Long Key Jewfish 300 lbs -est (jan 08)

Fished Sunday 1/20/08 with my buddy Lui on long key bridge.We got up early and it was miserable outside,rainy,cloudy and the wind was howling but none the less we were there with our wives allready renting at a hotel not too far away -so we decided to follow through with plan A.Picked up live shrimp and headed to our spot.When we got there the water(incoming tide) was murky and the current was not moving so fast because the waves were moving against it.The wind was so strong that i had to take off my lucky visor and fish without it.We were catching small mangroves and not much more-it was slow.Decided to put out a shark bait on my 12/0 so down went a half a yellow jack on my trusty stand up rod that i caught my 13 foot tiger on last summer in Bimini --by luck I had remembered to bring the piece of garden hose that we use when fishing the bridges.Anyway it was'nt long before Lui was screaming for me to hurry the 12/0 was getting nailed so by the time i got to the rod the fish had taken out 50 yards of line and had stopped ;a minute later it picked up the bait again but right away i got slack on my line.I started to reel tight to see what was happening and had to really start cranking cause he was charging the bridge ,the line got tight just as he was going under the bridge and out the other side,,,,,,,my heart was going a mile a minute,crank,crank,crank,lean the rod on the cement and try to turn him but it was useless the fish was big and i knew if i put on too much pressure he was gone;so i screamed at Lui to drop the bridge gaff and snag the line so we could bring up the line on the other side cut and retie
onto the 12/0,,,,no use he was not having any luck snagging the line as the fish ran ,then I opened the spool figuring if he felt no presure he would swim back towards the bridge ,it worked a few minutes later the fish was almost back under me and i decided it's now or never.I started to pump and crank like a madmen ,Lui is telling me it might be a nurse but i knew better ,i know the distinctive head shakes of a nurse and this was no nurse i told him Jewfish.Sure enough Lui cries out big Jewfish and i,m in heaven when i look down and see it.s big alright.The fish is now under me and heading for the new bridge pilons and it,s time to slam on the brakes -thank God the Suffix 130 lb test stood up to the scraping on the bridge and did'nt break,if i were using braid it would of ended right when he first went under and i applied pressure.Got him turned just as he got to the pilons cranked him in and started walking sideways to lead him to the seawall for pictures and a quick release.Lui meanwhile does'nt want to rush to follow me becuse some people were leaving and he's worried about his rods ,so i walk him down towards the seawall and once he dove under on me but i had my double line in the reel and was able to turn him again.Got him to the end by now Lui is next to me and snapping away with his kodak non digital -went over the rail Lui hands me the rod and i walk down to the bottom get on the rocks take some pics and kink him free just above the hook.God is Good.I'm at peace with the world and content but very tired.I hug my friend Lui and thank him .Just like old times buddy and he says it too with a smile on his face -Just like old times.

Lui and I -minus the top of our heads

Lui with one of the few keeper mangroves

Lui with a yellow jack

Finally he shows -thank God for the rubber hose

Walkin em down

Beautiful, healthy fish,luckily lip hooked

Best picture-probably close to 300 lbs

Getting him as close as possible to kink off the