A surprising sight greeted motorists and staff at a Devonport car wash this week, as a 40-kilogram bluefin tuna was found suspended from a cleaning hoist. The unusual display occurred while a group of fishermen took the opportunity to clean their boat.
Patrick Dearing, assistant manager of a petrol station on William Street, recounted the scene to Pulse Tasmania, stating he looked up during his shift to witness the spectacle. According to Dearing, the fishermen arrived with a large boat and proceeded to hoist their freshly caught tuna using a rope around its tail.
While the impressive fish hung like a “beautiful trophy,” the crew diligently cleaned out their vessel in the car wash bay.
Speaking to ABC Radio, Dearing expressed a humorous relief that the substantial catch was not subjected to the full car wash treatment. “I’m glad they didn’t do the laser wash, so that would have been interesting for it to go through,” he reportedly said. He also quipped about the potential lingering scent for subsequent car wash users, noting, “Not sure how the brush would smell today if someone’s cleaning their car today though.”
The sight of the large bluefin tuna certainly captured the attention of those on the North-West Coast, providing a memorable local anecdote.
For more details and images of the event, readers are encouraged to visit the original report on Pulse Tasmania.