iStockphoto / pabradyphoto/Whitepointer
Large bluefin tuna fish in front of a 'Welcome to Nova Scotia' sign
The annual Wedgeport Tuna Tournament and Festival took place in Nova Scotia near the mouth of the Tusket River and this year’s tournament made history. 13-year-old Délynn Jacquard of Wedgeport demolished the previous IGFA fishing world record for Bluefin Tuna when she reeled in a 711-pound fish.
The previous Bluefin Tuna ‘Junior’ class world record for girls was a 618 pound, 0 ounce fish caught by angler Jenna Gavin back on October 7, 2014, also in Nova Scotia but in Ballantyne’s Cove. Délynn’s record-setting fish cleared that previous Bluefin tuna world record by nearly a hundred pounds!
13-Year-Old Girl In Nova Scotia Reels In World Record 711-Pound Bluefin Tuna
To be clear, there are many fishing world records for the Bluefin Tuna subspecies. They range from ‘All Tackle’ at the top, a 1,496-pound fish caught in Nova Scotia back in 1979, to individual Line Class world records from 2lb fishing line on up to 130lb. There are also Junior Angler Fishing World Records for both boys and girls, as well as fly fishing world records for the species.
Suffice it to say Bluefin Tuna is amongst the most sought after game fish on earth and everyone wants to fill those record slots. Among all of those, the new fishing world record that 13-year-old Délynn Jacquard of Wedgeport, Nova Scotia just broke is the Female Junior record. The previous WR for that category sits at 280.32 kg (618 lb 0 oz) and has stood since 2014, until now.
The average 13-year-old girl weighs just a hair over 100-pounds. Her fish tipped the scales at 711-pounds. That’s more than seven kids her age combined worth of tuna!
Following her record-setting catch at Nova Scotia’s annual Wedgeport Tuna Tournament and Festival, one of the biggest events on the late Summer calendar in the region, her story was picked up by CTV News who ran this segment and showcased her once-in-a-lifetime fish:
Délynn Jacquard’s 711-pound Bluefin Tuna was the second largest fish caught throughout the entire tournament. Only Capt. Brent Pothier’s 801-pounder caught aboard the Lucas & Noah was larger. Délynn Jacquard reeled her fish in onboard the Pelagic Predator.
In total, there were 18 Bluefin Tuna, 9 Bigeye Tuna, and 25 Yellowfin Tuna caught during this year’s tournament. That totaled up to 9,561 pounds of Bluefin, 1,117 pounds of Bigeye, and 1,132 pounds of Yellowfin. Somehow not a single Albacore Tuna was caught and measured during this year’s event.
And for context, the photo below is what the Wedgeport Tuna Tournament looked like back in 1951.
Getty Image / Fox Photos
Anglers at a three-day Annual International Tuna Cup Match held at Wedgeport, Nova Scotia. Tuna already caught are on display including a 932lb tuna caught by a non-competitor in September 1951
That aforementioned 801-pound Bluefin caught by crew aboard the Lucas & Noah also set a new modern-day Wedgeport Tuna Tournament record. The previous tournament record was a 796-pound fish caught back in 2014. So this was a banner year all around for the event.
For more pictures of the record-setting fish you can head on over to Instagram.
Nova Scotia does offer the best chance of anywhere in the world at catching a ‘grander’ Bluefin Tuna, a fish weighing over 1,000 pounds. The Northern Atlantic fishery has for centuries been one of the best tuna fishing locations on earth and continues to produce massive fish year after year.