Gulf of Mexico A YouTube video from 2012 is currently stirring controversy online. According to the videos description, the footage was captured by a remotely operated underwater vehicle in the Gulf of Mexico. The ROV was inspecting a drilling rig when the massive fish swam into view.
The videos title claims the tuna was 18-feet long, which could make it substantially larger than the current all-tackle world record caught in Nova Scotia in 1976. This size estimate was based on the fact that the white pipe seen in the background was allegedly 4 feet wide.
Many observers feel that while the tuna is undoubtedly large, the 18-foot claim is nothing more than a fish story. For example, Nick Honachefsky of Outdoor Life suggests eyeball estimates put the bluefin at about 14 to 16 feet long.
And its not only the fishs size that has been debated. An article from Louisiana Sportsman suggests the fish is a yellowfin or bigeye tuna, rather than a bluefin.
Whats your take? Is the fish an 18-footer or is that just a typical angler exaggeration? And is it a bluefin or some other species? Let us know in the comments.
The videos title claims the tuna was 18-feet long, which could make it substantially larger than the current all-tackle world record caught in Nova Scotia in 1976. This size estimate was based on the fact that the white pipe seen in the background was allegedly 4 feet wide.
Many observers feel that while the tuna is undoubtedly large, the 18-foot claim is nothing more than a fish story. For example, Nick Honachefsky of Outdoor Life suggests eyeball estimates put the bluefin at about 14 to 16 feet long.
And its not only the fishs size that has been debated. An article from Louisiana Sportsman suggests the fish is a yellowfin or bigeye tuna, rather than a bluefin.
Whats your take? Is the fish an 18-footer or is that just a typical angler exaggeration? And is it a bluefin or some other species? Let us know in the comments.
