First time being spooled

[Range Coach]

Had to make a site visit down in Freeport yesterday so I decided to take some plastics and a rod with me just in case I got the chance to hit the surf. I finished what I needed to do around 2:00 pm so, despite the conditions, I hit the water just down from the Surfside entrance. After about the fifth cast, I felt a quick jerk and the line started screaming out. Since I only had 12 pound test on, I had the drag fairly loose. As the line was quickly leaving the spool, I tightened the drag down as much as I dared. I had no idea I could go from "OH YEAH....AWESOME...GREAT" to "UH OH...NOT GOOD...OH ****.....(pow)...@#$@%!!!!" so quickly. 180 yards of line in about 20-30 seconds and there endeth my day.

What do y'all think? A big jack? Never got a chance to see "it".

[JSAPP]

Jack I bet.

[Speckwrangler]

Next time put your thumb on the spool and stop the fish... That mono acts like a giant rubberband and is a lot stronger than you think. I have landed many Jackfish this way.

Good luck next time.

SW

[TimeOut55]

Same thing happened to my daughter on Memorial Day at the North Jetty. I had 150 yards of 30# braided line and about 100 yards of 12# mono backing.
Before we could pull up anchor and bring in the other rods, she was down to the backing.... I loosened up the drag once she got to the mono, but the line popped pretty quickly. I'm convinced it was a jack as well. Those things are STRONG and FAST!!!!!

Was an exciting few minutes on an otherwise slow day....
Now I have to replace the braided line $$$$$
Bad side of using braided line I guess.

[iridered2003]

next time the spool gets that low, just lock it down on that fishes *** and hope for the best. i had a 15lbs jack try to spool me, but i put a stop to that and turned him around and i was on a pier, so i had no where to go. what a fun fight

[worstSPECKanglerTX]

Originally Posted by Speckwrangler

Next time put your thumb on the spool and stop the fish... That mono acts like a giant rubberband and is a lot stronger than you think. I have landed many Jackfish this way.

Good luck next time.

SW

Yup. You are a lot bigger than that jack is don't forget that. If you have braid thats over 10lb. test it's insanely strong and that jack will not be breaking it any time soon. Also, back your reels with 1/4 spool of mono just in case you get spooled to the bottom you can just let it snap off if you need to without digging into your spool and messing up your reel.

[mwatt007]

Originally Posted by iridered2003

next time the spool gets that low, just lock it down on that fishes *** and hope for the best.

never had it happen but why not..this is what I always say I'm gonna do..forget the line, i wanna see it!

[CRC]

Got spooled in the maTagorda surf 2 weeks ago. **** ripped off my line in about 20 seconds. I had my drag tightened all the way and tried stopping itwith both of my thumbs but all it was having none of that and left me with cuts and blisters on my thumbs.

[Smackdaddy53]

Originally Posted by CRC

Got spooled in the maTagorda surf 2 weeks ago. **** ripped off my line in about 20 seconds. I had my drag tightened all the way and tried stopping itwith both of my thumbs but all it was having none of that and left me with cuts and blisters on my thumbs.

Ill never forget my cousin throwing a bone top dog off the big jetties out of port oconnor. There was a pod of big jacks cruising and he launched that top right in front of them and the last one rolled on it and hit the nitrous. My cousin was spooled faster than he had time to react, it was hilarious. Those big boys dont play, especially when youre not in a boat.



-mac-

[basscat114]

there are a ton of jacks in the surf right now befor the wind started bowing we were catching big 30pb plus jacks out on the 3rd bar on bone superspooks and big storm swimbaits on 20pd mono and a 8ft med heavy rod with a cal 400 its a good way to pass a slack tide waiting on the trout to turn back on. we got between 20 and 30 a trip