The pain in my right forearm had become unbearable. I shook it to relieve the discomfort. The spool on my reel was still missing 200 yards of line, and everyone on the boat was completely silent. At this point, I'd accepted reality: This was the toughest fight I'd ever encountered.
"We're fishing the rigs. Are you coming?"
It was a sunny Monday morning in eastern Florida.
"There are yellowfin tuna up to 100 pounds around the oil rigs off Alabama right now," said Phil, who was coordinating this adventure for Salt Water Sportsman. I packed up my rods, tackle boxes and camera gear, put my truck in drive, and started the nine-hour journey to Alabama.
As the miles wound down, I thought about the footage I'd seen of fishing and diving around these rigs. There are around 3,500 of them, giant extraction machines that have become legendary fish attractors in the Gulf. I'd never fished an oil rig myself, but I'd grown up watching video after video of others lucky enough to run that far out. From spearfishing massive cubera snapper to ridiculous drone footage of foaming tuna blitzes, the stuff they'd shown me got my imagination racing. This could be one of the most memorable trips of my life.
I was one of six YouTube personalities on this trip, a group of guys Salt Water Sportsman pulled together to cover the bite. I'd only met one of the guys before, so I took some time at a rest stop to meet everyone. Jack Moran, known as "Yakin With Jack," makes videos about fishing off kayaks around the Florida Panhandle. Phil Hollandsworth coordinates trips and shoots video for Salt Water Sportsman. Tony Faggioni creates surffishing content for his channel, "FishGum." "Big John" McClain is a former professional hockey goalie who stands at a towering 6-foot-9 (and loves catching sharks from the beach). And then there was my friend Brad Warren, better known as "Bearded Brad" on YouTube and social media.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Jupiter 40
The new Jupiter 40 shines brightly amid an increasingly crowded orbit of similar-size offshore center-console fishing machines.
Pursuit S 248 Sport
The new S 248 Sport offers a versatile alternative to the growing number of mega-size, multi-outboard center-console fishing boats.
Pressing Pause
MAKING THE MOST OF THE TIDE'S RUNNING-SLACK PERIODS WILL UP YOUR GAME.
NEED FOR SPEED
SPEED-TROLLING WITH DIVING LIPLESS PLUGS HAS EMERGED AS THE NEXT BIG THING FOR FINICKY PACIFIC BLUEFIN TUNA.
FISH WIDE OPEN
TODAY'S NEW BREED OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE OUTBOARD BOATS EXPANDS ANGLING HORIZONS
FLORIDA KEYS OVERNIGHTER
THE DRY TORTUGAS IS NO LONGER THE FINAL FRONTIER, BUT THE BOTTOMFISHING IS STILL WORTH THE TRIP.
A Quiet Revolution
Brushless saltwater trolling motors turn up the efficiency and turn down the noise.
The Right Propeller
Changing out your props? Here are five things to know first, straight from the experts.
Topwaters for Every Speed
There's nothing better than watching a fish slam a plug as it rips across the water's surface.
Don't Let Current Ruin Your Bottom-Fishing Trip
Lengthen your soak time with this fast-current bottom rig.
