Winter Longtail, and lessons on barbs
Almost lost my first Longtail tuna when it pulled hooks right at my feet. I had crushed barbs as I was doing a lot of catch and release, but I really wanted this one. Nearly went in, but managed to land it.
Went back the next week in search of similar again, with fresh hooks and barbs intact. I’d just spent 10 minutes waiting out the breaks to retrieve a snagged X Rap, when of course a handful of casts later it gets stuck fast again. My lack of patience and desire to remain dry drove me to grip the leader and yank it out.
I spent the subsequent 15/20 minutes learning why crushed barbs might not be so bad after all.
After finally getting that big bastard through the other side of my skin and crushing it, the hook slid out like butter…. Maybe I need the barbs after all. This lesson is a slippery bugger.