A Hawaiian fisherman went overboard after hooking a massive tuna on Sunday, January 15.

Mark Knittle, 63, went fishing with a friend about four miles off the Hawaiian coast when he hooked a large fish. Knittle’s last words to his friend before disappearing into the water, after his catch pulled him off the side of his boat, was “the fish is huge.” 

When Knittle’s friend saw him fall into the ocean, he tried to help but couldn’t. He says he tried to jump into the water to save him, but he couldn’t find Knittle in the water.

Rescue personnel from the police department and the coast guard launched a search and rescue operation for Knittle on Sunday. Authorities said the massive fish was probably a yellowfin tuna.

The Assistant Chief of Operations for the Hawaii County Fire Department, Darwin Okinaka, said that incidents where fishermen go overboard are usually along the coastline. He said this situation was different because of how far out the incident took place.

When speculating about where the fisherman might be, Okinaka said that if the yellowfin was pulling him around, he could be anywhere.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website states that yellowfin tuna are usually found in tropical and subtropical oceans and can grow up to six feet long and up to 400 pounds. They have a short lifespan, with most living between six and seven years.

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