I found this article on the 16/0 I thought an interesting read:
https://www.themeateater.com/fish/saltwater/bar-room-banter-would-quints-reel-have-cranked-in-jaws
Thank you for that article.
Walter Maxwell was the hero of the crowd I grew up with on Padre Island, probably because his photo was in every Penn catalog for years. Maxwell was a strong stout brick/stone mason (like Sal) and had remarkable shark sense.
https://www.southfloridasharkclub.com/community/usa-world-shark-fishing-historyland-based-and-boat-caught/re-walter-maxwell-and-his-1780-lb-tiger-sharks-carolina/
On a beach or pier where there's no fighting chair or bent-butt rod holder the weight of the fisherman is the only thing holding the fish back. You can drag a boat forever but can only drag a beach/pier fisherman 20 feet or less. In either case, you wouldn't attempt it without a harness and the harness has the effect of stabilizing the reel and minimizing torque. It is hard to imagine a 200-pound fisherman being able to torque a 16/0 frame and beach fishing lore does not provide any anecdotes to that effect. I don't understand why the article's author is so enamored with the 14/0.
Thank you Steve, I never knew of Mr. Maxwell's record catch, that is unreal ! The greatest generation tough guys, dont make em' like that anymore !!!
interesting reading! Thanks to both of you!
So, 16/0's are junk.
I just read it.
So who wants to sell there's! ;D
Steve
I had dimly registered (in some article or publication talking about IGFA record captures, sponged up in my misspent youth) the IGFA record tiger shark was caught from a pier in South Carolina; but those links really drive home what an ordeal it must have been to catch a fish like that from land. Incredible, too, that it's stood for so long despite there being a decent number of Aussie anglers that have both access to huge sharks and the interest in catching them to IGFA regulations (which isn't the case in places like Hawaii). I have no love for sharks myself, but can't deny it would have been quite a sight to have seen it, much less the bigger sharks Mr Maxwell encountered. I wonder how he did from the boat after moving away from pier fishing?
I can see how a wider reel might result in more frame twist, especially the old spacer bar design. There's an excerpt in Dave Preble's Sport Fishing for Yellowfin Tuna where he notes "it was more of a problem in the smaller sizes, but I recall having to tighten the screws on a 14/0 during a battle with a particularly powerful giant bluefin tuna". But looking at a lot of fighting chairs from that era, it doesn't seem as though you could apply a great deal of pressure to a fish with them, not like the stainless steel and fibreglass beasts of today.
So how is a fish/shark losing hundreds of pounds of body weight during a fight?
That might be a dumb question but y'all know to expect that by now.
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on October 20, 2024, 02:26:31 PMSo how is a fish/shark losing hundreds of pounds of body weight during a fight?
That might be a dumb question but y'all know to expect that by now.
Jason, the weight loss would happen after the shark is dead and out of the water and also sitting in the hot sun on the beach all day, waiting for a wrecker to hoist it off the beach, as was the case for this shark
I'm no shark expert, but I watch discovery channel a lot, and no, I didn't stay at a holiday inn last night
HA! Small world.
Captain Zach Miller, who the article writer cites as his source, is a friend of mine.
He is also the guy who plays Bob The Garbage Man in those funny videos he started putting out around 2020. ;D
I have watched that video before he's funnie ;D
https://www.facebook.com/reel/4323141967959990
If you review that Youtube video clip (search for "Quint Hooks Shark") you will see that the reel used in the film has an unusual yellow handle knob. The reel in the ad does not.
Yep, You're spot on Randy. Light yellow knob can plainly be seen in that video. I stopped the video and zoomed way up to confirm it is a light yellow knob. Definitely not the original reel that the propstore is auctioning
The rod is not the screen used rod. Their attempt to screen match and pass off as legit is negligent at best.
Susan and Lynn Murphy of Martha's Vineyard assisted in production of the film. They supplied the rod. She and Lynn purchased many of the leftover props, barrels and even the second orca boat. I purchased a few barrels from Susan years ago. In my communication with her, I asked about the rod. She told me at end of production it was returned to Lynn and used for many years, eventually being refinished with different wraps and guides, ending up not looking at all like it did in the film.
Quote from: 1badf350 on March 09, 2026, 01:15:29 AMThe rod is not the screen used rod. Their attempt to screen match and pass off as legit is negligent at best.
Susan and Lynn Murphy of Martha's Vineyard assisted in production of the film. They supplied the rod. She and Lynn purchased many of the leftover props, barrels and even the second orca boat. I purchased a few barrels from Susan years ago. In my communication with her, I asked about the rod. She told me at end of production it was returned to Lynn and used for many years, eventually being refinished with different wraps and guides, ending up not looking at all like it did in the film.
In a way that's almost better.
I've lost count of how many times the so called "jaws movie 16/0" has popped up for sale....none of which were the actual 16/0 used in the movie.
I just reread this thread since it popped up again & saw the previous Walter Maxwell link isn't available any more,but found 2 more telling the story of his catch.
https://grandstrandmag.com/feature/catch_of_a_lifetime
https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/maxwell-world-record-tiger-shark/
I would say Maxwells sharkcould have lost a 100Lbs before it was officially weighd, cheers Don.
It's big of you to say that Don; you being in Australia and all.
I've hooked a few that were probably Tiger Sharks. Most probably have bitten through the leader. The last one grabbed an already hooked but large reef fish('cuda?) while trolling a swim bait with a wire leader. Several days before one had been in the immediate area, videoed attacking a big sea turtle. Very little head/body shaking once hooked, just a slow steady swimming away as though towing a kayak was no biggie. Obsessed with possibly seeing the species, I only ended up with an expensive loss of braided line.