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A��Hawke’s Bay fisherman��has bagged a yellowfin tuna just off Cape Kidnappers.��

David Tyman set out on Friday morning with his family and was surprised when the large fish was hauled onto the boat.��

They had gone out to try to catch a bottom fish but instead caught the 46.4kg species with 37kg tackle.��

David Tyman says the yellowfin tuna is the biggest fish he has caught. Photo / Paul Taylor��

“It was definitely the biggest fish I’ve caught by quite a bit,” Tyman said��

The 33-year-old, who has been fishing since the age of 7 with his family, said he had seen yellowfin tuna before as his father had caught them in the past.��

The tuna took 20 minutes to get aboard by the family on the Marlina.��

“It’s always a bit dicey trying to get it into the boat, it was definitely a team effort with that one.”��

While it is relatively rare, tropical fish are drawn to Hawke’s Bay when the sea conditions are right.��

David Tyman plans to get the fish smoked to share with friends and family. Photo / Paul Taylor��

Hawke’s Bay Sport and Fishing Club��operations manager Neil Price said such fish are not here regularly.����

“It usually comes down to bait and currents.”����

He said all the big fish are tropical fish so they don’t live in��Hawke’s Bay��but can be found when “the water temperature is right, the bait or food is right, and the currents are right”.����

He said the best fishing conditions for the region are when the wind blows north-westerly and the sea is flat.��

As for the plans for the tuna, Tyman intends to get it smoked and share it around with family and friends.��

“None of it will go to waste.”��

Michaela Gower joined��Hawke’s Bay Today��in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and has a love for sharing stories about farming and rural communities.��