Auckland 10-year-old lands 101kg marlin off Coromandel coast, breaks club record

Carter Dunn, 10, proudly displays a 101.3kg marlin he caught off Whangamatā. Photo / Manukau Sport Fishing Club

An Auckland father and his 10-year-old son are celebrating after landing a 101.3kg marlin off Whangamatā.

Carter Dunn and his father Tom had been on the water in their 4.5m boat off Whangamatā for seven hours when they hooked the 3m long, “electric blue” fish.

“We realised it was a marlin straight away. We were fishing with a live bait and it ate the live bait around the back of the boat,” Tom said.

The pair estimated the battle lasted about 45 minutes.

Carter Dunn and his father Tom spent 45 minutes hauling in the 101kg marlin. Photo / Manukau Sport Fishing Club

“We had it right to the boat within three minutes, then you have to start reeling,” Tom said.

“We chased the fish around and tried to stay right on top of it.

“I managed to grab its bill because it was getting caught in the motor, but Carter put the gaff in it and gave me a hand.

“He was pretty excited. There were big high fives and cheers,” Tom said.

“It has been Carter’s goal to catch a marlin over the summer so he has put in a lot of effort to get one.”

Carter Dunn and his father Tom estimate the fish was 3m long from head to tail. Photo / Manukau Sport Fishing Club

The father and son are members of the Manukau Sports Fishing Club.

Carter’s marlin was caught on December 27 and set a club record for the 24kg line class, a record that had stood since 2006.

Club records officer Sean Ashe said it was special to see such a haul by a young club member.

“We’re stoked whenever anyone is successful in an outing with father and son or outings together.”

Ashe said the club encouraged young fishers of all ages to get on the water.

“Small fry and junior fishers in the club, boys and girls, the emphasis on them getting out there and amongst it is huge.

“We have found in the past couple of seasons how many more kids we have coming through.”

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