November 2007
A Real Fish Story
Working on a charter fishing boat "Arramora" in the Gulf of Mexico, I use my trusty old PST2 several times everyday for whatever comes up, from rebuilding a reel to clipping leader wire. I even once used it as a makeshift handle to reel up a grouper. Last week I found another opportunity to use my Leatherman to solve a problem.
After a lengthy battle a 38# kingfish finally surrendered the fight, and let us crank him up to the boat. This was one of those once in a lifetime fish for the customer (from Iowa) and I had to put him in the boat. I stuck him with a regular gaff and the head pulled off leaving me holding a useless handle and the fish still in the water. I grabbed a boat hook, a roll of electrical tape and fished my trusty Leatherman out of my pocket. After assembling a devise that would have McGyver proud I made my second attempt at boating the big king.
With one well placed shot the fish was in the boat. This is a tool that is always in my pocket and gets lots of uses every day, but I have used it to land a fish. My local pub owner wants to display the improvised gaff with a mount of the fish. Even though it would be worth a few free drinks, If I give up the Leatherman I have no idea what I would use to run in the screws that we are going to use to hang the fish mount. I will send pictures.
Capt. John S.
Port Richey, FL
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.