Campsea Ashe: Anna Meaden, 16, catches 250lb yellow fin tuna on first ever fishing trip while visiting her father on Ascension Island
Anna Meaden caught a 250lb yellow fin tuna while visiting her father on Ascension Island, in the Atlantic Ocean, between Africa and South America. Pictured: (L to R) Colin Chester, Craig Hall, Georgina Paterson and Anna Meaden. - Credit: Archant
Most novice fishermen would be grateful for just the tiniest of nibbles when casting a line for the very first time.
Anna Meaden caught a 250lb yellow fin tuna while visiting her father on Ascension Island, in the Atlantic Ocean, between Africa and South America. - Credit: Archant
But 16-year-old Anna Meaden landed a catch that would leave even a seasoned sea dog green with envy.
The youngster, from Campsea Ashe, near Wickham Market, readily admits that she was more interested in topping up her tan during a trip to see her father on the remote Atlantic territory of Ascension Island.
But she was eventually persuaded to take a trip out to sea with her father’s friends Colin Chester and Craig Hall, who own a charter boat - and returned with an impressive haul.
Anna, who will soon start an apprenticeship at Melton Day Nursery and plays rugby at Woodbridge Rugby Club, landed a yellow fin tuna weighing a whopping 250lb.
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The former Thomas Mills High School pupil, who was visiting with her friend Georgina, said: “I came out here to see dad for a bit of a break. To be honest we weren’t that interested. We were just on the front of the boat sunbathing when Craig started calling and saying that we were going through some fish. So we went over and gave it a go.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It took me an hour and 15 minutes to reel it in. I’ve got bruises up my arm. It was quite a struggle and a lot harder than you think. Craig caught a similar sized one as well but it only took him 15 minutes.”
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The fish was so heavy that – due to the small landing jetty on the island – the US military had to bring the tuna onto the pier with a crane.
“I’ve definitely got a taste for it,” Anna continued. “Not normal fishing but definitely charter as I think that’s a lot more interesting. I’m coming out again at Christmas and I’d like to catch a marlin.
“Because this is such a small place and the tuna was so big we were able to give a bag of the meat to everyone on the island.”
Her dad Paul, who moved to Ascension in May this year to work with the local police force after serving as a detective inspector with the Metropolitan Police in London, added: “Unfortunately I wasn’t on the boat at the time. I was feeling quite proud and smug having recently caught a 231lb tuna, but Craig tells me that Anna made far less of a fuss about the fight than I did and that she’s a better fisherman all round.”
