A group of fishermen caught bluefin tuna (Tunnus tunus) of more than 800 pounds in waters off Florida, a weight that exceeds the current state record.
According to the media Local 10 News, it was up to Captain George Gill’s team to capture the animal. The six were sailing aboard the private boat Flat Dangerous when they came across the big fish about 68 miles from Destin.
While the capture was made last month, it is only now that the news has started to attract the attention of the community on social networks.
According to the information shared, fishing for this animal required five hours of effort before the fishermen were able to get the big tuna on board the boat.
“It was a titanic fight, every minute in the water was a constant challenge,” Captain Gill told the media quoted.
Once at the dock, an entire team was needed to unload the large specimen, which was approximately 9 feet long, that is, two meters and 70 centimeters.
The tuna was taken to the scale, where it was recorded weighing 888 pounds (402.79 kilograms), making it the largest specimen caught in Florida waters.
Although the animal exceeded the state record of 826.5 pounds set in 2017 by Rick Whitley, this catch will not be recognized in the record books, because to be official, the animal must have been to be caught by one person.
Internet user Anne Nuffer Hinze, whose husband is also a private boat captain and George Gill’s best friend, was one of the people who came to the port to see how it went loading the fish, sharing images of the historical period.
“Seeing a fish of that size is a once in a lifetime experience for many of us,” the woman said.
After the catch, the tuna was cleaned and divided into generous portions, to be distributed among the family and friends of the crew, a community tradition when they make big catches.
Bluefin tunas can reach more than 3 meters in length and weigh up to 680 kilograms, depending on the age of the specimen.
These animals are known for their ability to maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding water, which allows them to live and hunt in cold waters without any problems.
