Recent State-Record and Pending World-Record Catches
Texas Black Drum
Weight: Estimated to be 70 lb. or more The Lowdown: Ryan Hilditch was fishing with his buddies Eric Spurgeon and Corey Elliot in the Trinity Bay near Baytown, Texas on July 26 when Hilditch felt a strong pull on his 15-pound test line. After a 20-minute fight, Hilditch reeled in this monster black drum from about eight feet of water. The net nearly broke pulling the fish into the boat. After a few photographs were snapped, the drum was released without being weighed. Hilditch estimates it was around 70 pounds. Bait Used: Fresh shrimp Current State Record: 78 pounds.
World Record Blue Catfish
Weight: 75.4 lb • Length: 52″ • Girth: 33″ The Lowdown: Fishing the Nickajack Lake near Chattanooga on June 28 with friends Ted Boozer and Gary Hathcock, Uhrine hooked this monster and got it near the boat within five minutes. But when the men leaned over to get the fish, it took over, causing a 25-minute battle to bring it back. After being weighed and photographed, the blue cat was released. The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Face recently certified the catch as the largest catfish ever caught on a 10-pound test line. Bait Used: Chicken breast
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** Previous Record: 42 inches — 1999; Caught on Lake Catherine in Arkansas
Virginia State Record Blueline Tilefish
Weight: 20 lb. 10 oz. • Length: 31″ • Girth: 24.75″
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** The Lowdown: Records are falling like crazy in Virginia. A state record blueline tilefish was caught in March and certified in April, and the record was tied a month later. On June 28, Kenneth Bowe hooked an even bigger blueline tilefish in 400 feet of water near Norfolk Canyon. The catch is under consideration for the IGFA all-tackle world record. Bait Used: Squid and balao Previous Record: 20 pounds, 4 ounces — April 2009
South Carolina State Record White Grunt
Weight: 5 lb. 10 oz.
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** The Lowdown: In the recent Trident Fishing Tournament, Godbout claimed the top catch in eight line class categories that included six species. But his newest title is the biggest. Fishing with Trent Lee and Mike Obstfeld, Godbout landed a South Carolina state record white grunt. He knew it was a record as soon as he saw it.
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** Bait Used: Live menhaden Previous Record: 5 pounds — March 2008
Idaho State Record Rainbow Trout
Weight: 20 lb. • Length: 34.25″ The Lowdown: Using just a worm, Michelle Williams hooked her monster from under a bridge in Pingree, drawing looks from other fishermen nearby until she landed the fish. The trophy was a special treat on her 50th birthday. Bait Used: Worm Previous Record: 19 pounds–1947
Maryland State Record Blue Marlin
Weight: 1,062 pounds. The Lowdown: During the White Marling Open held earlier this month in Ocean City Marlin, Farris hooked and beat this monster blue, though it took him three hours to do it. Farris and the crew of the “No Problem” not only scored a state record, but but walked away with a tournament check over $450,000. Lure Used: Unknown Previous Record: 942 poundw–1989
All-Tackle World Record Alti Osman
Weight: 12 lb. 13 oz.** The Lowdown: Caught in Mongolia’s Hoton Lake, this fish may qualify for the first of its species in the IGFA Record Book. Diachenko landed the alti osman in 15 minutes. He released it after photographing and documenting its weight and measurements. Lure Used: Vibrotail Previous Record: None Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Women’s Line-Class Record California Corbina (4lb. test)
Weight: 4lb. 2 oz.** The Lowdown: Guided by Richard Pomo, Kathy hooked this corbina near Newport beach.
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** Bait Used: Ghost Shrimp
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** Previous Record: 3 pounds, 4 ounces Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Fly Line-Class Record California Corbina (12 lb. tippet)
Weight: 3 lb., 8 oz.
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** The Lowdown: Dr. Wade lucked into this corbina while wade-fishing near Long Beach, California. Fly Used: Unknown
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** Previous Record: 3 pounds, 6 ounces Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Jonathan McNamara, Owego, NY.**
**All-Tackle World Record Fall Fish
Weight: 3 lb., 9 oz.
** The Lowdown: Fishing the Susquehanna River last April, McNamara landed this fall fish while jigging a tube. Lure Used: Mizmo Tube Previous Record: 3 pounds, 8 ounces Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
All-Tackle World Record Giant Pangasius
Weight: 90 lb., 6 oz. The Lowdown: Stationed at Gillhams Fishing Resort in Krabi, Southern Thailand, Boon bested this catfish species in Bung Sam Lan Lake.
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** Bait Used: Unknown Previous Record: 65 pounds, 1 ounce Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Line-Class Record Hickory Shad (8lb. test)
Weight: 1 lb., 12 oz.
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** The Lowdown: While swinging shad darts in the James River, Jimerson’s got nailed by this colossal shad, landing him a well-deserved place in fish-record history.
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** Lure Used: Shad Dart **
Previous Record:** 1 pound, 6 ounces Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Line-Class Record Lingcod (12lb. test)
Weight: 63 lb., 8 oz.
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** The Lowdown: Traveling all the way from Florida to fish the Gulf of Alaska, Wright’s trip paid off when he beat this bruiser lingcod. Lure Used: Grubtail Jig Previous Record: 61 pounds Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
All-Tackle World Record North African Tigerfish
Weight: 12 lb., 8 oz.** **
The Lowdown:** With this catch, IGFA will begin a separate category for the North African Tigerfish–one of four tigerfish species. Nabozny hooked the fish in the Gambia River and fought it for 15 minutes. Lure Used: Bunny Magnum Previous Record: None Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Fly Record North Pike (20lb.tippet)
Weight: 30 lb., 13 oz.** The Lowdown: Fly fishing Italy’s Lake of Annone on June 11, Pacchiarini got this giant pike to eat his fly, possibly earning him a spot in the IGFA books by bumping out the current tippet-class leader by 7 ounces. Fly Used: Wiggle tail Previous Record: 30 pounds, 6 ounces Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Boy’s Junior IGFA Record Southern Bluefin Tuna
Weight: 198 lb., 13 oz.** The Lowdown: Fishing a spot known as “The Lanterns” off the coast of Tasmania, Gilbert
put in a 15-minute arm-wrenching fight to beat this beauty of a tuna. Bait Used: Squid Previous Record: 174 pounds, 2 ounces
Line-Class Record Wahoo (8lb. test)
Weight: 69 lb., 10 oz.** The Lowdown: Simpson, the Editor of Australia’s BlueWater magazine, connected with this wahoo while fishing 30 miles off Kadavu Island, Fiji, aboard Captain Adrian Watt’s Bite Me.
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Lure Used:** Halco Laser Pro 190
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Previous Record:** 56 pounds, 11 ounces Courtesy of I.G.F.A.
Line-Class Record Yelloweye Rockfish (8lb. test)
Weight: 28 lb.**
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** The Lowdown: Traveling from his home in the 50th U.S. state to visit and fish in the 49th state, Kwiat hooked this heavy rockfish in the depths of the Gulf of Alaska. Lure Used: Rubber Jig
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** Previous Record: 28 pounds Courtesy of I.G.F.A.