Anglers in Virginia reeled in a 700-pound tuna, then threw a dinner party
The 708-pound bluefin tuna outweighs the previous Virginia state record by a whopping 102 pounds. (Photos by The Confluence Group/Buzz Hayes/)This story originally featured on Field & Stream.Editor’s Note: Unsustainable fishing practices have depleted Atlantic bluefin tuna around the world, so much that the US tightly regulates harvest of the endangered species. Given that Jake Hiles’s catch falls within the federal limits, and that he didn’t take the meat to the market, we decided to share the story below, despite the debate around the sport and practice.They arrived by the dozens—with coolers and plastic bags in hand. Virginia Beach captain Jake Hiles invited them to come via social media. He’d just caught a bluefin tuna like no other—and asked the community to join in his prize. Hiles gave away the catch of a lifetime.It was the fishing equivalent of Babe Ruth standing at the plate and pointing his bat toward...