Great sport fish!!
I have fished them for over 25 years....biggest to date is 10'4" and that was several years ago....
People that come out with me are taught to bring them in fast, if you tire, you hand the rod off.....their revival time is unbelievable!!
As far as fighting it to exhaustion....no! These fish in the shallows go very docile....great for the pictures, as if they are camera hogs!! Treated with respect, they are a great sport fish and many of them around to chase!!
The illusive big ones are what brings many back.....I have lost count of the many over 8', 9' too....the 10'+ are what dreams are made of....... then the odd time you see one breach that you know you will never catch.......!