$1 Million Prize For Largest Tuna Catch

Guy Yocom, who last summer made headlines by landing a world-record yellowfin tuna, now has another trophy to place on prominent display: a gigantic cardboard check paid to the sum of $1 million. The tuna, caught south of Baja California's tip on an expedition out of Cabo San Lucas, weighed 427 pounds. (Photos of tuna and check presentation, and action video are posted below.)

Guy Yocom (holding fishing rod) smiles while posing alongside 427-pound yellowfin tuna. The catch has since been recognized as a world record and earned Yocom a check for $1 million. Image showing check presentation is posted below.)

The catch eclipsed the existing record of 405 pounds and Yocom has since been recognized as the all-tackle record holder by the International Game Fish Association.

But Yocom also had been registered in a promotion being offered by Mustad Hooks, which promised to pay $1 million to the first angler who sets a world record, with one of the company's hooks, before the end of last September. 



Yocom caught the behemoth on September 18. Mustad officially made good on its promise this week at Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Show in Long Beach, California. 

Yocom and his team of anglers also used the show, which attracts tens of thousands each year, to unveil a video showing the capture of the tuna (video is posted above).

"It was great meeting Guy, his captain Greg DiStefano, and the rest of the crew," Jeff Pierce, Mustad's sales manager, told Sport Fishing magazine. "What an incredible group of guys. Hardcore anglers and simply great people."

Although Yocom now has a ceremonial paycheck to go along with a trophy mount and the memories the tuna battle produced, there is a catch. 

The money will be paid in $20,000 annual installments over the next 50 years, so Yocom, 55, plans to live a long time.

It certainly has been a whirlwind several months for the angler, who can finally put the hype behind him and allow everything to sink in.

In a phone interview from Cabo San Lucas the day after his catch, Yocom said: "I didn't realize what a big deal it was until now, because I've been getting phone calls from people I haven't heard from in a while, telling me what a big deal it is."