A fish the "size of a cow" that took five people to haul onboard a boat has set a new world game-fishing record for a New Zealand angler. Business broker Michael Hayes thought he was going to be dragged overboard when he tried to land the 268kg bluefin tuna off the West Coast.
He was fishing with 60kg breaking-strain line on a reel borrowed from an Australian about 50km west of Greymouth last Thursday. Now, he is waiting for the results of a DNA test to confirm that the fish is a Pacific bluefin tuna and a new International Game Fishing Association record. "I got it to the boat but then it took five of us to get it into the boat," Hayes said. "It was a hell of a big fish. It's the size of a cow."
| "Charlie, Starkist doesn't want tunas with good taste ... |
The fish was caught using a soft-squid plastic lure on an Australian mate's reel, which was made to handle black marlin that could weigh up to 500kg. It took two hours to land and was one of four bluefin tuna, all heavier than 200kg, caught by anglers on the boat.
A Justice of the Peace had attended the weighing and certified scales had been used, according to rules. The fish is now frozen in Greymouth until the DNA testing can be completed.
| To see if it's part cow, of course. |
Hayes will have the fish mounted for his game fishing club at Whangaroa in Northland near the Bay of Islands. |