Giant Kingfish, Caranx ignoblise. 

Giant Kingfish, Caranx ignoblis have always eluded me. But as they say the harder you try the luckier you get.

Giant Kingfish, do frequent our coast line but not like in Mozambique. So when I finally got one here at home I was super stoked.

I got this fish diving on Tiffs one late evening, I was diving alone and had been diving the drop off hoping for some cuta .... which still have not arrived! The sun was dropping close to the horizon and I said to myself that I would head back in shore when the sun touched it.

Time was running out, I probably had another 20 minutes max before having to start heading back to the beach over half a kilometer away. I was super tired as this was the second dive that day, but it was the first good water we had had for weeks. So I was determined to make the most of it.

I remember looking up and seeing the sun very close to the horizon, then looking heavenward and asking God, "why can't I have just one fish?" I had one or two more dives on the drop off and decided to pack it in and head for the beach.

Feeling defeated, unlucky ... what ever you want to call it! After 6 hours diving, brilliant water and not seeing a thing it is easy to feel despondent. So I headed back towards the shore, but not with out my habitual dives on the way in.

I had swam about 15 to 20 meters onto the reef, when I preped up and went to the bottom. It must have been about 16 meters and with the light staring to fade, the sun at a low angle, a very gloomy hue reduced the vis to about 8m. Knowing that this would probably be one of my last dives near the drop off, were the cuta are most lightly to be seen, I pushed my bottom time.

I was hiding behind a ledge facing towards the shore, waiting for something to pitch up. And then there was this Giant Kingfish or Iggie cruising from my left just in range. I was caught dreaming a bit the only Iggies I had seen in our waters were there one second and gone the next. So I automatically figured this one would be the same. But it just kept to it's course and didn't dart away.

I remember taking aim and thinking, "if you mess this up ....... " I let the shot off and to my utter delight I hit the fish. (This is always a big thing for me ..... I must be the worst shot I know!!!) The shot didn't look great just above the anal fin. Damn typical!!!

The fish was not hanging around and by the time I reached the surface I was greeted by my buoy flying into my arms. Two things went through my mind, 1stly I must keep this fish off the bottom 2ndly not to hard I don't want the spear to rip out. Why does life have to be so damn difficult!! Anyway I did not have much choice with either, I was holding on to my buoy with the 3 meters of bungie stretched to the max. After a while ...... don't know how long (It always amazes me when guys say they fought the fish for so many minutes ..... do they set their stop watch?) All I know was that it was a while and time flies when you are having fun!

I eventually got insight of the fish, and noticed that the Tiffanies locals (the damn sharks) were all excited and swimming with the Kingfish. Much like a pack of wild dogs waiting for there next meal to hit the ground. Fortunately they were all the 1 -1.5 meter models, but this was my fish and I was gonna get it. So I swam down the line to close the gap, I then saw that the spear was near the anal fin but was not showing any signs of ripping so I returned to the surface. And started to apply a bit more pressure, but only a little bit. Damn divers dilemma, too hard and it rips out too soft and the the Johnny's get it.

Never the less I finally got the fish, and was very stoked. The spear had come out mid body on the other side and was going nowhere, so I strung it and tried to pacify it with a stringer to the brain ... However Giant Kingfish have a little bit more skull than your regular cuta and it was not keen to go to sleep. At this stage the sun hard dipped below the horizon and I realized that I was going to be swimming in the dark with a very alive bleeding fish. And there was no way I was going to drag it behind me for the sharks to snack on.

I don't remember how long it took to get to the beach ...... forgot to set the 'stop watch'!!! But it felt like forever and it seemed like there was a constant rip going against me. Eventually I got to the beach, totally whacked and wanting to get off the beach to Clints house for a quick pic before it got pitch black. While scurring to get off the beach I was intercepted by a 'Fella' who promptly asked me, "Hey man, is that a fish and al?' If I had an ounce of energy to spare I probably would have told it was my pet that I was taking for a walk or something What always amazes me though is the dof questions come from the guys fishing, and this guy went back to his mates and took up his spot with his fishing rod. Makes me think .... what are they fishing for???

Never the less I got to Clints place just behind Tiffs and got a quick pick before al the light was gone. Then got a decent scale .... ever hopeful that the fish would be over 20kg so I could get a notch on the merit board. But I was not even close only 17kg but still stocked to get a good fish.

I only finished cleaning up around 10pm and hit the sack, fortunately the sea was miff the next morning and I could rest ...... about the only time I wished not to dive ...Ever.

Chris