Hour long Ahi fight

[mems]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/DSCF5832_zpspwak6nw0.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/DSCF5832_zpspwak6nw0.jpg.html)
Aloha went to a private buoy that has been holding Ahi. Got a dozen small Ahi and Aku on poppers. I got this 50 lb Ahi on chunk bait after my friend jigged up another one. I tried jigging for about 5 drops. I hate jigging, too much work. so I said I bet they would eat chunk. Sure enough not 10 seconds after I pout bait in the water and zoom. I could hardly close the bail. This fish dove deep. It took me an hour and 10 minutes to get the fish in. My friend only took 10 minutes on the jig, the fish was tail wrapped. My left bicep is pretty sore now, it was lucky I only had 40lb leader on. When we cleaned the fish I noticed it already had a hook in its lip. Guess that is why it fought so hard.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/DSCF5834_zpsev7xcifn.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/DSCF5834_zpsev7xcifn.jpg.html)
I had my 12wt with me , but the boat is kinda small and not much room to cast.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/DSCF5838_zps7ins0kq5.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/DSCF5838_zps7ins0kq5.jpg.html)
It was still fun on spin gear, nice product placement for Shimano. Lots of sashimi. Ahi belly and eggs for breakfast this morning. Looks like we should have a good ahi season this year. Mems.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Unreal........so cool........thanks Don.

Ahi = yellow fin tuna?

**What model and size Shimano spinning reel did you use?

[Darian]

Aloha Don,.... That's a great lookin' Ahi. I didn't realize there were private/public bouys around but, I guess a private buoy is one put there by a commercial fisher??? What's an Aku?? Poppers'd be a lot of fun on Tuna. Maybe I'll get a chance at some Ahi in June at La Ventana.... :cool:

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Looks like that would make a lot of goooooood POKE.
I'm hoping for a wahoo in Baja so we can have fresh ONO POKE, a Ahi wouldn't be bad
Looking forward to Christmas Island in October
Good catch, were they on top or near the top. The Esox would've been a good test

[mems]

Thanks Guys, Bill yes ahi is yellowfin or big eye tuna. These were yellow fin. Shimano trevella rods and spheros reels.
Darian, aku is a skipjack tuna. We eat ours in Hawaii, not like the ones in mexico.
Jay, already made some spicy poke. I took the spoon meat and made ahi burgers, they were awesome. I had more ahi belly and eggs for breakfast today. I have had ono sashimi but not ono poke. Maybe I will make some this season. A guy at the boat ramp got 9 ono going south, largest one was 50lbs. He went a long way almost to the lave flow to get them though. Maybe next weekend we will launch at pohiki boat ramp. I hope to get one on the fly this year. Keep my fingers crossed and my 12wt ready. Don.