World-record bluefin tuna caught off the coast of San Diego on rod and reel by sport fisherman
Fans of sushi in the San Diego area rejoice, as a world record bluefin tuna was reeled in off the Southern California coast earlier this week.
Markus Medak of Shearwater Fishing was able to snag the nearly 500-pound beast with the help of a fellow unnamed fisherman, on just a rod and reel.
According to the New York Post, the tuna weighed in at a staggering 446 pounds after being gilled and gutted, making it the largest bluefin ever caught on a rod and reel.
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The fish was then brought to Tunaville Market and Grocery in Point Loma, which sells to local San Diego restaurants.
Medak and his buddy could hardly believe their eyes when the monster catch got close to the boat.
SEA LION PULLS OFF BRAZEN TUNA HEIST AS FISHERMAN TRIES AND FAILS TO HOLD ONTO HIS FIRST BIG CATCH
Aerial view of San Diego Skyline harbor of California city on ocean bay, California. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“We both got a look at it, and we didn’t even say anything,” he told a local FOX affiliate.
Tommy Gomes, the owner of the Tunaville Market and Grocery, was thrilled to see the catch being brought to his doorstep, calling it a “big deal for the City of San Diego and for sportfishing.”
“There’s a saying, ‘The world needs more tackle boxes and less Xboxes.’ We need to teach kids how to fish,” he said.
Truer words have never been spoken.
A father and son fish together outdoors during summertime. (Getty Images)
Gomes says this year’s “Super El Niño” could have helped with ushering the record-breaking bluefin to SoCal, as the weather phenomenon may be bringing more exotic sea creatures to the Pacific coast.
The fish was reportedly broken down in a live demonstration at a local restaurant on Thursday evening.
A representative for the restaurant assured that every part of the tuna will be used, even its spinal fluid, considered a delicacy in some cultures.
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Built like a torpedo, fights like a freight train. This is what 200+ pounds of bluefin looks like up close. (Getty Images)
So, if you’re a big fan of bluefin, make your way to the southern coast of California soon.
You’ll either snag the catch of a lifetime, or enjoy some damn good sashimi at a local restaurant in the process.
