BOY FIGHTS WITH THE FISH OF HIS DREAMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 23, 2008 -- July 27, 2008

Weeki Wachee, Florida – The sharp tug came early Saturday morning, just hours into the daylong sport-fishing trip Donald Troisi and his son Anthony had planned for weeks. The strike nearly jerked the pole from Anthony's young hands.

For nearly the next hour and a half, the 8-year-old from Weeki Wachee matched wits and strength with a 74lb Gag Grouper, straining to keep a firm grasp of his rod as his dad held him from being pulled from their boat. He reeled in sections of his line at a time in fits and spurts, whenever he could muster up enough strength.

The 68-pound boy prevailed in the fight even though the giant fish had the boy by over 6 lbs, and he may be the youngest person to have come closest to the 80lb 6oz Florida record caught off Destin in 1993.

“The monster grouper almost pulled me out of the boat,” Anthony said from his house, where he was busy recapping his unimaginable experience. “I caught it on a rod that only had 30 pound line”, Anthony excitedly pointed out.

Anthony and his dad wrestled the fish into the boat after nearly an hour and a half struggle. His proud father, Donald Troisi, spent most of the time keeping Anthony from being pulled from the boat by the giant fish.

Allen Smith of Weeki Wachee Bait and Tackle, which operates a charter in Weeki Wachee, said the catch was the most amazing thing he's seen since his shop opening.

“The Grouper that people are generally catching this time of year are between 10 to 15 pounds,” he said. “Fishing is always blind luck and good instincts.”

State records are verified and kept by the Florida Fish and Wildlife commission. Being awarded a state record can take weeks or months.

The Florida State Fish and Wildlife Commission posts records on its Web site, but outside Brian Darby's office he calls this catch a potential WORLD RECORD for Anthony's age group. “I've been covering this stuff for 16 years and I don't remember a bigger fish being caught by a younger person,” he said.

The 74-pounder was the largest Grouper Anthony has ever caught. But two years ago, with his dad's help, he claimed a 39 pound Cobia off the coast of Clearwater, Florida.

David Jacobs, MMSN,PBC,TT:

anthony     Anthony Troisi     Don Troisi     Donald Troisi     Gag Grouper     Troisi     weeki wachee