Florida Man Lands Goliath Grouper with Wrench Jig

By Tracy Anderson

Fishermen swear by all sorts of lures and jigs to land a prize-worthy catch. Most serious anglers have a few pieces of hardware they especially trust. One Florida man decided to construct his own jig out of a hand wrench, and boy did he have results. 

After just a few tugs on the line, Ryan Hein from St. Petersburg, Florida hooked a 400 lb. goliath grouper on none other than a #11 wrench. Tired of spending up to $20 on fishing jigs, Hein wen to his garage in search of something that might work. 

ALSO READ: Florida Angler Lands Goliath Grouper on Paddleboard

“A lot of mechanics know that you don’t really use an 11 for anything,” Hein told ABC news in Tampa Bay. “At least I never have.”

So he attached two hooks to one end of the wrench where he also attached the line. Hein said he did it more as a joke than anything else, not really expecting to catch anything. But on the first drop and just the third tug, he got a pull on the line like nothing he had ever felt. 

ALSO READ: Watch this Goliath Grouper Snatch a Spearfisherman’s Catch

Amazingly, the rod and 50 lb. test held up in pulling in the monster fish. Hein had to jump in the water just to remove the hook, along with a few other from previous encounters, and set the fish free.

“I couldn’t believe the gear held up and we landed the fish. That was just as unbelievable for me as using the wrench itself,” Hein said.

Next up, Hein said he wants to experiment with other household objects like a fork and butter knife.

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Tracy Anderson
Tracy Anderson

Tracy Anderson’s achievements as a multi-platform fitness/wellness pioneer and author make her the world’s most renowned expert in the health and fitness industry. She is best known for her Tracy Anderson Method, with devotees including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham, Nicole Richie and Robert Downey Jr. Over the past 16 years, the Tracy Anderson Method has grown and evolved, though the basic premise remains the same: Tracy continues to develop thousands of new routines to ensure that no client ever plateaus.   

With four studio locations—including a brand-new studio in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood—and more than 160 DVDs, Tracy has transformed the bodies of thousands of people across the globe. She has designed several tech innovations and fitness solutions, including the patented Iso-Kinetic Band System, The Hybrid Body Reformer, The Super G Floor, The Sprung AB Block, and The Men’s High Intensity Machine. In addition, Tracy has created a meal replacement shake, a nutrient program and is offering global real time video streaming from inside her studios.  ​

To learn more, visit tracyanderson.com.​

| When I'm teaching, I'm most impressed by a student who shows up for me and for themselves, is all in and not judgmental. 

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