You Never Catch Anything on the Couch Matt Jurlina Lands a 250kg Bluefin with a UFC Heavyweight on the Rod

A 5.8 metre trailer boat. A UFC heavyweight strapped into the harness. And a Pacific bluefin tuna that pulled the scales to 243kg bled, gutted and gilled.

Matt Jurlina is a plumber, a Muriwai beach launcher and one of the Chums boys — a crew of mates who grew up rural and never stopped chasing fish together. He's also the bloke who'll tell you about the trips that went wrong: the $15,000 weekend, the four-hour swordfish lost at the leader, and ten big broadbill missions this season for zero fish.

Then one dead-looking day off Cape Brett, with Brando "The Balkan Bear" Peričić on the rod, one live blue koheru changed everything. Matt walks us through the bite, three leader shots, the call to take the fish, and how it ended up feeding more than 100 people.

We also get into his first marlin (no gaff, no gloves, no electronics, 128kg), why live baiting works from snapper to 250kg tuna, and the one word he wants you to take away: confidence.

Tight Lines, Loose Lips.

⏱️ Chapters / Segments

(00:00) Meet Matt & The Chums

(10:00) First Boat to Great Barrier

(20:00) First Marlin, No Gear

(30:00) Staying in the Game

(40:00) The 250kg Bluefin

(50:00) Getting It Home & Confidence

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts | Watch on YouTube — Search Get The Net

✅ Matt Jurlina @jurlina_livingwild (IG)

✅ chums.nz (IG)

✅ balknbear (IG)

✅ @chums.online (YT)

🔗 Links & Socials

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getthenet_nz

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/🎣-get-the-net----tight-lines-loose-lips🎣/id1824558692

✅ Follow Us

- Instagram: @getthenet_nz

- TikTok: @getthenet_nz

- Facebook: @getthenet_nz

🎵 Music Used

✅ Proctor, Topher Mohr & Alex Elena

✅ Satellites, Swello

✅ Momentum, Zplit

✅ Source (YouTube Audio Library)

# 🎥 Production Notes

✅ Shot on: Sony A7iii + Sennheiser Mics

✅ Edited in: Adobe Premiere Pro

✅ Shot, Edited & Produced by Nick Hoyle