Jon Riner teamed up with offshore near-pro Lane Foil for what seemed to be instant success. Our first pass at the first rig of the day resulted in a hammering strike and a blistering run that had the 50LRS hot to touch. Jon did a good job on the rod, but between the relentless fish and the steep chop, he had to call for back-up. Lane got on the rod with a knowing grin, imlpying that he would quickly see this affair to an end, an end that would no doubt be him smiling with a big tuna on the deck. I don’t think events went according to his plan. First of all, his pants ripped so we had to see part of his butt for the entire fight. Secondly, though Lane is experienced and usually comes prepared, he had traded his trusty deck-grippers for what must have been a cheap sale item in the women’s footwear department at Dollar General. Lane could barely turn the handle on the reel without slipping and falling, both on the deck and almost over the side. With Jon exhausted and Randy KOed with seasickness in the bow, calling for his friend “RALPH!,” I had to run the boat and hold Lane by his other grippers so he wouldn’t go over the side. An hour later, his knowing grin had been exchanged for frothy white spittle on his lip and full-body tremors. But he refused to hand over the rod. After a little fancy foot-work, we got a gaff in the tuna and wrestled him aboard. 159# is an awesome spring-time tuna. Lane’s new lucky hat is the “Black Samurai” one he’s wearing in the picture, but I wonder if he can handle the success it brings him.
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