805-pound bluefin breaks 16-year-old state record
Corey Schultz, left, of Waverly, Va. and his fishing buddy Patrick Hughes of Minneapolis, Minn. with Schultz’s North Carolina state record catch. (Courtesy, NCDMF)
The state Division of Marine Fisheries confirmed the record set by Corey Schultz, of Waverly, Va. The fish he caught March 12 eclipsed the previous state high of 744 pounds set off of Oregon Inlet in 1995.
Schultz said he fought the fish for about 2½ hours and had close to 1,000 yards of line out. Everyone in the boat’s party of six, in addition to the captain and mate, helped to get the fish on board, according to a marine fisheries statement.
He caught the bluefin on a Shimano 80 rod and reel with 130 pound test and ballyhoo for bait. The fish measured 112 inches curved fork length with a 76-inch girth.
“It was all that rod and reel wanted, I can tell you that,” Schultz said.
Schultz was aboard the Sea Breeze. Last year, he caught a 350-pound tuna with the same captain, Ned Ashby, and released the catch.
“I knew within the first few minutes it was not the same caliber fish,” Schultz said.
The International Game Fish Association record bluefin tuna weighed 1,496 pounds and was caught off Nova Scotia in 1979.
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ekim says:
WOW!
Shellie Anne says:
WELL DONE COREY SCHULTZ and CAPT AND CREW of SEA BREEZE!
Beverly Wood says:
I just want to keep up with the news
Jerry Joppek says:
Look-out Charlie! You may be next.
David says:
Wow is right, two fellas in the back to put the size of the fish into perspective… well done!
ekim says:
This is old school news BEV, In the old days this was what OBX news was ABOUT!
Bette Ramos says:
What a shame to have to kill a gran’daddy fish to break a record! What a shame to kill a living thing when sustenance is not the goal nor self preservation. The senseless taking of an innocent life for ego gratification seems such a waste. Poor fish.
dean says:
please bette fish are there for us to eat I hope this guy was able to sell it for top dollar
nosty fish says:
oh my,another animal rights activist on our hands,should use them for bait
Rusty says:
I agree, It seems every picture or video you watch on the internet has negative comments about hunting and fishing from animal rights activists. poor fish? I feel sorry for your poor family for having to put up with you.
Peeski says:
That’s a lot of sushi! This is great news. It will be eaten! What a shame, someone had some fun while harvesting a wonderful protien rich fish. Get a clue people. Congrats to Corey.
1st mate to the Tracker says:
bette ramos its fishing.your not gonna stop it, please give up. its our way of life. <3
Cap't Dave says:
I am all for fishing, sport fishing, etc… especially trying to catch a monster like this one. But to think all Tuna could get this big for all to try and catch if only there was more regulations for the commercial tuna fisher’s. The Tuna are so over-fished that the majority don’t get a quarter of the weight of this one.
John Turner says:
to the person that thinks fish have rights–DONT KILL ROACHES!
Mark says:
Sounds like another fish story to me……..just sayin’ lol
my cat says:
that is huge dude
Charles P. Hopson says:
What a nice fish and should bring a hefty sum if it went to the Japanese auction. Bette has to calm down because recreational fisherman aren’t the problem for the over fishing of Giant Blue fin tuna.
Jason senteney says:
Nice fish congats wish I could do more fishing and hunting then I do.
And just to u people out there that think its crul to hunt and fish stop eating all foods for me I want u not to kill a singal thing and stop useing all thing natual I want to see how long u all will survia ok
Dean P says:
They wouldn’t whine about hunting and fishing if the insurance co stopped paying for the deer verses car accidents. More deer are killed by cars than by hunters. And another thing if vegan’s are so upset about meat eaters, why are there so many imitation meat products out there.
Pete says:
Commercial fishing has indeed decimated both the average size and population numbers of these fish. They are delicious… bluefin is one of my favorites. The only problem with eating an 800 pounder is that it is at the top of the food chain, and had been bioaccumulation fat soluble toxins (especially Methyl Mercury) its entire life from every animal that was eaten by every animal that was eaten by every animal that a giant tuna ever ate. Might as well break a thermometer into the marinade. …And if you are like myself, and have eaten lots of fish your whole life, you are probably pretty well stocked on these toxins already, and you probably shouldn’t be eating too much giant tuna, mako, swordfish, etc… if you value your health at all.
Lee says:
Congrats,
Men have been fishing and eating them since the beginning of time. Congratulations of the fish of a lifetime. Screw the haters.
Lee
Mr Bob says:
Go ahead Corey! I just did a shot of saki for you. That tuna is bigger than some of the Kubotas you got from us… Fish on!
Darlene says:
Congrats! I wish I was there for the celebration!