Donegal woman lands 760 pound bluefin tuna in what locals are calling a record catch

Aoife McGettigan was out with Killybegs Fishing Trips when she battled and brought alongside what the crew described as the biggest tuna ever caught on their boat. The crew celebrated the moment on social media, calling it "a day to remember for us." 

A family trip to sea turned into a headline-grabbing moment for a Killybegs family and their visitors when Aoife McGettigan landed a massive Atlantic bluefin tuna that measured 8 feet 8 inches and weighed 760 pounds, the crew said. The catch was made from the charter boat Fiona Tee and was recorded and shared by Killybegs Fishing Trips, who confirmed that the fish measured roughly 344 kilograms on the scales.

The crew and those on board described a prolonged struggle to bring the fish alongside. Reports say McGettigan battled the fish for more than an hour before it was secured, a testament to the size and power of Atlantic bluefin when they surface near the Irish coast. The crew’s social post called the outing "a day to remember" and noted it broke the record for the largest tuna ever landed on the Fiona Tee.

Killybegs has long been a center for big game fishing in Ireland, and this catch quickly drew attention locally and online. Local outlets ran video and photo coverage showing the fish and the crew celebrating on deck, and social media posts from the skipper described his pride in the family moment with his sister landing the fish while he was home from Australia. The social media reaction and the local reporting underline how rare such large bluefin encounters remain around Irish waters.

Scientists and fisheries authorities closely monitor large bluefin tuna because of the species’ commercial value and its internationally recognized conservation status. While this report focuses on the human drama of the catch and the local reaction, bluefin tuna are also the subject of tagging and research programs in Irish waters, enabling anglers and researchers alike to gain a better understanding of migration and stock health. Media coverage of the catch notes the weight and length as extraordinary, but stops short of reporting whether the fish will be entered into research or tagging programs.