New Hampshire fishermen land 1,116-pound bluefin tuna, shattering state record

Fisherman Brandon McGirl and Captain Jamie Savage of Savage Charters NH landed a 1,116-pound bluefin tuna off the coast of New England this past weekend, a weight that surpasses the previous New Hampshire record by more than 150 pounds. The catch, reported by local ABC affiliate WMUR9, was hauled from the waters aboard the charter vessel "Out of Line." McGirl and Savage were fishing under difficult conditions on Saturday, with the sea state rougher than anticipated. As they prepared to end their day, they encountered a fish that would define the record books.

The pursuit of the tuna lasted for over a mile, a physical challenge that the men described as the most demanding part of the night. Upon lifting the fish from the water, Capt. Savage noted that its size immediately appeared far larger than expected and larger than anything either man had previously seen. The final measurement of 1,116 pounds stands as a significant margin over the previous state benchmark set in 2013.

For McGirl, the achievement represents the culmination of a long-term goal in the sport. "If you tuna fish for long time, to catch a 1,000-pound fish, is, I mean, it's something that you dream of," McGirl said. The scale of the fish is evident in the images provided by Capt. Savage, which show the two men dwarfed by the bluefin as it barely fits within the confines of the boat. WMUR9 reports that the tuna will be sent to market, where it will be processed for sale.