A San Diego angler has landed the largest bluefin tuna ever caught on rod and reel, a fish that weighed 446 pounds after being gilled and gutted.
Markus Medak of Shearwater Fishing brought in the nearly 500-pound tuna earlier this week off the Southern California coast with help from a fellow fisherman, using only standard rod-and-reel gear.
“We both got a look at it, and we didn’t even say anything,” Medak told a local Fox affiliate, describing the moment the fish came into view near the boat.
The catch was hauled to Tunaville Market and Grocery in Point Loma, a shop that supplies local San Diego restaurants. Owner Tommy Gomes called it “a big deal for the City of San Diego and for sportfishing.”
Gomes also used the moment to make a broader point about getting kids outdoors. “There’s a saying, ‘The world needs more tackle boxes and less Xboxes.’ We need to teach kids how to fish,” he said.
Gomes suggested this year’s “Super El Niño” weather pattern may have played a role, potentially pushing more exotic marine life toward the Southern California coast.
The record-setting fish was broken down in a live demonstration at a local restaurant on Thursday evening. A representative for the restaurant said every part of the tuna would be used, including its spinal fluid, which is considered a delicacy in some cultures.
