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.
