A 13-year-old girl from Wedgeport, N.S., may break a record with her 711-pound giant bluefin tuna catch. Délynn Jacquard attended the annual Wedgeport Tuna Tournament and Festival with her family, climbing aboard her dad’s fishing boat the Pelagic Predator. “I wanted to do it because, I saw my parents do it a lot,” she says. “I just thought it would be fun to try something, and I did it and it was fun. Tiring for sure.” Jacquard reeled-in the fish on Thursday, maybe fighting it on the line for an hour, she says. When she saw the massive creature emerging from the water, she was shocked. “I was just thinking, ‘How did I do that?’ Because I never thought I’d be able to do something like that,” she says. “I felt amazed by myself.” Jacquard may be the new junior female bluefin record holder for the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), though the angling organization has yet to confirm. There are many physical demands that come with battling the bluefins. “It’s a lot of movement, especially if it’s like, super windy, you’re fighting a tuna and you’re going side-to-side every second and it’s a very interesting sport,” Jacquard says. The Wedgeport Tuna Tournament is set to wrap up on Saturday. The event takes place towards the end of August each year, drawing anglers and spectators from all over. From 1935 to the mid-1960s, the coastal Acadian community was the sport tuna fishing capital of the world. Many have come to tackle the tuna, including Amelia Earhart, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The tournament went on a hiatus in 1976 due to a lack of fish but kicked-off again in 2004. Since its return, the largest bluefin caught at the tournament was 796 pounds – 85 pounds heavier than Jacquard’s catch. “I hope next year I can beat my record and have lots of fun on the boat, and maybe win the tournament,” she says. She credits the camaraderie of her fishing community. “The whole community of Wedgeport comes together, they just help each other out, even if you’re not close friends, you’ll always be cheering for someone, no matter what,” she says. “I just find it brings everyone together, and it’s just amazing.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
