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.
Originally posted by Nash Look at that man's reel. That aint a reel. That's a contraption.
