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

Alto Mare · April 12, 2020, 04:33:09 PM

Bluefin kicked my but a while back, I was out of work for a week with a sore shoulder.
Was using an international 50 single speed.

Sal

Maxed Out · April 12, 2020, 04:45:17 PM

A dolphin hooked by the tail......don't ask me how I know that

ez2cdave · April 12, 2020, 05:23:25 PM

Quote from: Rivverrat on April 12, 2020, 04:12:34 PM
Dave whats the reel your using there ? ... Jeff

Jeff,

Those reels have been marketed under several different names and in different colors.

The pics below are of a Bass Pro Shops" Crappie Maxx" reel . . . Identical, except for color.

The one I have is older ( probably a different seller, possibly K-Mart ) . . . They are still being made.

CHANGE THE DRAG ! ! !

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-crappie-maxx-tightline-special-crappie-reel-100015551-1

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-crappie-maxx-tightline-special-crappie-reel

I think that MING-YANG makes these reels . . . They have the CL20, without level-wind and the CL 25, with level-wind.

https://www.amazon.com/Ming-Yang-CL20-BAITCAST-Panfish/dp/B00X1QXL88

https://www.amazon.com/Ming-Yang-Fishing-Baitcast-Walleye/dp/B00PNYEY3W

Stay Safe & Tight Lines !

Swami805 · April 12, 2020, 06:02:29 PM

I'd agree with Sal. My PB bluefin was the toughest fish I've pulled on, just wouldn't give up. I've caught yellowfin twice the size that didn't have the stamina of bluefin. That fish kicked my behind.
So cal bonito are right in there too.

oc1 · April 12, 2020, 08:01:17 PM

Quote from: ez2cdave on April 12, 2020, 05:23:25 PM
Jeff,

Those reels have been marketed under several different names and in different colors.

... including Ming Yang.
-s

ez2cdave · April 12, 2020, 08:05:55 PM

Quote from: oc1 on April 12, 2020, 08:01:17 PM
Quote from: ez2cdave on April 12, 2020, 05:23:25 PM
Jeff,

Those reels have been marketed under several different names and in different colors.

... including Ming Yang.
-s

Yes, indeed . . . I modified my response above to reflect that. They have the CL20, without level-wind and the CL-25, with level-wind.

Stay Safe & Tight Lines !

SoCalAngler · April 13, 2020, 02:53:45 AM

Since this thread came back to life, which is cool IMO, I should of added sailfish in my first post. They are said to be the fastest fish in the ocean. I have no idea how you would measure that? But, one thing I do know is that they peel off line faster than any wahoo I have caught and fight way longer. With that said I have never caught a 80-100lb hoo but I have caught a couple sails around the 100 lb mark and several smaller. They are never weighted as we release all billfish caught. Sails are amazing on how fast they can swim and rarely give up until boat side and many times not then.

Dominick · April 13, 2020, 03:26:46 PM

I have to vote for tuna. I have only caught yellow fin. I don't know if blue fin pull harder. Dominick

ez2cdave · April 13, 2020, 05:53:34 PM

Quote from: SoCalAngler on April 13, 2020, 02:53:45 AM
Since this thread came back to life, which is cool IMO, I should of added sailfish in my first post. They are said to be the fastest fish in the ocean. I have no idea how you would measure that? But, one thing I do know is that they peel off line faster than any wahoo I have caught and fight way longer. With that said I have never caught a 80-100lb hoo but I have caught a couple sails around the 100 lb mark and several smaller. They are never weighted as we release all billfish caught. Sails are amazing on how fast they can swim and rarely give up until boat side and many times not then.

Stay Safe & Tight Lines !

Ron Jones · April 13, 2020, 06:03:31 PM

I'm going with Mark, all the wayback at the beginning. Can you imagine a 100 pond bonita? I've caught big bonita mixed with similar sized yellow fin / tail and always thought they were HUGE yellowtail. If they got the size of BFT there wouldn't be anything that could touch them short of a shark.
The Man

PacRat · April 13, 2020, 06:24:05 PM

Ron is right on about the Bonito. I was got the jackpot with a bonehead. It has in the last few moments before pulling anchor so I decided to toss a jig. That bonehead hit hard and took me a couple of times around the rail. When we could see color I couldn't believe it was 'just a bonito' but the deckhand said "Don't loose it. You got the jackpot right there!"...and all I could think was 'on a bonehead?'. Made a believer out of me.

In fresh water I have been impressed with Peacock Bass. I fished Guri Reservoir in Venezuela and those are some hard-hitting fish. They were tearing my tackle up! I was using Ambassadors with 25 lb line and got broke off twice on the strikes which were explosive.

-Mike

Ron Jones · April 13, 2020, 08:02:42 PM

I hear people talk trash about bonito all the time. They make fantastic ceviche, and I have a friend from Guam who uses them for the best caliguen you've ever imagined.
The Man

Jim Fujitani · April 13, 2020, 09:17:26 PM

I haven't read the entire thread..... but I will throw this out there, only because the smaller ones hooked in San Francisco Bay will just waste your time for a while. Mud Marlin, also known as Bat Rays. The California Bat Ray can reach up to 200 pounds. A 25 pounder will take at least 20-30 minutes, incidentally hooked on 30# test, if the line isn't broken or cut. And no, I don't intentionally fish for them, nor would I.

nelz · April 13, 2020, 09:56:21 PM

Yeah, rays don't get that much attention, but they are beasts! We get the big common sting rays around here, they have spooled many a surprised fisherman!

boon · April 14, 2020, 03:20:50 AM

Yeah the old Mud Marlin has spooled many an unsuspecting fisherman over the years.

I think I said it earlier in this thread, but Yellowtail Kingfish have to be up there. I caught a 26lb fish recently that pulled line off a Makaira 20000 with the drag scaled at 33lb... albeit, only briefly.

The initial run from a Giant Trevally has to be up there as well.