“When hooked, Ahi tuna usually do not jump, but they will make sudden sideways turns and swim in large circles,” Whipsaw Sportfishing, a charter fishing company based in Oahu, said on their website. “Considering their weight, this can be an exhausting experience, and you will have to have patience while trying to reel them in.”
The Coast Guard and the Hawaii Fire Department have searched for Knittle for 72 hours. The search will conclude on Thursday.
“If you don’t have your gear right, or you get your hand wrapped in that line, those fish are all muscle,” Paul Appleblom, owner of Kauai Apex Charters, told Insider. “I’ve been trying to even figure out what the hell happened with this guy.”
“If you’re hand-lining and wrapping your hands incorrectly, you could get pulled over and be along for the ride, and they’re strong,” he added.
While deep-sea fishing is inherently risky, such overboard incidents are rare.
