It
might not be fly fishing, its still fishing in the
land of big fish!
Tuna
caught off West Coast may set world record 23 August
2005 A fish the "size of a cow" that took five people
to haul on board a boat may have set a new world game
fishing record for a Nelson 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 a 60kg breaking strain line 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," Mr Hayes said. "It was a hell of a big fish;
it's the size of a cow."
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 was now frozen in Greymouth until the DNA
testing can be completed.
Mr Hayes will have the fish mounted for his game fishing
club at Whangaroa near the Bay of Islands
A
LOT OF SANDWICHES: Michael Hayes with the 268kg blue
fin tuna he hopes will prove to be a world record
breaker.
Tight
lines,
Kevin.
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