MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — A North Carolina fisherman recently reeled in the biggest catch of his life -- an enormous 800-pound bluefin tuna.
Tommy Adkins, of Reidsville, said that he caught the tuna Wednesday at Radio Island Marina in Morehead City.
Adkins is a part-time commercial fisherman who said he targets mainly mahi-mahi, wahoo and Atlantic bluefin tuna for export to Tokyo.
He said he battled with the massive fish for more than three hours before getting him on board. Adkins said the tuna as 106 inches long and weighing more than 800 pounds.
“He is by far the biggest fish I have ever seen, more or less caught,” Adkins said. “Turns out that he is the biggest bluefin tuna that has been caught in Morehead City this season, and is expected to bring the highest sales price as well.”
Portside Marina in Morehead City buys the tuna from fishermen and confirmed the catch.