Skip to main content

Don't Touch Another Man's Pole

Would Be Record 427 Pound Yellowfin Tuna Caught Off Mexico



From www.Fox News.com

In saltwater fishing's version of baseball's infamous pine tar incident, an angler who reeled in a world-record yellowfin tuna had his home-run catch called back -- because a deckhand touched his fishing pole as he fought the mighty fish.

Robert Pedigo hooked the 427.9-pound fish last Thursday and fought it for a half-hour before bringing it aboard the "Journeyman." But everyone on board agreed that Danny Osuna, a local captain working that day as a deckhand, blew the record by touching Pedigo's pole during the battle between man and beast off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The rules say an angler can't have any help pulling in a fish if he or she wants to make history.

"I do this for a living and we're really hardcore fishermen," Osuna told FoxNews.com. "We have caught a lot of fish in the high 300s, but this is the first time we've caught something like this."

Osuna admitted touching Pedigo's fishing rod, disqualifying the catch from consideration by the International Game Fish Association. But he said Pedigo, who could not be reached for comment, isn't too broken up about the technicality.

"We're fine with that," Osuna said. "Actually, we never even thought the fish would be that big."

Osuna said everyone who was in on the fishing trip got a big meal out of the monstrous catch before the rest was given away.

"We never sold the fish," he said.

Like the famous home run by George Brett in 1983 that was disqualified when Yankees Manager Billy Martin pointed out that the Kansas City Royals' slugger had pine tar smeared too high on the barrel of his bat, the pole touch indeed disqualifies the catch, according to IGFA officials.

"I do this for a living and we're really hardcore fishermen," said Danny Osuna, deckhand aboard the Journeyman.

A spokesman for the agency confirmed to FoxNews.com that the all-tackle record for yellowfin tuna remains 405 pounds, caught by Mike Livingston near Baja Sur, Mexico -- because Osuna touched the rod.

"No one (to my knowledge) has been contacted by the angler or any member of the crew in regards to this catch," IGFA World Record Coordinator Jack Vitek wrote in an email. "We have heard of the catch on various fishing forums and websites, and are pleased to hear that the angler and crew are being up front about such an impressive catch, and are respecting the IGFA rules."

 

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Gear

Best Features of the Shallow Sport X3

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Learn

How to Fix an Outboard Motor that was Submerged in Saltwater

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Store

Analyzing a Hurricane Damaged Boat for Restoration

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Store

How to Design & Build a Custom Dash Panel for a Boat

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Sportfish

Catching Tarpon in the Florida Keys: A Multi-Decade Obsession

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Store

Todd Flis' Ultimate Aluminum Custom Skiff | One Man's Dreamboat

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Store

How to Change the Look of Your Boat with Three Custom Upgrades

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Store

Reassembling a Yamaha F300 After a Fresh Paint Job

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Store

Allan Black's 25 Bostom Whaler Outrage | One Man's Dreamboat

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Learn

How to Repaint an Outboard Engine to Look Brand New

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Store

Faux Wood HydraStepp Splash Finale

American crocodile crashes popular South Florida fishing pier among schools of bait. Hey, crocs like mullet too.
Learn

Crocodile Spotted off Popular South Florida Fishing Pier

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Florida Sportsman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now