Small Rob standing next to our catch from the first night in Siargao.
These monster 'Oil Fish' were caught by doing drop-line to about 300+ meters. Much was learned this first time...many lines were snapped and dropline rigs lost!
Sorry for the fuzzy photo. BigRob standing next to the monster fish.
The 30kg oil fish to the left was caught by BigRob. The 45kg on the right was caught by our boatman Mario.
Using a 1/2 kg sinker. It took approximately 5-minutes to hit the 300-meter depth that these monsters reside.
Small Rob, BigRob & Gordon.
Talk about a big mouth. You can practically stick your whole head down it's throat!
Now we see why our lines keep getting cut! Going to use 3-5 meter wire leader next time around.
Equipment Recommended to catch these: 4-0 size reel with 400 meters of line, tuna stick or similar, 12/0 size tuna hooks, 0.5 to 1kg sinker (depending on current). We also suggest eating a big bowl of wheaties in the morning.
...we also recommend that you eat a big bowl of wheaties in the morning. You need all the strength and stamina you can muster to land one of these.
We should of taken a better picture of the fish's scales. It's very similar to a pineapple with small sharp thorns sticking out of each scale.
If you don't use long enough wire leader, the fish will wrap around the line making it very easy for the fish's scales to cut right through your mono.
Little hut near Jun's place.
Jun's tri-maran
Mario's nephew with an itty bitty barracuda
BigRob w/ barracuda
Finally!!! I landed my first SailFish!
Mario my boatman, pulling the sailfish on board
Stuffing the fish in the hold.
Getting ready to weigh the fish
My boatman Mario with his nephew.
19kg Sailfish
Sunset on Sunday...heading back to Pilar.
