The excitement makes his pulse race, and the exertion is felt in his arms and shoulders as the fish just keeps going.
Slowly, slowly, the drag takes effect and the line stops stripping off the reel.
Reel in, pump, reel in and the fish takes off on another charge for deeper water. Dare to tighten the drag? Will the line run right off the reel?
Big drops of sweat break out now, because the battle is only half done.
The fish no longer heads for the bottom, but he sure isn't coming to the surface, either. No matter how hard he cranks, just when a little line is reeled in the drag slips and more line is given up.
There, the fisherman gains a yard, then another. Confident he begins the long reel-in toward the surface, and just when he thinks he sees the fish rising to the surface, the fish sees what's going on and heads for the deep again.
Muscles quivering, groaning with fatigue, the fisherman braces himself against the gunwales and tries to find some small amount of rest for a second, then pump and crank, pump and crank.
"Steady," Captain Rick cautions and reaches for the big landing net. "Don't try to lift him, just guide him over to the opening of the net."
Captain Rick quietly, so as not to spook the fish, lays the net over in the water and eases it toward the fish as the fisherman does everything he can to keep the strain even and the fish calm.
"There!", and Captain Rick has the fish solidly in the net and lets out a big grunt as he heaves the fish into the boat.
