I've pulled enough big, angry fish out of Kenyan water to know this: the fight is not won on the boat. It's won in the first 20 seconds after the hit.

People panic. They crank. They stand up. They give the fish a straight line to snap.

What I do instead:

• Rod tip stays low until I feel the head turn

• I don't horse it. I let it run the first burst, then I take line back on the pause

• If it's a species that dives structure, I move the boat before I move the fish

That's the difference between a story and a catch.

I post the ones that don't make YouTube in my inner circle — exclusive clips plus a members chat. $9/month if you want in.