The crew of three processed it and put it on ice immediately. It was sent via air freight to Japan this morning where it will be auctioned to the highest bidder at a fish market. Mr MacFarlane's father, Dougle, said his son and his crew had left Whitianga about two weeks ago to target bluefin but probably weren't expecting a haul like this one. "He's caught other really big fish before - he's been commercial fishing for 20 years - but nothing ever as big as this."