zpsmvp8zi6i.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/Goliath2_zpsmvp8zi6i.jpg.html)
(https://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/Goliath4_zpswu86bkx1.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/Goliath4_zpswu86bkx1.jpg.html)
(https://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/Goliath3_zps8jjqikgz.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/Goliath3_zps8jjqikgz.jpg.html)
Great job !! That's a beautiful fish .
Wow! Great fish Dwight! 8)
That's huge!!! Nice to know some monsters are still around. Good to know it swam away
Nice!!
Glad you let it go, thanks for the pics, did it put up much of a fight, how long did you take to get it in cheers Don.
:o
That is a f-i-s-h
Well done!
That is one huge fish. Once released it was "stress free." Good work Dwight. Dominick
hey amigo Dwight, you should print a sticker of a goliath grouper 3 - 4" and put it in some special place in the boat, that fish needs to be remembered as trophy of the boat.
congrats compadre ! !
Wow, Dwight. That is one monster of a fish.
That's impressive Dwight. Your Stress Free catches just get better and better. Thank you for letting us tag along.
-steve
Sweet catch, Dwight! Good thing you got those guns for just such an occasion. 8)
Thanks for the photos, that is a lifetime catch.
Best,
Dom
Beautiful fish.
It is great to see the abumdance and health of this fish stock recovering since the early 1990s prohibition on take rules went into effect. This could become a great catch and release recreational fishery. Somehow the waters seem more alive just knowing these long-lived giants are once again prowling US waters in greater numbers.
Catch of a lifetime is right.
Lucky to have hooked him on the right gear.
John
Fabulous job man,,,,, :D it's hard to explain how these fish fight,,,,, ;) more like riding a bull,,,,,,,, ;D
Congratulations Dwight!
Letting something like that live to fight another day says something about a person. Thank you for sharing the experience.
Ron Jones
Quote from: steelfish on July 31, 2019, 04:32:05 PM
hey amigo Dwight, you should print a sticker of a goliath grouper 3 - 4" and put it in some special place in the boat, that fish needs to be remembered as trophy of the boat.
congrats compadre ! !
I named the waypoint in the GPS Goliath. ;D
Quote from: Donnyboat on July 31, 2019, 03:38:51 PM
Glad you let it go, thanks for the pics, did it put up much of a fight, how long did you take to get it in cheers Don.
Luckily I set the bait at about 30 feet. The drag is set at about 30 lb. Once it hooked itself it fought the rod and boat hard. It would dive with a big boast of energy and pause and then I would crank and this went on for a while and I never wear a watch anymore so no idea how long. Worked up a sweat anyway. If it had every reached the reef I never would have known what it was but I had just enough drag to stop it on each run. I would never want to deal with one with a stand up rod. Fighting with the rod in a rod holder was bad enough and I am a strong guy. When it finally got tired enough to surface Larry and I were just stunned and Holy Cow what a fish. Then I said Larry get your phone and take some pics. Never expected what surfaced. It was just really cool and exciting. Check that off the bucket list. There was once other shocker before the goliath. About an hour earlier I pulled in a big red snapper on the same rod. Unhooked it and tossed it back in. Larry leaned over the side to dip a bucket of water wash the deck and a huge cobia swam right under the bow and startled the heck out of Larry. He first thought it was a big shark. This summer has been quite a trip.
Dwight
That's amazing. Nice job & congratulations.
Tight lines, Brendan.
Congrats Dwight - truly a fish of a lifetime!
Agree with Swami too:
QuoteNice to know some monsters are still around. Good to know it swam away
Thanks for sharing mate, Justin
Stress Free? I bet you were feeling some stress when that rod was bent!
Yes it's not easy and with 9/0 they told me I was shooting a elephant with a bb gun,,,,,, :D but uncle sal built it,,,,,,, ;D
Quote from: Benni3 on August 01, 2019, 03:25:31 AM
Yes it's not easy and with 9/0 they told me I was shooting a elephant with a bb gun,,,,,, :D but uncle sal built it,,,,,,, ;D
I had no issues with the reel at all. It has already been tested on a bunch of sharks but this was the ultimate test by stopping that goliath from getting down to the reef. That 9/0 is tough.
Quote from: Newell Nut on August 01, 2019, 01:06:25 PM
Quote from: Benni3 on August 01, 2019, 03:25:31 AM
Yes it's not easy and with 9/0 they told me I was shooting a elephant with a bb gun,,,,,, :D but uncle sal built it,,,,,,, ;D
I had no issues with the reel at all. It has already been tested on a bunch of sharks but this was the ultimate test by stopping that goliath from getting down to the reef. That 9/0 is tough.
yes my friend it's unstopble,,,,,,, ;) but smooth enough for anything,,,,,,, ;D
Great job Dwight!
What hook did you use?
Steve
8/0 VMC 3x Tournament Circle