A professional involved in the private equity and venture capital sector, Kevin Graetz has been working in the field for more than 15 years. Aside from his professional pursuits, Kevin Graetz is an avid big game fisherman. Over the years, he has caught many yellowfin tuna, big eye tuna, and marlin in such locations as the Hudson Canyon, Bahamas, and Jamaica. Listed below are a few suggestions on what to do and what not to do while trying to land a big fish.
1. Set the hook properly. To do this, firmly lift up your rod rip using your elbow and wrist. If you do this too early or too lightly, the hook will not penetrate the fish’s mouth and you will lose your catch. Meanwhile, if you do it too hard, you may tear the hook out of the fish’s mouth.
2. Don’t forget about the slack. Assuming you set the hook properly, you can pump the fish by lifting the rod tip to bring the fish closer, then lowering it to create a bit of slack. As soon as you lower the rod, reel the line in to eliminate this slack and repeat the process. However, slack in the line is detrimental if you haven’t set the hook right. If you’re uncertain, focus on applying steady pressure instead.
3. Be conscious of when you reel in your catch. Reeling in a fish at the wrong time increases strain on the line and increases the risk of losing the catch. Let the fish tire itself out by allowing it to run without reeling in the line. Once the fish has stopped pulling line out, reel it in slowly.
4. Don’t fight every fish the same. You must fight fish differently depending on both the species and the environment you are fishing in. For instance, in lakes where fish can snag the line around underwater obstacles, apply heavy pressure to the fish until it’s out in more open water. Conversely, when fishing in open water, let it tire itself out by swimming away.
