South Westland prospective fishermen Ben Monk and Ashley Clark got more than they bargained for when they pulled in a 330kg monster tuna off Greymouth at the weekend.
The pair set off across the Grey River bar in their 6 metre pontoon jetboat to try their luck with a fishing rod and an 801b breaking strand line.
Mr Monk, who runs the South Westland Salmon Farm at Paringa, said they were close to heading home when the big fish struck.
"We had got some hoki heads off a mate and drove in behind a couple of boats, which were trawling, and next minute - whammo!
"Thank God we had the jetboat as it took us up to two hours to reel it in. It was like hooking a hook on an angus bull and slapping it on the backside."
They took the tuna to Ben's brother's place at Hari Hari where local butcher Nui Thompson helped fillet it.
"We cut it up for locals and the family, and I will smoke some of it at the salmon farm," Mr Monk said.
By Paul McBride of the Greymouth Star
