Fishing stories are full of whoppers and monsters, but young Sam Marsh must be one of the few anglers who has claimed a world record by reeling in a fish three times his own weight.
The 10-year-old, 43kg Paihia lad launched the Northland gamefish season when he caught a 133kg
striped marlin on Boxing Day.
Details of the catch are being sent to the International Gamefish Association in the United States, which is expected to decide next month whether Sam and his stripey will go into the record books. The boy caught the fish from his father's boat Scenario off Cape Brett using 37kg line.
He is just young enough to qualify for the 0-10-year-old small fry category - once he turns 11 he will become a junior.
Sam said he first noticed he might have caught "a really big fish" when his rod started thrusting wildly.
He sat in a gamefishing chair wrestling with the bucking rod for 45 minutes before bringing the marlin alongside the boat.
"When I got back to shore everyone congratulated me and said I did a really good job."
It wasn't Sam's first marlin - he caught an 80kg stripey during the Eldorado Fishing Tournament in January.
Major Tom Charters owner and fishing columnist Geoff Stone said Sam's catch was one of four marlin and three yellowfin tuna - one weighing 71kg - caught in the Bay of Islands since Christmas Eve.
"Fish travel to New Zealand from the tropics at this time of the year because there's more bait on offer," Mr Stone said. "It's looking like a promising season and the water's still only 19 degrees. As the water warms to 21 to 22 degrees, it'll be even better."
However, Bay of Islands Swordfish Club vice-president Dick Sheridan said southwest winds indicated this season might not be as good as the last.
