Retired Mission Viejo firefighter catches 96-pound fish

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (KABC) -- A retired Mission Viejo firefighter snagged a 96-pound opah Thursday off the coast of Encinitas.

Keith Bridges, 63, was using a live sardine as bait. He thought he caught a giant tuna, but then saw the sub-tropical fish fighting to swim away on the end of his fishing line.

"I've been fishing for 40 years out in the ocean and I've never caught one or seen one for that matter. When it came up, we were really surprised and it was pretty neat," Bridges said.

He spent 40 minutes getting the fish out of the water.

Bridges and his wife will celebrate their 28th anniversary with opah filets. They should get 50 pounds worth!