Manukau tuna near-record

From the Pandora Bank in the Far North to the Taranaki Bight in the south, marlin, yellowfin and mahimahi were encountered in good numbers. One of the better tuna, if not the heaviest, was a 69.4kg yellowfin caught by junior angler Mikhail Cowan, fishing with his dad Glenn on the family boat Trophy on Easter Monday.  Mikhail was on 24kg tackle and the fish took one hour and 20 minutes to bring to the gaff after taking a Pacific ‘Hawaiian Ghost' lure in 105 metres of water off the Manukau Bar. The fish was just around a kilo under the current National Boys Junior Record of 70.50kg, caught by R Corden off Whangaroa in 2005.
A member of The Big Fish Fishing Club at Pakuranga, Auckland, Mikhail had a great start to his gamefishing career, landing not only this tuna, but also two striped marlin, one of which was tagged and the other weighed (138kg).
Glenn says he promised Mikhail he could go marlin fishing once he turned 15, having previously practiced on kingfish until then.
Mikhail's effort capped off a great season for the crews aboard Trophy, the boat accounting for two yellowfin and eight marlin, including one trip off the Kaipara that resulted in three billfish.
Glenn says, that while it had been a good season, the fishing had still been a ‘little patchy'.
"But when they were on, it was hot bite!"

Check it all out and more at www.nzfishingnews.co.nz.