Large Ahi Tuna pulls man overboard and he's still missing

May 2024 · 5 minute read

HONOLULU (AP) — Rescuers searched for a third day Tuesday for a Hawaii fisherman who went overboard from a boat after hooking a tuna over the weekend, authorities said.

Mark Knittle, 63, of Captain Cook, was fishing with a friend off Honaunau on the Big Island on Sunday, when he hooked an ahi, or tuna, police said.

“The friend heard Knittle say, ‘The fish is huge,’ then saw Knittle go overboard into the water,” according to a police news release.

The friend tried to grab the line, but Knittle disappeared within seconds, the release said. The friend jumped in but couldn't see Knittle.

The search was expected to continue through Tuesday, U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Ryan Fisher said. The Hawaii County Fire Department was helping the Coast Guard search from the sea and air.

“Usually our incidents like this are along the coastlines. This is a different situation because it's out in the deep," said Darwin Okinaka, Hawaii County Fire Department assistant chief of operations.

According to police, Knittle and his friend were 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) from the Honaunau Boat Ramp.

“If there's a fish that's actually pulling him around, you don't know where he could go," Okinaka said.

Ahi can weigh several hundred pounds. Police described Knittle as weighing 185 pounds (84 kilograms).

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by Anonymousreply 39January 18, 2023 4:39 PM

Thank you for sharing this heartbreaking news.

by Anonymousreply 2January 17, 2023 11:46 PM

Why didn't he just let go?

by Anonymousreply 3January 17, 2023 11:46 PM

She showed him who the real chicken of the sea is!

by Anonymousreply 4January 17, 2023 11:47 PM

Was he tethered to the line or was there a net or... ? Why wouldn't just you let go and re-surface?

by Anonymousreply 5January 17, 2023 11:53 PM

Sorry Charlie my fucking tailfin!

by Anonymousreply 8January 18, 2023 12:03 AM

The ahi is having human sushi for dinner.

by Anonymousreply 9January 18, 2023 12:03 AM

[quote] “If there’s a fish that’s actually pulling him around, you don’t know where he could go,” Okinaka said.

I think he was wearing a fishing harness.

by Anonymousreply 10January 18, 2023 12:05 AM

[quote] “If there’s a fish that’s actually pulling him around, you don’t know where he could go,” Okinaka said.

Most likely, they're headed to Davy Jones's Locker.

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by Anonymousreply 11January 18, 2023 12:07 AM

Don't put on the harness if you can't swim with the big fish.

by Anonymousreply 12January 18, 2023 12:22 AM

Let's Roll Ahi Tuna Roll!

by Anonymousreply 13January 18, 2023 12:46 AM

So Big Tune-Tune is into men?

by Anonymousreply 14January 18, 2023 12:50 AM

The Ahi was angry that day, my friend.

by Anonymousreply 16January 18, 2023 12:54 AM

...like an old man sending soup back to the deli.

by Anonymousreply 17January 18, 2023 12:57 AM

That was no fish it was a dinasour

by Anonymousreply 20January 18, 2023 1:13 AM

Are they sure it was a tuna?

Maybe it was a large shark.

by Anonymousreply 21January 18, 2023 1:15 AM

Have they considered just asking him (tuna)?

by Anonymousreply 22January 18, 2023 1:17 AM

Nothing yet? I’ll make sure to tuna in later to see if there’s an update.

by Anonymousreply 23January 18, 2023 1:45 AM

Sounds horrifying, actually. If this had been a husband and wife and the wife "got pulled overboard" by a giant tuna, this might be a murder investigation.

by Anonymousreply 24January 18, 2023 1:48 AM

[quote] “Usually our incidents like this are along the coastlines. This is a different situation because it's out in the deep,"

Wait, so this actually happens a lot???

WTF?

I had no idea fish were that strong.

by Anonymousreply 25January 18, 2023 1:54 AM

It's funny because I was just watching this video short yesterday.

It must be dangerous when you're doing this from a boat with no railing to keep you from falling in.

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by Anonymousreply 26January 18, 2023 1:58 AM

Spicy Tuna #1 Fisherman #0

by Anonymousreply 27January 18, 2023 1:58 AM

More like an Ahahah Tuna, amiright?

by Anonymousreply 28January 18, 2023 2:22 AM

Swordfish (Hawaii) impales and kills man. Man saw swordfish, jumped into water with spear, and speared swordfish. Swordfish "swam towards" man and impaled him. I'm not sure what part of the body the swordfish impaled, but I'm guessing it's the abdomen.

Swordfish died, as well.

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by Anonymousreply 29January 18, 2023 2:28 AM

Hey, all sports have their dangers. As we know, a football player almost died recently from a chest impact injury. I knew a guy who died jumping off a mountain to parasail. He was always doing extreme sports and because of it, he was hired to be the host of Shark Week. Unfortunately, he died before he could start the job. I still talk to his mother on FB sometimes.

by Anonymousreply 30January 18, 2023 2:30 AM

“Ahi Tuna caught humaning off the coast of the Pacific”

by Anonymousreply 31January 18, 2023 2:31 AM

Just another baity boomer.

by Anonymousreply 32January 18, 2023 2:32 AM

The ahi is now saying ah ha.

by Anonymousreply 33January 18, 2023 3:07 AM

[quote] “If there's a fish that's actually pulling him around, you don't know where he could go," Okinaka said.

I'll give you a hint: Mr. Knittle was delicious!

by Anonymousreply 34January 18, 2023 3:11 AM

Fish never think they should be held responsible for their destructive actias.

by Anonymousreply 35January 18, 2023 3:17 AM

What if that friend just pushed him overboard?

by Anonymousreply 36January 18, 2023 3:22 AM

Video or it didn't happen

by Anonymousreply 37January 18, 2023 3:22 AM

R19, I thought you were albacore 🥴

by Anonymousreply 38January 18, 2023 3:25 AM

Get the Moscow, idaho police department on the case.

STAT!

by Anonymousreply 39January 18, 2023 4:39 PM

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