The $3,000 prize for April’s heaviest tuna has become a fair way harder to claim, with a local anger pulling in a fish triple the weight of last week’s biggest catch.

Portland man Marcus Jarrett brought a 42 kg back with him on the weekend, taking out the $1,000 weekly prize and positioning himself in top spot to win the $3,000 overall prize for the heaviest catch in April. The money has been put on the table by Glenelg Shire Council for the annual Hooked on Tuna fishing competition, with a prize on offer each weekend of the month, with the event leading into the Hooked on Portland seafood and fishing festival on the ANZAC Day long weekend.

Last weekend’s winner Roy Thaller’s 14kg catch has been knocked clear off the podium, with Rondah and Charlie Melbourne from Narrabri in New South Whales hooking a 27.3kg and a 23.3kg catch respectively.

Glenelg Shire Mayor Cr Anita Rank said the bigger catches highlighted the better fishing conditions, but suggests bigger fish might be yet to come.

“Last weekend proved to be difficult conditions for anglers to navigate, which resulted in the smaller catches,” she said.

“However, this weekend was a vast improvement, which has resulted in much larger catches and we congratulate local angler Marcus Jarrett on his 42kg winning fish. Just by entering, Marcus will now take home a $1,000 cash prize and be in the running to claim the overall top prize – that’s if no one knocks him from his current position.

“We know that there are still bigger tuna out there waiting to be caught, so it will make for an interesting battle for the final rounds of the competition to see if anyone can reel in an elusive 100+ kg haul.

“With two more weekends of fishing and, to pardon the pun, plenty more fish in the sea, make sure you head down to Portland this April to try your luck at Hooked on Tuna.”