Maddy Herlihy, 14, with his 42.6kg yellowtail kingfish which may be a world junior record. Photo / Lisa Castle-Tauroa
He knew it was a big one, but Maddy Herlihy had no idea just how big.
Fishing off the charter boat Enchanter in the Whakatane Sport Fishing Club Junior Tournament, the 14-year-old had stayed awake throughout the night and was rewarded for his efforts just before 4am on
Monday.
"Myself and another one of the anglers were throwing dead flying fish out to the kingis [kingfish], and one jumped on my line," Maddy said.
The adults on board, including Maddy's father Tim Herlihy and Enchanter owner-operators Lance and Michelle Goodhew, were asleep while the boat was under anchor.
But they came running when they heard there was a "big one" on the hook.
"It only took about 15 minutes to boat the fish - it wasn't too bad at all," Maddy said.
The 42.6kg yellowtail kingfish caught on a 37kg line gave Maddy the heaviest kingfish of the tournament, the same category he won last year.
"I reckon I might have a bit of luck when it comes to fishing."
The kingfish is an unconfirmed New Zealand and world junior record.
Maddy had just returned from Great Barrier Island near Waiheke where he and his family spent Christmas and New Year, before boarding Enchanter for the junior fishing tournament. Although he lives in Kaitaia, Maddy comes from the Eastern Bay and his family at Edgecumbe were hoping for a taste of the giant kingfish.
The day before Maddy's big catch, a 40kg mako caught on an 8kg line and a 4.22kg trevally caught on a 10kg line were also entered as pending records.
A junior team will represent the Whakatane Sport Fishing Club at the Bay of Islands Sport Fishing Club's world yellowtail contest.
