The big ones that didn't get away

Recreational fishermen from across Australia have been converging on Port Fairy to be part of the town’s incredible blue fin tuna haul.

Massive blue fin tuna are being caught off Port Fairy’s coastline and have been causing much excitement for locals and visitors alike.

As word got around fishing circles, hundreds of anglers from all over the state travelled to the south-west coast for a chance at catching “the big one”.

Many of the masses of anglers flocking to the seaside town in the hunt for a huge fish have not visited the area before, meaning Port Fairy and surrounds have been showcased to a whole new tourism market.

Many fish weighing more than 140 kilos have been caught off Port Fairy, one weighing more than 156 kilos.

This 156.4 kilo fish has set a new record for Victoria and is also bigger than any southern blue fin tuna caught in Tasmania or South Australia.

The fish have been caught about 15km off Port Fairy’s coast and it is estimated that more than 170 boats have been launched from the Port of Port Fairy.