IT was a gourmet catch of the day on Sunday (7 August) for three friends aboard No Excuse when fishing off Phillip Island’s Woolamai beach.
After leaving Wasternport Marina, Hastings at about 8.30am the three, Christian Ellul, Sean Quinlivan and Ben Gargaro, hooked onto a southern bluefin tuna about one kilometre offshore.
It took about 40 minutes to bring the 106 kilogram fish onto the boat.
Ellul said he had been trying for about 10 years to catch a tuna of that size.
Although classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species, recreational and commercial catches are allowed throughout Australia.
Popular cooked and raw (sashimi and sushi), the southern bluefin grows up to 2.5 metres long and can weigh 260kg.
