They call themselves ‘Team ChoonaChasa’, but this week they weren’t in search of Tuna, instead it was 170+kg swordfish off the coast of Tasmania.

They found one too, and by their reckoning it was without a doubt the largest in Tasmania, if not Australia. Leo Miller, Simon Turner and some extra mates jumped into their usual 7ft fiberglass boat this week in search of what many call the ultimate in sport fishing catches. They motored out 35km off Eaglehawk Neck in Tasmania, then fought for two hours to land the record catch. Leo Miller, who was on the boat and played a part in the catch, said:

“Within five minutes the fish was jumping on the surface. “Then she went down deep again, about 500m. It took about two hours to get her to the boat, then we swam her alongside the boat for about 10 minutes to allow water to flow over the gills to revive her.”

Like the good fisherman they are, once the monster catch was revived, the fish was released without being taken on board the boat. They said to do so, they would have had to kill the fish, and they’d already landed three large swordfish in previous months which was more than enough for their tables. In doing so, the boys never got the chance to weigh their catch, and so can’t officially claim any records. But by their reckoning, the fish was well above the Tasmanian record, and would have been very close, if not over the Australian record of 175kg.

What a catch! We’re all very jealous here, and we’d love to www.seabreeze.com.au/members/extras/feedback.aspx '>hear your fishing stories from on the water, or of the one that got away. Send us an email through the link above or www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/General-Discussion/Chat/'>tell the world your fishing stories in the forums.

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