‘I am physically exhausted’ - Killybegs woman describes monster 760lb tuna catch

Killybegs woman, Aoife McGettigan, told Donegal Live that reeling in the bluefin tuna fish that weighed a whopping 760lbs left her “totally exhausted.”

Aoife, who was talking to Donegal Live from her home near Lake Macquarie, Australia, had been visiting Killybegs for a family wedding when she and her fishing guide brother, Declan McGettigan, decided to go out to sea for Aoife’s first attempt at tuna fishing.

“We trawled out for 35 minutes,” said Aoife. “We were birdwatching, and then we busted up tuna. The first catch we got was probably within 15 minutes. We lost it, but then, 10 minutes later, we caught that one.

“By the time we got all the gear in, I started reeling up the fish. I reeled it for five minutes before I got in the chair. You get harnessed onto your waist before you get harnessed to the rod itself..

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“It was well over an hour before we got him to the top of the boat. I was totally exhausted, but I wanted to do it myself. 

“I have bruises on my back and everything. I am physically exhausted. I wanted to give in so many times, but every time I could see the colour of the bait coming to the top, then because of the weight of him, he just kept fighting me the whole way.

“The whole reel would run away again. He would just take off. I was thinking, how much longer? I did not want to give in, and probably, within the last five minutes, I was going to give in.  I was heavy-panting and exhausted, but at the final time, I was going to have to hand him over, but thankfully, we got him in the last minute.”

When asked about her family’s reaction and the reaction of the Killybegs community, Aoife commented: “My brother was so proud. We were cheering and crying on the boat. We could not believe it. This was my first tuna fish to see live, and I did not realise what a big deal it was. We were laughing. It was a big moment. 

“My brother sees it every day of the week as he is on the boat all the time, but for me to catch that as a first one and see his reaction was pretty amazing. 

“I didn’t realise how big a deal it was until he put up the little video. I was only home for two days after I caught the fish, and people would stop me on the street. It is such an achievement, and I am very proud of myself. I am delighted I was able to have my brother there and my father with me.”