Go Sun Yourself: Photos of the World's Best Beaches

advertisement

Giant trevallys are hawgs. They like to eat everything and a lot of it. When they see something they want, there's no doubt about their intentions. They race forward, often fighting other GTs along the way to get at the offering first, and then inhale their victim.

Their mouths are like nuclear vacuum cleaners: when they start gobbling something down, it's a goner. Two of the best techniques to get a herd ("school" just doesn't cut it) of GTs fired up are chugging and chumming.

The first is to throw a large, noisy surface chugger right among the GTs and start ripping it back. The noise and action drives the GTs insane and they attack immediately.

The second technique is to toss some chum (chunks of tuna work well) into the pack. These two techniques can be used together, too, and when a fly is presented in the middle of the fracas, well, you had better be ready for the battle royale.

Winning the Battle
Getting a GT to eat your fly is easy. Getting that same GT into the boat is another matter altogether. If Midway wasn't a national wildlife refuge, I would recommend just shooting the buggers.

Think "every trick in the book." That's what you are going to have to use to win. Start by giving your rod to the captain and making him fight the crazy thing. If he won't accept it, it's up to you.

When the GT runs, point the rod almost directly at it with just a bit of a bend. Palm the reel as the GT runs as much as you dare and keep your drag as tight as possible. When the GT turns right, force it back left (and vice versa) by turning the rod in the other direction; this wears the GT down faster.

Use a short pumping motion and quick cranks of the reel all the while, even if you only gain a few inches of line back. Be ready to move quickly around the boat as the GT circles, and be ready to shove the rod all the way into the water when the GT dives suddenly, which usually happens right at boat side.

Oh, and pray. Cursing also helps.