David Soares Catches 1003.5lb Bluefin Tuna

December 22, 2013

Christmas came early for one local fisherman today [Dec 22], with David Soares, on board the Kerry D, reeling in a massive bluefin tuna that tipped the scales at 1003.5lbs.

bluefin tuna bermuda dec 2013 (2)

It was caught off Challenger Banks at about 10am this morning, with Mr Soares reeling in the fish single-handedly after a two hour battle.

It was brought to shore at the Spanish Point Boat Club, and a crane truck came and weighed the fish, which was recorded at 1003.5lbs, with guts and gills out.

Mr Soares, a full time commercial fisherman, has sold the fish to the MEF Restaurant group.

bluefin tuna bermuda dec 2013 (1)

Bluefins are caught in Bermuda waters, with some previous large catches including a 351 lb catch in March 2013 in the Argus Bank area, a 329 lb catch in February 2013 in the Challenger Banks area and a 920 lb catch last year in the Argus Banks area.

Bluefins have been known to sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, per fish, in Japan.

Update 5.49pm: Another photo below courtesy of Malcolm Smith

photo

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Comments (35)

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  1. -1001 says:

    Wow that’s a lot of tuna…tuna fish , tuna salad, tuna tartar, tuna melts, spicy tuna roll, tuna servichi , tuna panini, grilled tuna, BBQ tuna, tuna wraps… The possibilities are endless with that tuna!!!

  2. AVERAGE JOE says:

    Great job Mr SOARES at least we know it will be local , fish being served , not like the fish they sell on Trimingham hill !!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

  3. Um... says:

    Well a 489 pound Pacific Bluefin Tuna sold for $1.7 million, not sure what’s the going rate for Atlantic Bluefin buy I would think he got a pretty good payday

  4. Toodle-oo says:

    WOW
    I once caught a 13lb tuna and it almost pulled me overboard.
    That must have been like fighting a 747 at takeoff power !

  5. terry says:

    If he could market it for sushi he would make $1 million.
    The market is not there for fresh so I hope he makes and can market this fish.

  6. somuchless says:

    I want proof that its local and not imported lol

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      Easy. There will be a loud sucking sound as you eat it. Yummmmmm!

      • somuchless says:

        I don’t get it?

      • Alexandria Poole says:

        Dude, you don’t know what your talking about… Damn if we do & damn if we don’t!

  7. CJ says:

    I don’t understand people who pose with the animals they kill. You outsmarted a fish – do you want a medal?

    • Chit Chat says:

      I don’t understand people that have a need to complain about everything.

    • James Rego says:

      These Fish are being exterminated world wide. Since the use of drift-nets, their numbers have been driven to the point of extinction. Fortunately here in Bermuda the odd Blue Fin is caught now and again on line and not a drift-net with a factory ship following behind. Never-the-less, it is a shame to remove such a magnificent hunter from our oceans. You cannot grow a Fish too that size overnight, it takes many years and at the rate they are being fished out, the adult mating aged fish are being destroyed. 60,000 tons of Blue Fin are caught yearly (Sea Shepherd Blue Rage) mainly in the Mediterranean and fish stocks are expected to collapse within 5 years because of lack of control. Then they will head this way into our waters.

      • just be quiet says:

        great information pal, but what are YOU doing other than commenting on this post to prevent this from happening? probably nothing if i had to guess..

  8. Mitchell says:

    So, it’s not going to simply rot on the dock, like so many others? Slaughtering this magnificent wild creature will bring financial gain for the hunter. Brilliant. How wonderful. What if it were something smaller, like a rare monkey, a leopard, a small ape; would you be so quick to glorify the action?

    • Unreal says:

      There is no glorification here. Catching a grander bluefin tuna is a newsworthy story period. Although you despise the “slaughter” of any animal i am pretty sure you wear leather shoes when you leave your glass house. What hypocrisy……go hug a tree.

      • Chit Chat says:

        I would bet ‘unreal” is not a Vegan! Another hypocrite! Its okay when you buy leather purses, shoes, ride a horse, eat steak, fish, chicken, lobster, veal etc…

        • just be quiet says:

          vegans eat all of the animals food, so what now? you steal their food us meatatarians steal their life, either way they die. but thats life, some people don’t get that.

    • Chit Chat says:

      say @Mitchell, just before he gets into his car to go and buy some Sushi or steak at his or her favourite restaurant.

    • Alexandria Poole says:

      Kill that too!

  9. JONO says:

    Local Price for Blue Fin is about $18 per pound…

  10. Triangle Drifter says:

    Great catch. Good Christmas bonus too.

  11. jt says:

    Atlantic bluefin for sushi goes for $15-$25/pound. This likely dresses out at about 800lbs – so nice payday.

  12. Balanced Facts says:

    Wow,,,that fish could have swallowed Jonah!!!! It was after all a “fish” and not a “whale”!

  13. Fish buyer says:

    I am going up Trimingham Hill to buy some real Bermuda fish.!

    • Immigration says:

      Of course, after it lands here on de airplane it is in Bermuda and so YES! it is Bermuda Fish!

  14. me says:

    Great job David! What a great catch!

  15. X man says:

    One hell of a catch -

    There should be a lot of tuna sold in shops
    looking forward to a nice piece for Boxing Day Breakfest
    I just hope it’s a reasonable price.

  16. Eat Tuna Not Turkey says:

    The fish was sold to the MEF Group of Restaurants (Little Venice, La Trattoria, Lido, Harbourfront Front, L’Oriental, Fourways). Please support our local fishery and dine in one of their restaurants to sample this local Giant Blue Fin Tuna.

  17. Dread says:

    Too expensive at the above listed!

  18. just be quiet says:

    brace yourselves… the “leave the fish in the water” people are coming… people get real you could give less than a ********************** about the fish you are just saying it on Facebook and this website to make you feel better about yourselves, if you ACTUALLY cared you would be doing something about it rather than just commenting. so in actual fact YOU are the selfish ones, doing things to make YOU feel good, you’re not helping anyone by commenting on these posts.

  19. JR Richards says:

    Hell Yes Soares, way to go.