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Yellowfin tuna caught off Mexico could be world-record size.
TunaIt's safe to assume that John Petruescu has become a huge fan of long-range fishing, having caught a yellowfin tuna that could be one of the largest--or the largest--ever landed on rod and reel.
The angler, a first-time long-ranger aboard the Excel out of San Diego, used a live skipjack tuna to entice a yellowfin that taped out aboard the vessel at what its Facebook page is listing as 400 pounds.
I've been told by someone closely associated with the boat, however, that this is a very conservative round number, and that the actual weight of the behemoth probably is much heavier.
The fish was among many giant tuna caught at Hurricane Bank off Mexico, and will be weighed on a certified scale after the luxury sportfisher returns to port Saturday night or Sunday morning.
The current International Game Fish Assn. all-tackle world record is a 405-pound yellowfin caught in 2010 by Mike Livingston aboard the Vagabond west off Baja California, off Magdalena Bay.
In September, Guy Yocom of Dana Point caught a yellowfin weighing 427.5 pounds while fishing out of Cabo San Lucas on Baja California's tip.
That catch has yet to be approved by the IGFA as an all-tackle record.
"Taping out" is a measurement formula used by crew members on boats while they're still at sea, and the technique is generally pretty reliable. But the "400 pounds" figure appears to have been thrown out merely as a round number.
Petruescu's tuna required five gaffs just to steer it to the tuna gate, and it barely fit through the gate.
As viewers can tell by the accompanying image, this is an incredibly large specimen, and it will be interesting to a lot of people to learn what it really weighs.
Possible new world record YF tuna caught
Yellowfin tuna caught off Mexico could be world-record size.
TunaIt's safe to assume that John Petruescu has become a huge fan of long-range fishing, having caught a yellowfin tuna that could be one of the largest--or the largest--ever landed on rod and reel.
The angler, a first-time long-ranger aboard the Excel out of San Diego, used a live skipjack tuna to entice a yellowfin that taped out aboard the vessel at what its Facebook page is listing as 400 pounds.
I've been told by someone closely associated with the boat, however, that this is a very conservative round number, and that the actual weight of the behemoth probably is much heavier.
The fish was among many giant tuna caught at Hurricane Bank off Mexico, and will be weighed on a certified scale after the luxury sportfisher returns to port Saturday night or Sunday morning.
The current International Game Fish Assn. all-tackle world record is a 405-pound yellowfin caught in 2010 by Mike Livingston aboard the Vagabond west off Baja California, off Magdalena Bay.
In September, Guy Yocom of Dana Point caught a yellowfin weighing 427.5 pounds while fishing out of Cabo San Lucas on Baja California's tip.
That catch has yet to be approved by the IGFA as an all-tackle record.
"Taping out" is a measurement formula used by crew members on boats while they're still at sea, and the technique is generally pretty reliable. But the "400 pounds" figure appears to have been thrown out merely as a round number.
Petruescu's tuna required five gaffs just to steer it to the tuna gate, and it barely fit through the gate.
As viewers can tell by the accompanying image, this is an incredibly large specimen, and it will be interesting to a lot of people to learn what it really weighs.
Happiness is the journey, not the destination.
Replies
Epic trip all around. 50 YFT over 200#! They stuffed a 28 ton fish freezer. Last two days all fish under 180 were cut off due to space constraints. The big boy ate a live skippy.
Just do it!!!
I will be on this boat at the end of the month after tracking it the last 3 seasons. Dec and Jan are the top months for big tunas. Hoping for a shot at a 300#er.
FYI; The boat has top notch rods/reels so you don't have to ship any gear unless you want to. They also have all the tackle on board to purchase at internet prices. I am just taking my clothes and walking onto the boat. I met them last year at the MIA boat show. Look on their website and contact Jason or Dave.