At 1:00 p.m. on August 2, 2026, the fishing line of Ludovic, Florian, and Jonathan Delmée suddenly jerked with a force none of them had felt before. Just 5.5 kilometers off the French coast near Sète, the three brothers, who work in fishing and maritime excursions, realized this was no ordinary catch. They took turns battling a bluefin tuna for nearly two hours. It ultimately weighed 230 kilos and measured 2.6 meters.
The fight demanded coordination and endurance. The tuna made repeated, powerful runs, forcing the brothers to rotate at the rod to maintain pressure and avoid exhaustion. The episode was captured on video and later spread across social media. It showed the brothers celebrating with shouts and embraces as the fish surfaced beside their boat, while one tossed a cap onto the deck.
The Challenge of Landing a Giant
Getting the tuna to the surface was only half the battle. Its sheer size made it impossible to haul aboard with manpower alone. The brothers secured the fish by its head and tail, then slowly towed it alongside their vessel back to Sète. Once in port, they needed a lifting gantry to hoist the catch from the water and confirm its measurements.
Local media described the feat as extraordinary for rod-and-line fishing, given the fish’s weight of well over 200 kilos. Estimates put the tuna’s age at around ten years. The Mediterranean is home to other large marine species, but such a specimen remains a rare prize for recreational anglers. Reports say the Delmée brothers chose to share the meat with family and close friends.
Strict Rules for Recreational Tuna Fishing
France enforces tight regulations on bluefin tuna fishing, particularly for recreational catches. As of March 2026, a special permit linked to the vessel is required, and the rules distinguish between catch-and-release and landing a fish. Landing is allowed only between July 10 and October 16 for French-flagged boats. Each vessel is limited to one tuna per day under a national quota of 78.3 tons. The Delmée brothers’ catch fell within this authorized window.
To keep a landed tuna, an official orange tag must be attached immediately, and the catch must be declared within 48 hours. For Mediterranean bluefin tuna, the 2026-2027 RecFishing guidance specifies a dedicated landing declaration using Cerfa form No. 14938*15. From April 1, 2026, this procedure replaced reporting through RecFishing for the species. The declaration is separate from vessel authorization and the permitted landing period, as well as any applicable quota. France’s wider 2026 recreational-fishing structure also requires annual registration and reporting for certain marine species by fishers aged 16 and over, effective February 12. The sale of recreationally caught tuna is strictly prohibited. The fish is reserved for the angler and their family.
Bluefin Tuna: Recovery and Ongoing Quotas
Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and Mediterranean was once classified as endangered after decades of overfishing. In 2021, the IUCN downgraded its status to “least concern,” citing improved quotas and stronger action against illegal fishing. The eastern population, which spawns in the Mediterranean, has reportedly grown by at least 22% over the past forty years.
Not all populations have recovered equally. The western stock has declined by more than half over the same period, and scientific assessments continue to monitor the health of both groups. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) maintains that, as of 2020, the eastern stock is not currently overfished, though environmental factors such as marine heatwaves could affect future abundance.
Experts caution that individual catches do not necessarily reflect the overall health of the species. The Delmée brothers’ catch does show that large bluefin tuna are present in the Mediterranean.
