Angler Brent Connor's hour-long battle with a 281kg tuna off the West Coast last year has landed him in the record books.
The 42-year-old road marking contractor, from Stoke, Nelson, officially holds the world record for a Pacific bluefin tuna caught on a 60kg line.
He has a certificate from the International Game Fish Association and his catch has gone to the association's Florida museum.
Mr Connor's encounter with the tuna came 60km off the West Coast in September last year while he and five mates were on a two-day trip out of Greymouth aboard a 15m charter boat.
The catch was particularly special because it happened on the anniversary of the death of his brother Warren, who died of a heart attack four years ago, he told The Nelson Mail.
"I think he probably gave me a hand to get the fish up."
The tuna took a hoki bait and was landed in 55 minutes, using a game chair and harness. It took all of the six fishermen and three crew to lift it aboard.
Mr Connor said the experience was "just amazing".
"It's like hauling in a bus."
