Anglers reel in 9ft-long tuna weighing 900lb – Britain’s ‘biggest fish ever’ caught on a rod
TWO anglers reeled in what could be Britain’s biggest fish ever caught on a rod — a 9ft tuna weighing 900lb.
The Atlantic bluefin was landed by Simon Batey and pal Jason Nott following an hour-long struggle.
Tipping the scales at 64st, it is as hefty as a small tractor and would be enough for more than 6,000 sandwiches.
But after being measured, it was released back 30 miles off the Pembroke coast.
The friends were on a fishing boat skippered by Andrew Alsop, who called it “the dirtiest fighting fish I have gone up against”.
Simon, 56, of Sarn, Bridgend, South Wales, and Jason, 50, of Cwmaman, near Aberdare, had been returning with Andrew from an area of the Irish Sea known as the Celtic Deeps.
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Andrew, who captains one of six boats in Wales licensed under the new tuna catch and release tagging scheme, said: “Simon did well for the first part of the battle then handed the rod over.”
The tuna is the biggest fish caught in Welsh waters and could even beat a British record of 851lb set off Whitby, North Yorks, in 1933.
Atlantic bluefin returned to Welsh waters after more than 50 years having being hit by overfishing and climate change.
Actor Julian Lewis Jones, who is patron of the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers, said: “It’s no mean feat to catch a fish of this size — at that length it’s the same size as a big shark.
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“They are immensely powerful.”