Heading to Hawaii for a month and a half in the morning, will be fishing with Jeff Fay on Humdinger as usual.
I've been trying to catch an IGFA legal grander for ~30 years, (and get my picture on the Granders wall in Kona with the "Big Boys" of Marlin tournament fishing). I've fought a few we and the tournament observer on board were sure went over 1,000, but they only count when they're IN the boat.
The fishing was stellar last September, I tagged 22 decent size blues. Not 200 pound "rats" - but the biggest one ran only 700-ish.
My "best catch" - not biggest fish - so far is a 500 on 50lb test stand up in very rough conditions. Like breaking 12-18ft rough. No harness or anything, I just held the rod under my arm, threw it in the water with a ball on it every time I got spooled, chased it with the pointy end of the boat, gaffed it up and fought some more. This went on for a while.....
Maybe this is the year I'll finally check a Grander off my bucket list?