The charter captains we have gone with out of Venice, Louisiana hook the fish with the rod in the well, and then hand it off to the client, who fights the fish standing up. Fifteen minutes to half an hour is about average in my experience. Not the biggest tuna out there, but more than enough fight for some late middle-aged businessmen. Yeah, I’ve lost some to sharks. Tuna, not businessmen.
“...the client, who fights the fish standing up”.
Like a man. Biggest fish I ever landed was a 50# cod at Coxes Ledge off Montauk Point. They don’t really put up that much of a fight though. One day I’ve got to try for a tuna.