HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Off the Jersey coast, two Hillsborough fishermen struggled for four hours yet never relented until they reeled in a 718-pound, 112-inch-long trophy Bluefin Tuna.
“Just to be able to land it is quite a feat,” Kevin Goldberg, Captain of the Marener sportfishing boat, told Patch. “It was the most intense fishing experience in all my life.”
Goldberg said he has been fishing his entire life since he was a little kid.
“I have been fishing with my father since I was about 5 or 6 years old. I am 51 now,” said Goldberg, who noted this tuna was the largest fish he had ever caught.
“For comparison, last year we landed a 400-pound bluefin tuna,” said Goldberg.
Goldberg normally runs a charter boat but this past Saturday he and Mike Resetar of Hillsborough decided to fish for sport instead.
The two headed out into the Manasquan Inlet where they fought long and hard to reel in the massive fish.
The tuna was so large Goldberg said they couldn’t even fit it into their boat requiring them to tow it 10 miles to shore.
Once at the shore, the two reeled in the heavy fish before beginning the cleaning process.
While cleaning the fish, Goldberg said he is always the first to taste his victory catch.
“It was amazing. Having caught so many of these bluefin and eating so many bluefin, this particular fish was one of the best quality fish I’ve ever had,” said Goldberg. “Maybe it’s because of the incredible experience but it was very good quality meat.”
So what does one do with 718 pounds of high-quality tuna? Goldberg likes to share it with others.
“What I’ve done in the past, is the greatest way to spread that kind of joy, is to give it to local restaurants, and friends and family,” said Goldberg. “People will send me pictures of them cooking or eating it or making sushi. It brings me such joy to be able to share this fish with others.”
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