First Bluefin trip produces fish of a lifetime
A dream first trip turned into the catch of a lifetime when Ben Roberts landed a massive 166.8kg Pacific Bluefin Tuna off Waihau Bay. Read the incredible story of the epic two-hour battle, the teamwork, and the unforgettable moment that made Kiwi gamefishing history.
For many Kiwi anglers, catching a Pacific bluefin tuna is a lifelong dream. For Ben Roberts, that dream became reality in spectacular fashion when he landed a massive 166.8kg Pacific bluefin on his very first trip targeting bluefin out of Waihau Bay.
Fishing aboard his 5.45m Profile Mahi with mate Chaise Wilson-McGrath, Ben hooked the giant tuna on 12 June while fishing the 1,200m line off Lottin Point.
The pair had received a hot tip from TK and the Offshore crew, who believed the area was holding bait.
"As soon as we hit the mark TK gave us, we hooked up," said Ben.
The strike itself almost went unnoticed.
"We were caught up in a yarn when the long corner went off. The unmistakable sound of the outrigger clip releasing got our attention pretty quickly."
As line disappeared from the reel, neither angler seemed keen to claim ownership of the rod.
"I told Chaise to jump on the rod while he told me to. After going back and forth trying to give it to each other, he jumped on the wheel and said the rod was all mine because I'd never caught a fish on my game rods."
The fish had eaten a Bonze Exocet in the Saury pattern rigged behind a bird teaser, run on a CD Titan rod paired with an Okuma Makaira 50.
What followed was a brutal two-hour battle. The fish dug deep, holding around 130m down and performing the classic circles that make tuna such formidable opponents. Ben applied more than 17kg of drag for over an hour while Chaise worked the boat to help gain line.
About 45 minutes into the fight, the pair finally managed to bring the fish toward the surface. Then came the moment neither of them will ever forget.
"There in the wave I saw what I can only describe as a f@#king great big fish."
The first glimpse of the tuna sent a surge of adrenaline through Ben.
"Chaise looked over and saw it too. He turned to me and said, 'What have we got ourselves into?'"
Just when it looked like the battle was nearly won, the giant tuna had other ideas.
After getting within 20m of the boat, the fish spotted Mahi and powered away once more.
"I had 17kg of drag on by that stage, so when it took off I went flying into the back corner of the boat. That’s when I really realised the sheer power of the fish."
While Ben battled the tuna, Chaise was facing a challenge of his own. Remarkably, it was his first time driving a boat during a gamefish fight and his first time leadering a tuna.
"He definitely got chucked in the deep end but handled it like a champ," laughed Ben.
At 11:30am, exactly two hours after the bite, the giant Pacific bluefin finally came alongside.
The battle may have been over, but a new challenge was about to begin. How do you get a 166.8kg tuna aboard a 5.45m trailer boat?
"It was as long as the gunnels of the boat."
By this stage, the conditions had deteriorated significantly, with a strong north-westerly whipping around East Cape and rough seas making the task even harder.
The crew quickly realised the transom door was too small and they were taking on water while trying to drag the fish aboard.
Fortunately, fellow anglers aboard Reel Screamer came to the rescue, offering assistance.
"Luckily our mate Mike on Reel Screamer came over and the boys managed to get it onto their boat using four lads and a pulley system."
The experience was enough to convince Ben to invest in a pulley system of his own.
Back at Waihau Bay, the giant tuna officially tipped the scales at an impressive 166.8kg.
The fish was later processed by Floppy at Trophy Lures, with the frame donated to local iwi so nothing went to waste.
On the journey home, Ben shared the catch with friends and family.
"A lot of people will be eating well for a while, which is a nice feeling because that’s what it’s all about."
The capture was even more remarkable considering it was Ben’s first time targeting bluefin and his first trip to Waihau Bay.
The giant tuna towed the small trailer boat almost three nautical miles offshore while performing giant circles beneath the boat before finally admitting defeat.
For Ben, however, the numbers tell only part of the story.
"The whole experience was a dream come true for me. I live and breathe fishing and this is definitely a catch of a lifetime and one I'll never forget."
For a first bluefin trip, it’s hard to imagine a better result.
