Fishermen land catch of a lifetime in Ocean Isle

Jan 21, 2006, 12:13 PM EST More on the Web

OCEAN ISLE BEACH -- A big catch for some Brunswick County fishermen has caused quite a stir. They brought in two 500 pound plus Bluefin Tuna. Those two fish are now translating into big business.

"There's no doubt when a Bluefin Tuna strikes, there is no doubt that it is a Bluefin Tuna. It's like a freight train going in the other direction," charter boat captain Brant McMullan said.

Brant experienced that feeling twice this week all within a hour.

"Catching two Bluefin is a tremendous feat in itself. Catching two Bluefin over 500 pounds is very special. That's rare anywhere, anywhere in the world for that matter," Brant's brother and charter boat captain Barrett McMullan said.

It took Brant and two other men an hour to reel in each Bluefin. A quick phone call to his brother, who is also a charter boat captain, jumpstarted a usually slow time of the year for Brunswick County.

"When I got word they got them on. It changed. Our doors opened up, our cash registers opened up. It was humming, it was humming since then," Barrett said.

"Yesterday (Thursday) evening one of the guys at the inns called me and said, 30 minutes after we landed those fish he booked a dozen rooms instantly," Brant said.

The McMullan's say normally these fish are found further up the North Carolina coast but they had a good feeling they'd get lucky offshore.

"It's been our goal for years to try to bring a fish like a big, giant back to Ocean Isle. To be able to bring one here was great," Brant said.

"You put a 500-pound fish on the dock you're going to turn some heads," Barrett said.

The McMullan's say in Morehead City, fisherman can bring in millions of dollars each year going after these big fish.