(WPRI) — Thomas Czernik made the catch of a lifetime back in June.
The Brown University graduate student was fishing from the beach in southern Rhode Island when he unexpectedly reeled in a 70-inch Atlantic Tarpon.
“From the moment I hooked up to the fish, the experience was exhilarating. I knew that I was creating a memory that I will hold for the rest of my life,” Czernik told 12 News. “After landing the fish, I was in shock and awe, and above all, felt incredibly fortunate.”
The Atlantic Tarpon is typically found much further south. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said their habitat range spans from Virginia to Brazil.
Atlantic Tarpon can grow up to 8 feet long and can weigh up to 250 pounds. Their lifespan can be “in excess of 50 years,” according to FWC.
The FWC said the Atlantic Tarpon can only be fished recreationally in Florida, which is where the species is more commonly found. That’s why after the excitement, Czernik released the fish back into the ocean.
This is the second summer in a row a large tarpon has been caught off the New England surf.
Last August, Hans Brings was fishing off Cape Cod when he caught a 5-foot tarpon.