By Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling

The electrifying moment of hooking a fish is what draws us back to the water time and time again. The instant you lift the rod and start reeling, the line snaps tight, and a lively energy courses through the rod—connecting you to a living, thrashing entity on the other end. It’s an exhilarating sensation, a mix of anticipation and joy so palpable you can almost taste it. Yet, what unfolds in the moments that follow will determine whether you'll boast about your catch or recount yet another tale of the one that got away.

For smaller fish, which don’t pose much challenge to your gear, a simple technique suffices. Just tilt the rod to about 45 degrees from the horizontal and reel them in steadily. But when you're up against a larger, formidable opponent, brute force won’t cut it. Overpowering big, strong fish often leads to snapped lines, lost hooks, or even a broken rod—a scenario no angler wants.

Surprisingly, even a fish that weighs less than you might expect can break a line designed to handle double their weight. For instance, active species like tailor, salmon, trout, barramundi, or tuna can easily snap a line in a head-to-head tussle. That's why it’s crucial to understand the art of “playing” these fish.

Playing a fish is not about toying with it or unnecessarily prolonging the fight. Rather, it involves a calculated process of gently and gradually reeling the fish in, using the rod’s flexibility as a buffer to safeguard the line and hook. Part of this strategy includes letting the fish run when needed, testing the reel’s drag—a setting that should be checked and adjusted each time you head out. Typically, the drag should be calibrated to about a quarter to a third of the line’s breaking strain, ensuring you handle your catch without risking your gear.

Mastering these techniques doesn’t just enhance your chances of landing a big catch; it deepens your connection with the aquatic world, turning every encounter into a thrilling dance between angler and fish.