Eight-year-old Cairns boy Jet Edwards has pulled in a fish almost as heavy as himself, setting a new national record.

"We took him home, we weighed him at the boat club and then we went to the tackle shop and we got the photo there and the next day we were in the paper." - Jet Edwards (Supplied: Jay Edwards)

"So we were out on the boat, going fishing, not having very much luck and then we heard the line making sounds. They quickly gave the rod to me and we took about 45 minutes winding it in on a 10 kilo line and I had aching arms." - Jet Edwards (Supplied: Jay Edwards)

Jet Edwards caught a 14.8-kilogram giant trevally, near Innisfail, south of Cairns. The catch has just been recognised as the biggest trevally caught by a child aged 11 or under, under Game Fishing Association standards. (Supplied: Jay Edwards)

Jet's father Jay Edwards says it was a big battle and he was surprised at how well his son performed.

"They are a renowned strong fighter so lots of toing and froing, you know, getting it close and then he'd disappear for a while again and we would have to go and wind him in again," he said.

"It is always a bit of a worry with kids as to whether they are going to stick it out for 40-something minutes, but encouraging words got him to stick it out and finally win the day."