Tuna caught off the Western Isles

A large Bluefin tuna has been caught off the Western Isles.

Cruise boat operator Angus Campbell caught the 9ft fish weighing 515lbs today (Thu) as he had been investigating the possibility of fishing for the species which are being spotted in waters further north than usual.

The fish is thought to one of the largest ever tuna caught in Scottish waters although tuna closer to 600lbs and 13 feet in length have been caught in the western Atlantic.

Anyone got mayo?

Angus Campbell, owner of Kilda Cruises, provides support for marine surveys west of the Hebrides.

According to Total Sea Fishing magazine, Mr Campbell has been investigating fishing for Bluefin tuna and had got himself specialist fishing gear as well as instruction from a firm in Massachusetts on how to catch these massive creatures, which can travel up to 43 miles an hour.

It is understood that Bluefin tuna are warm-blooded, not a common attribute of fish. They are able to adjust their body temperature to keep it warmer than the surrounding water, so they are able to survive in ocean waters that are colder.

Although Bluefin tuna have been caught off the Irish coast for decades they now seem to be moving north. They have been overfished during the last 20 years in American waters but surveys seem to indicate a rise in the north Atlantic population due to conservation measures.