A fisherman who went missing over the weekend was reportedly pulled from his boat by a huge tuna.
Mark Nettle was in the waters off Hōnaunau on the Big Island when he hooked the big fish in the early hours of Sunday morning (January 15).
Moments later, the 63-year-old was pulled overboard and below the waves as he struggled with the ahi, which experts say can grow up to six feet and weigh up to 400lb (180kg).
According to the Hawaii Police Department, a friend of Mr. Knittle’s who was on board that day said they saw him in the water, but he was gone “within seconds.”
Mark Knittle went missing on Sunday (January 15). credit:
Police launched a missing person’s appeal, sharing the fisherman’s photo on Facebook and asking if anyone happened to have seen him.
The force said: “Police were advised that on Sunday 15 January 2023 at 5:00am, Knittle and a friend were fishing near Buoy ‘C’, four miles outside the Hōnaunau Boat Ramp, when Knittle hang an ahi.
“The friend heard Knittle say, ‘The fish is huge,’ then saw Knittle jump overboard into the water.
“The friend tried to catch the line but couldn’t. Knightel was seen on the surface and disappeared within seconds.
The 63-year-old man was reportedly pulled overboard by a large tuna. Credit: Cultura Creative RF/Alamy
“The friend tried to jump after Knittle but couldn’t see him anywhere.
“The Hawaii Fire Department and Coast Guard personnel have been called and are conducting a continuous search for the next 72 hours.”
Darwin Okinaka, assistant chief of operations for the Hawaii County Fire Department, said this was a special case.
“Usually our incidents like this are along the coast. It’s a different situation because it’s in the deep,” he noted.
“If there’s a fish that’s really pulling him around, you don’t know where he could go.”
Honaunau. Credit: John Lander/Alamy
Mr. Knittle is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 185 pounds.
He has curly brown hair with a white mustache and beard.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact their local police and fire department as soon as possible.
The police department’s non-emergency line can be reached at (808) 935-331.
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