Giant tuna draw anglers to Victoria
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Anglers fishing off Lakes Entrance in Victoria, Australia, are catching unusually large tuna, attracting fishers from across the country to the small coastal town.
Ricky Grech of Lakes Charter Fishing caught a 154kg tuna with his son, beginning a surge of record-breaking catches ranging from 140kg to 231kg. The Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club confirmed the 231kg fish, caught by a team called the A Team, as a new club record.
The sudden increase in fishing activity has boosted tourism in Lakes Entrance, filling car parks, booking out restaurants and accommodations, and benefiting local businesses. Taylor Hunt, manager of recreational fisheries for the Victorian Fisheries Authority, noted the unusual level of activity, comparing it to the busy Easter period. Scientists from the CSIRO are investigating whether these tuna are Pacific bluefin tuna, a species recently confirmed in Victorian waters for the first time.
Researchers are relying on data and samples provided by recreational fishers to determine the tuna’s species and age, and to understand why the fish have appeared in such high numbers. While the reason for the tuna’s presence remains unknown, the event has energized the fishing community and brought attention to the region's marine environment.
