A New Hampshire fisherman landed an 1,116-pound Atlantic bluefin tuna that eclipsed the state record by more than 150 pounds.
Brandon McGirl caught the fish on Saturday during an overnight charter with Capt. Jamie Savage, WMUR reported.
New Hampshire fisherman lands 1,116-pound bluefin tuna, breaking state record (Video: CNN Newsource via WMUR)
“If you tuna fish for long time, to catch a 1,000-pound fish, is, I mean, it’s something that you dream of,” McGirl said told WMUR.
The tuna weighed 154 pounds more than New Hampshire’s previous bluefin record, a 962-pound fish caught in 2013, according to fishing records compiled by On The Water.
The media outlet noted McGirl and Savage encountered rough conditions during the trip, but brought the fish back to Rye Harbor, where its size quickly became apparent.
“We lifted it out of the water and immediately knew it was way bigger than what we thought — and bigger than anything neither of us had seen before,ā Savage told WMUR.
Atlantic bluefin tuna are among the largest and most prized fish pursued by offshore anglers. The fish can grow to enormous sizes and are known for powerful runs that can make them difficult to land.
New Hampshire Fish and Game maintains state records for freshwater and saltwater species through its trophy and record fish program. Record applications typically require measurements, documentation, and witness verification before being added to the agencyās official list.
The prior New Hampshire bluefin record was caught in the Gulf of Maine by a crew fishing from New Castle. That fish measured 119 inches and required more than three hours to bring in, according to On The Water.
WMUR reported that the fish will now head to market, “where it could be sent as far as Japan.” But the tail will stay at the harbor, the outlet noted, serving as a trophy of the record-breaking catch.
