Anglers win epic battle with giant tuna off Cabo San Lucas

A 351-pound yellowfin tuna caught Tuesday beyond Cabo San Lucas fell nearly 38 pounds shy of the longstanding world record.

But the the world-record catch -- 388 pounds, 12 ounces -- was made aboard a 113-foot fishing boat, with heavy tackle and customized tuna gear.

The 351-pound behemoth, a furiously stubborn specimen that fought for nearly five hours before five exhausted men were able to reel it to the surface, was caught aboard a 26-foot skiff out of La Playita Sportfishing.

There were no swivel-chairs so they had to battle the fish while standing, taking turns cranking a reel made for much smaller game, spooled with 80-pound test, beneath a blazing sun and atop a bumpy Sea of Cortez.

There are few species of fish more powerful, pound for pound, than a tuna, and that John Penny, Ken Bond and Mike Nelson were able to get the tuna to the surface under these circumstances is impressive.

"No one angler could land a fish this size in a panga [skiff] under these conditions," said Penny, a Canadian who owns a home in Cabo San Lucas.

But perhaps more impressive is that they managed to haul that much weight into the boat without capsizing. "It took four of us to bring it on board while the fifth person stayed on the boat so it wouldn't tip over," Penny added.

The tuna, caught at the inner Gordo Banks not far from La Playita near San Jose del Cabo, is believed to be the largest weighed this season in the Los Cabos area, which is becoming increasingly famous for producing monster yellowfin.

Last year tuna caught in the same area weighed 357, 372 and 383 pounds.

According to the International Game Fish Assn., the all-tackle world-record yellowfin -- the 388-pound 12-ounce specimen -- was caught in 1977 at Mexico's Revillagigedo Islands, 300 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas.

Renowned tuna Curt Wiesenhutter made the catch aboard the San Diego-based Royal Polaris, which was built for pursuing giant yellowfin off Mexico. Anglers have been trying to beat that record ever since.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Mike Nelson, John Penny and Ken Bond alongside their 351-pound prize is courtesy of La Playita Sportfishing

Comments

[website hosting]

Tuna is my favourite fish. I like its all dishes and best for serving in any functions. Before your post I never seen this much big tuna in any photographs. It is really very best and good to share with us.

[London escort]

The yellowfin tuna is one of the largest tuna species,Deeper diving and cruising seems to happen more often in the daytime,those peoples had to done really great job.