Alocal angler has secured the top spot in the Hooked on Tuna fishing competition, reeling in a 42kg catch on the weekend. 

Portland man Marcus Jarrett has gone home $1000 richer, claiming the title of heaviest catch of the weekend and for the competition so far, knocking previous leader Roy Thaller from his top position. 

Mr Thaller, who had secured a 14kg catch, has also been knocked from the leaderboard entirely, with a New South Wales based couple taking second and third place. Rhonda and Charlie Melbourne from Narrabri snagged a 27.3kg and a 23.3kg catch between them, putting them both firmly on the leaderboard. 

Glenelg Shire Mayor Anita Rank said the bigger catches highlighted the better fishing conditions anglers experienced on the weekend. 

“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.

“Marcus will now take home a $1000 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 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.” 

The Hooked on Tuna fishing competition continues every weekend in April, with the final weekend of fishing taking place on April 23 and 24.