Mr T, will keep you posted about days and hopefully it works for you.
HY, Looks like you made the most of that calm weather, glad someone did, and thanks for that video. I have been wondering when that was going to be uploaded. Have only just started watching it.
80 lb braid seems like overkill, but perhaps for the abrasion resistance?
I'll stick to the nitta cable tie bridles - less mucking around than that.
That blue water seems close.
No anti-chafing sleeve near the hook on those pre-made traces? Not worth it when the line is already 250lb?
Cush-it rod butt padding or gimbal of some sort seems needed. I wonder if a fibreglass kayak can get a few mods/reinforcement to have a wee nook or swivelling gimbal glassed into the deck to seat the rod butt. It wouldn't get in the way of anything else.
That's a heavy action 24kg rod but it's loaded up heaps. I was thinking of a moderate action rod, but that heavy action is so loaded it seems to be looking like what I thought a moderate action rod would be. :-)
Could that rod use another guide?
Plenty of fight under the yak. I really thought that thing would have taken more line and stayed out for longer. Perhaps after the fight the day before Greg worked out what the gear and his systems could handle and was much more comfortable with getting over the top of it so early on.
That was a hairy moment when he pushed to get the leader on the reel and the fish bounces between sides of the yak. That would have ended badly if I had been in his place ;-)
Towards the end he gets railed a fair bit. Is that point-loading the rod? Worth looking at a rod with more foregrip foam so it reaches to the rail of the yak if need be? Maybe a few strips of foam on the yak rails to take the rod if need be? Or maybe some padding under the leg/knee to keep the thigh up a little higher when well into the fight and are stuffed?
I must say that's a wonderful video depicting the sorts of loads in a fight like that. That's more than I have ever experienced apart from a few minutes of trying to bust off sharks from time to time. How does one even prepare for 3 hours of that? I dunno!
Near the end he says he's on max drag and it's still pulling string. So, that's 18kgs of drag on that reel. He's cautious not to have that high a drag when it's under the yak or fresh and still capable of massive speed bursts though, but still interesting to note there's a time and place for the high drag, even from a yak.
I'm not sure I'd want my FG knot to be coming and going so many times under those sorts of loads. Would have to be very good at timing the moment it comes passed the rod tip so it's as unloaded as possible. I try to do that now but we are only talking little (by comparison) sharks and kings and not anywhere near the loads or not anywhere near the frequency. Perhaps hollow core would be the better option than solid braid?
Bloody big shout out to the skipper that shadowed Greg, gaffed and landed the fish. He made memories that will last lifetimes.
Oh, and FA, I am working out with that seller on trademe a day and time to collect the rod and reel. I don't think it's right for me, but the deal seemed too good to pass up. If I don't want it, and if it's as good as he says, do you want it? You get first dibs ;-) Thanks again for the suggestion. I've got family coming over from Aus soon so if you want the reel I can get them to bring it back and send it to you when they get back there.