HONOLULU (KHNL/Gray News) – A Hawaii woman reeled in a rare catch while fishing Monday night.
It took four men to take a giant ulua that Aleta Corpuz caught out of a cooler and onto a weigh station at the Hanapaa Fishing Company in Kalihi.
”Oh, my gosh, you guys, I cannot look! What is it?” Corpuz said.
And the scale showed a whopping 108.2 pounds.
Corpuz and her North Shore Pole Bendaz Club said they were super stoked about catching a rare 100-pound-plus ulua. Corpuz said she caught the massive fish while fishing at a secret spot that evening.
”It was intense! I was anxious, I was nervous, I was excited, I was crying!” she said.
Not only was it grueling, Corpuz was nearly outmatched. Her pole, spinning reel and small hook were not made to catch a fish that big. She was also running out of her fishing line.
”I was on the last circle on the reel, and Carson said, ‘You are getting spooled honey!’ and I said, ‘Don’t say that!” Corpuz said.
But she stayed focused 30 minutes into the fish fight and got the ulua.
”I saw a massive head in the water. I was like grab that fish! I gave it all that I got. My arms were shot, my back was shot but we landed him!” Corpuz said.
As far as what she used for bait. She said that’s also a secret.
No word if the ulua will end up on the Thanksgiving dinner table, but Corpuz said she is filled with gratitude to land the lucky catch.
Officials said Al Gadow holds the state title for the largest ulua caught. He caught a 191-pound giant trevally off Lahaina in 1980.
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