Jasper, Chris! those are classic.. ha..ha..ha.. Reminds me of a good couple of years ago tunny fishing a tunny comp. from Martina Martinique. We were 4 up on my 26ft Butt Cat and on our way out while riggin up I noticed this Vaalie picked to fish with me attaching a Penn 49 onto his rod. I chirped ''boet, ons gaan nie nou elwe vang nie''. Irritated he barked, ''boerie!! weet jy al die rooi steenbra en poensies en moerse krakers wat ek al met die katrol uitgehaal het.
Long story short, he refused my offer of a better reel. At about 23 n.m. out we got warm current and birds working a couple of hundred metres away. Slowed down to trolling speed and set out our lines. We were still far from the working birds when all hell broke loose. TUNNY!! big ones too hit our lures.
Immediately I turned to see that Penn 49 scream!! start smoking!!(within seconds). The Vaalie was still trying to get the safety clips released when that reel simply exploded, screws and mangled side covers flew into the air and water like a rifle shot. Only the metal section screwed to the rod remained. f..... we laughed, was hell landing those 60-70 kg fish while laughing at his remarks. He ended up catching his first y/f tuna that day.:D:D:D
Dave