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Teen Catches 700-Pound Tuna After 10 Hour Battle

Teen Catches 700-Pound Tuna After 10 Hour Battle

She plans to put the money raised from the catch towards her education

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

A teenager in the US has managed to reel in a 700lbs tuna - but only after a 10-hour struggle with the huge fish.

Devin Zelck, from Hamilton, Massachusetts, hooked the behemoth bluefin on Friday, and understandably she was a little stunned by what she felt on the other end of her line.


Speaking to Boston 25, she said: "I was shocked! It was huge. We saw it come up onto the surface and we were like, 'Oh my goodness'."

The 18-year-old is the daughter of commercial fisherman, Steve Zelck, and she and her bro had been eagerly awaiting the day they followed in his footsteps and caught a tuna.

She said: "My dad caught his first tuna at 13, so it's kind of been a competition between me and my brother."

After so many years of anticipation, Devin said the catch was even more thrilling than she'd anticipated. The tuna dragged the boat eight miles from its anchor before it finally gave up the fight.

Devin said the 10-hour chase was thrilling.
Boston 25

She said: "Every 45 minutes we were switching off. Dad would cramp up, and he would tell me that I had to be on the rod next.

"It was just so exciting. Like you have to be there, like you have to catch it yourself to know how exciting it is."

Proud father Steve credited his daughter's efforts in bringing in the big fish and seizing the opportunity.

He said: "She was just instrumental in the whole fight."

Devin plans on putting the proceeds towards her college education.
Boston 25

Bluefin tuna can sell for anywhere between $6 to $12 (£5 to £10) per pound, according to Boston 25. Devin does not yet know how much her colossal catch will sell for just yet, however, she plans to put the proceeds towards her college education.

But while Devin may have been given a bit of a shock by her big catch, it was relatively run of the mill compared to the experience of tuna fishermen in Japan, who found a gigantic great white shark that had choked to death on a sea turtle.

For context, the shark made more than 4,500lbs... which is fairly terrifying when you consider Devin's massive tuna was only 700lbs.

Featured Image Credit: Devin Zelck

Topics: US News, fishing