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Fisherman Catches 'Freak' 22kg Fish

Fisherman Catches 'Freak' 22kg Fish

He said it's a 'once in a lifetime' catch

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

A fisherman had a 'once in a lifetime' catch when he reeled in a 22kg red emperor, but he's said he won't be eating it.

Ed Falconer, a charter operator, caught the absolute unit of a fish off Rainbow Beach in Queensland this week and will be donating it in the name of science.

He wrestled with the creature for 20 minutes on his rod and reel, before finally getting the fish on the deck.

Keely Rose Fishing Charters

When he had it on the boat, he realised it wasn't any ordinary catch, when it measured in at 104 centimetres long.

Speaking to ABC News, he said: "I actually thought it was a big cod instead of a red emperor, the way it was fighting.

"I've been fishing these waters for 30 years and the biggest one I've caught before that was about 19kg.

"We often get 8kg, 10kg, 12kg ... but that one is a definite freak. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing."

But it won't be getting battered and fried for tea, Mr Falconer has donated the giant fish to Queensland Fisheries. Scientists there will try to work out how it lived so long.

Mr Falconer added: "I actually thought it was a big cod instead of a red emperor, the way it was fighting.

"There was more shock than smile when it came over the side."

Keely Rose Fishing Charters

Scientists could potentially find out how old the fish is by removing a bone in its skull. They would then count the number of calcified rings it has.

He explained: "I froze it and rang a taxidermist to get it mounted.

"After we do that we're going to donate it to science, to Fisheries, and they're going to do some research on it.

"They take a certain bone out of its head and they can find out its age and all sorts of things."

'We wouldn't want something like that to go to waste."

Jeff Johnson, a fish expert from Queensland Museum, said that the weight of the red emperor is 'extremely noteworthy', adding that the weight matched that of one who was recorded in a book published in 1962.

He said: "It's an extremely noteworthy capture and a dream of any fisherman.

"Queensland Fisheries [study] certain species and are always on the lookout. They would certainly be interested in trying to determine how old that fish was."

Mr Falconer has had to put his business on hold due to the coronavirus, but he restarted tours earlier this week.

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Keely Rose Fishing Charters