The record that Tammy has pending is against the previous record of Dollie Dyer from 46 years ago and 21kg bigger.

Tammy’s father Reg Pauline said it was an amazing experience to be in the midst of the tuna school with the anglers having to head back with fish still on the bite.

“Several fish were also cut off and released,” Mr Pauline said.

A mould of the Tammy’s fish has been taken by the staff at Bermagui Bait and Tackle with plans to sell it at the shop, while the Paulines of course will order one too.

Around 15 vessels headed out again on Monday to 50km east of Bermagui to put themselves in contact with these fish.

More than 20 southern bluefin tuna were weighed in at Bermagui Bait and Tackle on Monday alone, Mr Bradley said.

“Most of the fish are being taken on small skirted lures and quite often if one fish bites more will do so within seconds,” Mr Bradley said.

“Given the high percentage of larger fish this will not only bring more visiting fishermen to the region but potentially allow for further records sized captures in coming weeks.”

Tuna attract vessels to town

While recreational anglers are sure to be attracted to the bluefin run, Bermagui harbour is already playing host to two visiting long-liners, the Scorpion and Sniper from Mooloolaba, Queensland.

Co-op chairman Rocky Lagana said these vessels have joined local vessels Devocean and Salvatore that are also targeting the bluefin.

The Devocean has already unloaded two loads of bluefin around three tonnes, while the Scorpion was due to unload a similar haul yesterday with the biggest fish being 146kg clean.

The fish were sent to exporters in Ulladulla and Sydney the same day and that night were in the markets most likely heading off to Japan.

Mr Lagana recalls when he was growing up the fishing boats poling for tuna and bringing back tonnes of bluefin, but the fishery declined and he praised the efforts of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) in bringing in strict quotas.

“The good catches are indicating the stocks may not be under as much pressure as in the past,” he said.

Vessels targeting tuna were now required to lease bluefin tuna quota with fishermen paying around $8 per kilo toward the quota.

Mr Lagana said the leasing cost had come down from as much as $15 a kilo in the past and with fish fetching around $25 a kilo for the fishermen, it was a very viable proposition.

Each visiting vessel had a crew of around five, meaning that the fishing boom would lead to more money being spent at the town’s pub and supermarkets, he said.