TUNA fishing is a dangerous job that can reap vast rewards.
None know better than the cast of Wicked Tuna, who have spent years forging for the biggest fish in return for thousands of dollars.
What is the biggest fish caught by the Wicked Tuna cast?
The Wicked Tuna cast sat down to discuss their biggest tuna catches to date in 2018.
Brad Krakowski’s biggest catch weighed in at 920 pounds, while Dave Marciano’s fish clocked in at 1,200 pounds and 118 inches.
TJ Ott surpassed his crew mates with a 1,250-pound, 125-inch tuna caught off the coast of Cape Cod. Tyler McLaughlin was close with a 1,269 catch.
It was Paul Hebert, however, who reeled in the prize tuna.
“It was in the skiff with my dad, the fish was 1,287 pounds, and we caught two that day by hand line,” he told National Fisherman.
“The other fish was 1,174 pounds. Both fish were around 126 inches. I was 11 or 12; it was back in 1977, and we caught them off of Provincetown.”
Two years ago, Paul also received the highest amount of price per pound for one of his catches.
He said he secured $47.02 per pound for a fish he caught in the July season.
Although he didn’t reveal how heavy the catch was, he may have pocketed upwards of $47,000 should the tuna have weighed more than 1,000 pounds.
“I had brought in one of the only tuna that on the market at that time. To this day, I still have the text from the buyer saved on my phone.”
In addition to their fishing income, the cast makes a hefty salary from appearing on the Nat Geo show.
How heavy can tuna get?
Tuna weight can depend on the type of species the tuna is.
Mackerel tuna reaches up to 17 pounds, while a big-eye tuna could clock in at 250 pounds. Other tuna species include albacore and skipjack.
It’s the coveted bluefin tuna that racks up the real weight. Although they are typically 500-550 pounds, they can exceed 1,000 pounds.
“Canned tuna typically comes from albacore. They’re small, grow fast, and are abundant for fishing. And they certainly don’t weigh 489 pounds,” said Derek Wilcox, chef at Shoji in New York told Business Insider.
“There’s only one type of tuna in the world that grows that big, bluefin tuna. And if you wanna try some, it’s gonna cost you.”
At the first bluefin tuna auction of 2019, a 600 pound fish in Japan sold for a record-breaking $3 million.
The heaviest bluefin caught on record weighed 1,496 pounds according to Mass Bay Guides. It was caught off Nova Scotia, Canada on October 26th, 1979.
“Bluefin is the most sought after. Only bluefin has the intense marbling. Bluefin also, when it’s aged properly, has a particular balance of flavors,” Wilcox said.
What is the Wicked Tuna spin-off series?
After season two of Wicked Tuna, National Geographic released a spin-off set off in the outerbanks of North Carolina.
The show was originally named Wicked Tuna: North vs. South but was renamed Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks in its second season.
The spin-off ran for eight seasons before concluding on November 21, 2021.
In March 2024, Captain Charlie Griffin from season two to five passed away from a tragic boating accident.
Fans can catch previous episodes of the series via Disney+.
How can I watch Wicked Tuna?
Season 13 of Wicked Tuna premiered on March 3, 2024 at 9 pm EST on National Geographic.
The show airs every Sunday on the network.
The new season kicked off with the 400th anniversary of Gloucester which took place in 2023.
Speaking to the Gloucester Times, TJ Ott said: “This season is going to be really exciting. There is so much action and so many big fish.
“Gloucester will always be the motherland for bluefin.”
