Fish That Can Kill You!

Giant Trevally

In the contest for meanest fish in the ocean, Larry Dahlberg votes for the giant trevally. In his travels as host of the television show, Hunt for Big Fish (huntforbigfish.com), Dahlberg has run into plenty of GT's. The first GT Dahlberg hooked on light tackle spooled his reel and busted his rod. "After running 150 yards, the fish was still accelerating," he says. "The line broke with such force that it straightened the guides on the rod." Not one to admit defeat easily, Dahlberg returned with a new rod and heavier line. The next fish he hooked didn't get a chance to run. "I clamped down on the drag and pulled the fish into shallower water." Unfortunately for Dahlberg, GTs are as good at hand-to-hand combat as they are at breaking fishing equipment. "When I tried to grab the fish, it kicked so hard that it cut a whole in my glove and took off."

Location: Seychelle Islands.

Season: Year Round.

Tackle and Techniques: When he sees a big GT cruising the flats, Dahlberg gets the fish's attention with a big topwater teaser then throws his fly in front of the fish. "GT's are beasts," he says. "It's like snagging a school bus, they just turn around and leave."