Medford, Oregon, USA
Roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis)
Women's 10 kg (20 lb) Tippet Class Record
Weight: 9.53 kg (21 lb)
The Lowdown: Shaughnessy recently traveled to Bahia de los Sueños, Mexico with hope to add to her current record count for roosterfish, where she already holds records in the women's 4 kg (8 lb), 6 kg (12 lb) and 8 kg (16 lb) tippet classes. Guided by Marco Antonio Green Lucero, Shaughnesssy landed a spectacular roosterfish on May 29, 2011 from the shore. To make the potential record catch even sweeter, the fish was released alive after being weighed, measured and photographed. The current IGFA record is 8.55 kg (18 lb 13 oz).
Bait Used: Kinky muddler fly
New York, New York, USA
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus)
Male Junior Record
Weight: 84.82 kg (187 lb)
The Lowdown: On August 14, 2011 Kesseler was fishing the Hudson Canyon with his father, Howard Kesseler, Jr. when this Atlantic bigeye tuna hit the lure they were trolling. Having gone 25 hours without a bite, the young angler quickly grabbed the rod and settled in for the hour and twenty minute battle that ensued. With his experienced father at the helm and gaff man at the ready, the team was able to land the fish. The current IGFA record is vacant.
Bait Used: Clone lure
Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Pacific Sailfish
The Lowdown: In September of 2009, Wesley Davis, age 10 at the time, became the youngest angler in IGFA history to accomplish the coveted Billfish Royal Slam – a feat that requires catching nine billfish from around the world. The young Davis is making history again; having recently completed his second Billfish Royal Slam with the capture of an Atlantic blue marlin off St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on August 15, 2011 and a broadbill swordfish taken off Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, just three days later. While eventually traveling to Venezuela, Panama, both coasts of the USA, and the U.S.V.I., Wesley started his quest towards a second slam with a Pacific sailfish caught off Zihuatanejo, Mexico on January 16, 2008.
London, England, UK
African Red Snapper (Lutjanus agennes)
10 kg (20 lb) Line Class Record
Weight: 7.4 kg (16 lb 5 oz)
The Lowdown: Fishing Angola’s Kwanza River on July 10, 2011, Lewis landed this potential record fish. It took the angler five minutes to land after the toothy snapper crushed his jig. With the current IGFA record at 2.8 kg (6 lb 2 oz), Lewis’s snapper would be the best existing record by more than 4.5 kg (10 lb).
Bait Used: Tyger soft plastic jig
Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Payara (Hydrolycus spp.)
All-Tackle Length Records
Length: 88 cm
The Lowdown: On a recent trip to Bolivia, Sadar landed the toothy payara in the San Simon River on July 29, 2011. Sadar needed 23 minutes to subdue his potential record fish, which was released after being photographed. The current IGFA record is vacant.
Bait Used: Custom tied fly
Cairns, Australia
Papuan Black Snapper (Lutjanus goldei)
3 kg (6 lb) Line Class Record
Weight: 32 lb
The Lowdown: Endemic only to the island nation of Papua New Guinea, the black snapper is a brutal adversary to anglers brave enough to target them. These fish are found in the freshwater lakes and rivers of Papua. Ian currently holds five line class records for this species. Fishing for barramundi on Lake Murray with guide Trevor Green on July 6, 2011, Middleton needed 42 minutes to land this toothy critter after crushing his plug.
Bait Used: Sebile diving plug
Kota Bharu, Malaysia
Butterfly Peacock (Cichla ocellaris)
All-Tackle Length Record
Length: 52 cm
The Lowdown: Fishing with guide Moho Fauzi Mustaffa on July 23, 2011 Ismail landed this beautiful butterfly peacock while casting. The fish was released after the two minute fight, and the necessary information was documented. The current IGFA record is 49 cm.
Bait Used: Yozuri lure
Coral Gables, FL, USA
Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)
16 lb tippet class record
Weight: 62 lb 8 oz
The Lowdown: Fly fishing Lake Livingston, Texas, USA on August 22, 2011 with Captain Kirk Kirkland, Arostegui finally hooked up to the fish he describes as “the fish of 10,000 casts” – a 28.35 kg (62 lb 8 oz) alligator gar. Thirty minutes after the fish struck, Arostegui was able to land, weigh and release the fish alive. The current IGFA record is 11.25 kg (24 lb 13 oz).
Bait Used: Custom fly
Osaka, Japan
Potato Grouper (Epinephelus tukula)
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 77.85 kg (171 lb.)
The Lowdown: Fishing with guide Takashi Nakazato on June 4, 2011 off Miyako Island, Japan, Shibayama battled this bottom-dwelling monster for seven and a half hours. The current IGFA record is vacant.
Bait Used: Live snapper
Newport Beach, CA
Sea bass (Atractoscion nobilis)
Men’s Line Class Record
Weight: 25.85 kg (57 lb.)
The Lowdown: Pfleger landed his most recent sea bass while fishing south of the border in Ensenada, Mexico on June 22, 2011. Forty-five minutes after the fish sent his Shimano TLD screaming, the skilled angler had the fish subdued and in the boat.
Bait Used: Live squid
Rockford, IL
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
All-Tackle Length Record
Length: 128 cm
The Lowdown: This past June, angler Mark E. Carlson, M.D. of Rockford, Illinois, took a trip to experience some of the fantastic fishing north of the border in Ottawa, Canada. It was a good thing Mark decided to bring his IGFA Measuring Device because the fish were biting. In Canada’s Ottawa River on June 22, 2011, after a quick five-minute fight, Mark was able to measure, photograph and release the musky. The current IGFA record is vacant.
Bait Used: Buck tail lure
Camarillo, CA
California halibut (Paralichthys californicus)
Men’s Line Class Record
Weight: 30.48 kg (67 lb 53 oz)
The Lowdown: Angler Francisco J. Rivera was fishing for sea bass with Capt. Joe Villareal on July 1, 2011 off the cost of Santa Rosa, California. Rivera had the tasty bottom dweller subdued in 10 minutes. The current IGFA record is 26.58 kg (58 lb 9 oz).
Bait Used: Live squid
Anchorage, AK
Black-blue Rockfish
Male Small fry Record
Weight: 3.69 kg (8 lb 2 oz)
The Lowdown: Small fry angler Cody Konop currently holds six junior records for species such as lingcod and black-blue rockfish. Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska on July 11, 2011 with father and captain, Tom Konop, Cody pulled in the black-blue rockfish. Cody needed just seven minutes to land the fish.
Bait Used: Storm Wildeye Shad
Boca Chica, Panama
Roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis)
All-Tackle Length Record
Length: 130 cm
The Lowdown: Olivier Charpentier went out on July 4, 2011 to target some of the inshore game species that the surrounding water of Boca Chica, Panama has to offer. It took the experienced angler 20 minutes to land the fish. The current IGFA record is 92 cm.
Bait Used: Sebile topwater plug
Langwarrin, Victoria
Southern Blue fin
Men’s Tippet Class Record
Weight: 8.48 kg (18 lb 11 oz)
The Lowdown: Australian angler David Fent traveled west to Port MacDonnell, Australia on May 20, 2011 to target some of the southern blue fin tuna found in that area during this time of year. Fent did battle for a grueling 40 minutes before the fish was finally subdued. The current IGFA record is vacant.
Bait Used: Custom fly
The Woodlands, TX
Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis)
All Tackle Length Record
Length: 69 cm
The Lowdown: When most anglers are fortunate enough to land a big tripletail, the fish usually finds its way to the icebox and then the frying pan. Angler Stan Nabozny, had an All-Tackle Length record on his mind, while fishing with Capt. Dwayne Newbern on July 8, 2011 in Matagorda Bay, Texas. The fish fought for 10 minutes before being measured, photographed and released. The current IGFA record is vacant.
Bait Used: Shrimp
Christchurch, New Zealand
Swordfish
Female Junior Record
Weight: 179 lb 10 oz
The Lowdown: Angler Eilish Hargen is dwarfed by the swordfish she landed on May 23, 2011 while fishing off Cape Karikari, New Zealand. Hargen’s captain, Jason Wootton, was trolling a Yo-Zuri squid when the fish hit, and the young angler landed her prize in just 20 minutes. The current IGFA record is 155 lb 13 oz.
Bait Used: Yo-Zuri squid
Greenville, NC
Blue Catfish
All-Tackle Record + Men’s 30 lb Line Class Record
Weight: 143 lbs.
The Lowdown: Last summer, Greg Bernal made history and shocked the angling world with his 130 lb. All-Tackle blue catfish that he pulled from the Missouri River. Not more than a year later, on June 18, 2011, Richard Nicholas Anderson pulled a blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) from Kerr Lake, Virginia, USA that tops Bernal’s fish by 13 lb and qualifies for both the new potential All-Tackle and men’s 15 kg (30 lb) line class records. Anderson was fishing with his father and close friend. The fish was subdued 45 minutes later and Anderson was exhausted. Nevertheless, the excited anglers rushed back to the docks to get an official weight on this new potential record fish. Bait Used: chicken livers
Ocean City, NJ
Striped Bass
Women’s Line Class Record
Weight: 30 lbs 9 oz
The Lowdown: Angler Maureen Klause took advantage of New Jersey’s early summer striper run by landing the new potential women’s 02 kg (4 lb) line class record on May 31, 2011. Klause was fishing with guide Richard D. Wheeler in the Shark River Inlet, NJ when she hooked this summer striper. After a tense 24-minute fight, Klause landed the fish and was on her way back to the docks. The current IGFA record is 30 lb 6oz.
Bait Used: live menhaden
Salt Lake City, UT
Peacock Bass
All-Tackle Length Record
Length: 88cm **
The Lowdown:** Rafael F. Llamozas traveled to Colombia in early April to target some of the country’s infamous peacock bass. On April 4, 2011 with a local guide, Llamozas hooked this massive speckled peacock. Rafael released his catch safely after measuring and photographing the potential record fish.
Bait Used: yellow and red peacock jig
Bellville, TX
Yellowfin Tuna
Men’s 4 lb. Line Class Record
Weight: 64 lb 4 oz
The Lowdown: For years, angler John E. Richardson has been going down to Piñas Bay, Panama to experience it’s world-class fishery; but according to Richardson, this year the fishing was even better than usual, especially for tuna. The abundance of yellowfin tuna schools feeding on the surface made it possible for Richardson to land this 64 lb 4 oz yellowfin on June 9, 2011, to qualify for the men’s 4 lb line class record. This amazing feat was accomplished in just one minute. The current IGFA record is 25 kg (55 lb 1 oz).
Bait Used: live blue runner
Kajang, Malaysia
Snakehead
All-Tackle Length Record
Length: 71 cm
The Lowdown: IGFA Representative Christopher S.G. Tan was fishing in Belum, Malaysia with guide Mohd Hafzi on March 6, 2011 when he landed this snakehead. This potential All-Tackle Length record was caught in just one minute. As with every potential All-Tackle Length record, Tan’s fish was released alive after being measured and photographed. The current IGFA record is 69 cm.
Bait Used: Sebile Stick Shad lure
Coral Gables, FL
Black Grouper
Men’s 50 lb Line-Class Record (tie)
Weight: 18 lb
The Lowdown: IGFA Lifetime Achiever Martini Arostegui took a break from his college studies to do some grouper fishing with his father and Captain Ralph Delph down in Key West. The group of experienced anglers went out on June 14, 2011 and landed this 18 lb black grouper. After a tough 15 minutes, the fish was boated and on ice. If approved, Arostegui’s catch would tie the existing men’s 24 kg (50 lb) line class record.
Bait Used: live pinfish
North Cape, New Zealand
Pacific Blue Marlin
Women’s line-class record
Weight: 400 lbs. 12 oz.
The Lowdown: Jacobsen hooked into this monster pacific blue marlin off the coast of North Cape in Febriary on just 12-pound gear. Five grueling hours after the marlin hit the line, Jacobsen and the crew of the Hookin’ Bull boated this monster that more than doubles the current record of 189 lbs. 8 oz.
Bait Used: trolled dead skipjack
South Africa
Billfish
Billfish Royal Slam Club
Weight: NA
The Lowdown: Hansen caught his first billfish, a Pacific sailfish, in February, 1991 off the coast of Comores, Africa. Almost 20 years to the date and eight billfish species later, Hansen became the first South African Member of the IGFA’s Billfish Royal Slam Club. All of his billfish were caught from his native land of South Africa, other than his Pacific sailfish and his Pacific blue marlin, which were caught near Kona, Hawaii on July 26, 2006. Hansen landed his remaining three Atlantic billfish species during a seven-day trip to Brazil last February, a blue marlin, a white marlin and a sailfish.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Escolar
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 160 lb. 11 oz.
The Lowdown: Ebanks, already the current all-tackle record holder for escolar one-upped himself when he landed this huge on Dec. 15, 2010 while fishing off Grand Cayman after a 25 minute fight.
Bait Used: squid
Rio Amazonas, Brazil
Tiger Sorubim
All-Tackle record, Line-Class record
Weight: 48 lb. 8 oz.
The Lowdown: Fernandes was fishing his native Rio Amazonas on Feb. 13, 2011 when he hooked into this monster. It replaces his current all-tackle record of 45 lb 10 oz and would also qualify him for the 12-lb line class record.
Bait Used: live bait
Hollywood, Florida
Cobia
Female Smallfry record
Weight: 48 lbs.
The Lowdown: Young Laurel David hooked this record-setter on Feb 23, 2011 while fishing off Key Biscayne, Forlida and landed it after a 30-minute battle.
Bait Used: live pinfish
Westerville, Ohio
Muskellunge
Tippet Class record
Weight: 10 lb. 5 oz.
The Lowdown: Warrick landed this big ‘un while fishing the Alum Creek Spillway in Ohio, qualifying him for the currently vacant muskellunge record.
Bait Used: black fly
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
Southern Yellowtail
All-Tackle Length record
Length: 99cm
The Lowdown: Tong was speed jigging off Mayor Island, New Zealand on Feb. 23, 2011 when he hooked into this gorgeous southern yellowtail. The angler and his guide were able to land, document and cleanly release the fish, qualifying if for the all-tackle length record for the species. Tong landed the fish in only six minutes. The record is currently vacant.
Bait Used: River 2 – Sea Knife jig
Hudson, Ohio
Atlantic Snook
All-Tackle Length record
Length: 70 cm
The Lowdown: Romano made a trip to Marco Island, Florida on March 21, 2011 and landed this snook fly fishing from a dock. The catch is an example of how the All-Tackle Length program allows anglers to target fish for records even out of season.
Bait Used: white bucktail fly
Miami Lakes, Florida
Bonefish
All-Tackle Length record
Length: 62 cm
The Lowdown: Llera spent the weekend of March 26, 2011 in Key Largo, Florida where he was able to land and release this impressive bonefish after a 15 minute drag-screaming battle.
Bait Used: shrimp fly
Bardon, Queensland, Australia
Barramundi
All-Tackle & Men’s Line Class Record (30 lb.)
Weight: 98 lbs 6 oz.
The Lowdown: Harrold was fishing Lake Monduran, Australia on Dec. 12, 2010 when he landed this monstrous barramundi after a grueling 15-minute fight from his kayak.
Bait Used: Squidgies Slick rig
Medellin, Colombia
Turquoise Cichlid
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 10 lbs. 8 oz.
The Lowdown: Linares was looking to surpass his current all-tackle turquoise cichlid record when he visited Quebrada Yanacue, Colombia on Dec. 31, 2010. He did just that, landing this fish after only three minutes.
Bait Used: Rapala Xrap 10
Los Chagos, Diego Garcia
Eightbar Grouper
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 76 lbs. 6 oz.
The Lowdown: Richmond was fishing with a local guide when he landed this beautiful eightbar grouper while stationed in Los Chagos, Diego Garcia on Dec. 11, 2010.
Bait Used: jighead and scampi lure
Sunland, California
Yellowfin Tuna
All-Tackle Men’s Line Class (130 lb.)
Weight: 405 lbs.
The Lowdown: Livingston was on a long range boat in San Diego, California when he landed this monster after a 2 hour, 40 minute fight on Nov. 30, 2010 outside Magdalena Bay, Mexico.
Bait Used: sardine
Bozeman, Montana
Cobia
Women’s Tippet Class Record (8 lb.)
Weight: 21 lbs. 8 oz.
The Lowdown: Ballantyne, a veteran fly angler, landed this cobia after a 25 minute fight in Key West, Florida on Dec. 31, 2010.
Bait Used: baitfish fly
Oro Valley, Arizona
Bull Trout
Tippet Class Record
Weight: 12 lbs.
The Lowdown: Nelson, an IGFA representative, was fly fishing the Flathead River in British Columbia, Canada on Aug. 19 when he landed this monster. Nelson currently holds three tippet records for the species.
Bait Used: egg pattern fly
Virginia Beach, VA
Alfonsino
Brand New IGFA All-Tackle Record**
Weight: 8 lbs. 5 oz.
The Lowdown: Wong was fishing the Norfolk Canyon off the Virginia coastline when he landed this bright deep-water dweller after a 20-minute fight.
Bait Used: squid
Johannesburg, South Africa
Sharptooth catfish
130-Pound Line Class Record
Weight: 21 lbs.
The Lowdown: Grant was fishing South Africa’s Zoo Lake in September when he landed this sharptooth catfish in 15 minutes.
Bait Used: small carp head
White-blotched grouper
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 18 lbs. 6oz.
The Lowdown: While stationed with the U.S. military at Chagos on the small island of Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Richmond landed this beast after only two minutes. The current record is vacant.
Bait Used: Yozurki popper
Mullet snapper
Men’s 8-pound Tippet Class Record
Weight: 4 lbs. 8 oz.
The Lowdown: Arostegul landed this possible record-setter while fly fishing in Golfito, Costa Rica.
Bait Used: custom “Arostegul Pilchard” fly
Quezon City, Phillipines
Golden trevally
Men’s 6-pound Line Class Record
Weight: 6 lbs. 3 oz.
The Lowdown: Flores landed this golden trevally with a light line off Calatagan, Phillippines on Nov. 22. The record slot is currently vacant.
Bait Used: shrimp
Long Beach, California
California Yellowtail
Female Junior Record
Weight: 25 lbs. 7 oz.
The Lowdown: After a 15 minute fight, young angler, Salazar, landed this huge tuna on Oct. 23 while fishing off Santa Barbara Island, California.
Bait Used: squid
Western Cape, South Africa
African threadfin
Men’s 20-pound Line Class Record
Weight: 100 lbs. 1 oz.
The Lowdown: Hodgson wrested for two hours with this giant while fishin the Barra Do Dande in Angola, Africa with IGFA Representative Iain Nicolson.
Bait Used: plastic shad
Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia
Barramundi
Line Class Record
Weight: 57 lbs. 5 oz.
The Lowdown: Hope may break a 20-year-old record after landing this barramundi while fishing Lake Tinaroo, Australia on Sept. 28.
Bait Used: live banded grunter
Plantation, Florida
Black Pacu
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 55 lbs.
The Lowdown: While fishing a local canal in Tamarac, Florida on Oct. 5 Roberts pulled this beastly black pacu that may break the 10-year-old IGFA record.
Bait Used: dough bait nuggets
Luanda, Angola, Africa
Crevalle Jack
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 66 lb. 2 oz.
The Lowdown: Simoes was casting in the waters of the coastal town of Barra Do Dande when this monster exploded on his lure.
Bait Used: top water poppers
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Dogtooth Tuna
Women’s Line Class Record
Weight: 136 lb. 3 oz.
The Lowdown: Guided by Herve Picarda, Vale was vishing off Shepherd Island Sept. 12 and fought this giant tuna for 40 minutes.
Bait Used: rainbow runner
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Shortnose Gar
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 8 lb. 3 oz.
The Lowdown: Pittman pulled this potential record breaker while fishing on nearby Lake Contrary on Oct. 12.
Bait Used: dead carp
Greenbriar, Arkansas
Whiterock Bass
Smallfry Record
Weight: 4 lbs.
The Lowdown: Young Payne-Weeks, guided by Mathew Moran, caught this whiterock bass on Oct. 14 from Greers Ferry Lake, Arkansas.
Bait Used: live minnow
Tenafly, New Jersey
Yellowfin Tuna
Male Junior Record
Weight: 241 lb. 4 oz.
The Lowdown: Young Brander was fishing off Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in August when this beast hit his line, ending in a brutal battle that lasted for nearly two hours.
Bait Used: live goggle eye
Chatham, NJ
Striped Bass
Male Junior Record
** Weight: 60 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Carroll hooked this whopper striper during a trip off Fishers Island, Connecticut. Lure Used: Live eel
Milan, Italy
Northen Pike
16-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 36 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Pacchiarini’s catch stands to beat the current pike in this category, caught in Manitoba, by a full 4 pounds. Fly Used: Wiggle Tail
Leura New South Wales, Australia
Southern Bluefin Tuna
20-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 55 lb. 1 oz. The Lowdown: Winzel duked it out with this big tuna for 40 minutes off Pedra Blanca in Australia. Fly Used: Fat Boy
Medford, OR
Roosterfish
8-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 19 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Shaughnessy already holds the 8-pound women’s tippet record for roosterfish, and she landed this new best in the same waters of Bahia de Los Suenos in Mexico. Fly Used: Kinky Muddler
Virginia Beach, VA
Cobia
20-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 74 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: If it qualifies, this fish will be the 12th record catch earned by Ball. It took her nearly 2 hours to careful play the brute to the boat successfully. Bait Used: Live eel
Punta Gorda, FL
Black Grouper
50-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 59 lb. 14 oz. The Lowdown: Redden hopes to “decimate” the current grouper in this slot, which weighs on 10 pounds, 12 ounces. Bait Used: Live pinfish
Coral Springs, FL
Greater Amberjack
20-Pound Tippet Record Record
** Weight: 27 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Harkavy already holds 81 world records despite her young age. The 30-minute battle with this fish might have earned her record number 82. Fly Used: Unknown
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Black Papuan Snapper
50-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 34 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Believe it or not, this behemoth is a freshwater species Middleton yanked from Lake Murray in Papua New Guinea. Bait/Lure Used: Unknown
Magaliesburg, South Africa
Yellowspotted Trevally
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 30 lb. 5 oz. The Lowdown: Eidelman hooked this trevally while fishing Sudwana Bay in South Africa. It took him 25 minutes to land. Lure Used: Maria Spoon
Golden Valley, MN
Taimen
16-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 47 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: After the fierce strike, it took Frankman 30 minutes to best this fish. It was released after photo documentation. Fly Used: Dairiki streamer
Costa Mesa, CA
Golden Dorado
6-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 16 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: Binaski hooked into this fish on Bolivia’s Pluma River and fought it for 15 minutes. Fly Used: Unknown
Ouderkerk Aan Den Ijssel, Netherlands
Zander
30-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 14 lb. 6 oz. The Lowdown: This European cousin of the walleye fell back in June and will potentially fill a vacant slot in the record book. Lure Used: Culprit Shad
Hilton Head Island, SC
Tripletail
20-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 16 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: It took Vaugh seven minutes to beat this fat tripletail after some significant effort in getting it to strike. Fly Used: Lefty’s Deceiver
Pinetown, South Africa
Talang Queenfish
50-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 39 lb. 7 oz. The Lowdown: Trolling a lure behind his jet ski, Oliver hooked this beast and fought it for 15 minutes. Lure Used: Rapala X-Rap
Cinnaminson, NJ
African Pompano
Female Smallfry Record
** Weight: 12 lb. 9 oz. The Lowdown: Bennett caught this trophy while fishing with her uncle off Key West, Florida. Bait Used: Live pinfish
The Woodlands, TX
Barbel
20-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 6 lb. 11 oz. The Lowdown: It only took Nabozny five minutes to land this barbel during a fishing trip in the U.K. Bait Used: Marine halibut pellet
Miami, FL
Broomtail Grouper
80-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 51 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: This big grouper tested Casal’s muscles for 30 minutes. Lure Used: Rapala X-Rap
Florissant, MO
Blue Catfish
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 130 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Bernal hooked into this gigantic cat on a dark and stormy night on the Missouri River. Click here to read the full story and see more photos. Bait Used: Asian carp
Franksville, WS
Brown Trout
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 41 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: Hellen was just trying to win a local fishing tournament when this trout struck. He not only won the tournament, but made history. Click here to read the full story and see more photos. Lure Used: Fishlander spoon
Cartago, Costa Rica
Almaco Jack
Male Junior Record
** Weight: 77 lb. 1.6 oz. The Lowdown: Hampl already holds the Male Junior Record for this species with a near 60-pounder. Now it seems he’s beaten it by more than 17 pounds. It took him 20 minutes to land this jack. Bait Used: Live moonfish
Pendleton, OR
Kokanee Salmon
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 9 lb. 10 oz. The Lowdown: Campbell best this potential record in about five minutes after the hook up in Oregon’s Wallowa Lake. Lure Used: Shasta Peewee Hoochie
Auckland, Australia
Southern Yellowtail
80-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 111 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: If Williams’s catch is certified, it will beat a 48-year-old record on the books since 1962. Bait Used: Flying fish
West Newbury, MA
Striped Bass
4-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 23 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Cole carefully fought this bass for 15 minutes off of Cape Cod. Fly Used: Chuleta Blanca
Coral Springs, FL
White Marlin
12-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 46 lb. 10 oz. The Lowdown: The slot for white marlin on 12-pound tippet is currently vacant. Hopefully Parkerson’s 15-minute battle will get her in that space. Fly Used: N/A
Florence, KY
Grass Carp
2-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 38 lb. 4 oz. The Lowdown: This fish stands to beat the current record held since 2005 by more than 18 pounds. Bait Used: N/A
Wormleysburg, PA
Yellowfin Tuna
20-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 54 lb. 13 oz. The Lowdown: Carter already holds the record for yellowfin on 20-pound tippet. She landed the first fish in 2007. That fish weighed 53 pounds, 12 ounces. This new catch was beaten in Bermuda. Fly Used: Bad Hair Day
Hudson, OH
Silver Redhorse
4-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 8 lb. 4 oz. The Lowdown: Romano pulled this potential record from Michigan’s Muskegon River back in May. Bait Used: Crayfish
Iwanai-Gun, Japan
Kitsune-Mebaru
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 6 lb. 2 oz. The Lowdown: It took Okayama only four minutes to beat this strange fish off the coast of Japan. Bait Used: Plastic bait
Coral Gables, FL
Grey Snapper
4-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 2 lb. 12 oz. The Lowdown: This catch beats the current record for this line-class by a mere six ounces. Bait Used: Live pilchard
Moscow, OH
Flathead Catfish
Male Smallfry Record
** Weight: 37 lb. 12 oz. The Lowdown: Ackerman beat this big cat from South Carolina’s Lake Moultrie in only five minutes. Bait Used: Cut gizzard shad
Port Angeles, WA
Roosterfish
12-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 48 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Peterson stands to break a 12-year-old record with this catch that he battle for 45 minutes in Cabo del Este, Mexico Fly Used: Peterson’s Mona-Lisa
Ocean City, MD
Lemon Shark
2-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 51 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: After weighing this potential record caught off Florida’s Summerland Key, Sampson released it to fight another day. Bait Used: False albacore strip
Grafton, VT
Tarpon
12-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 194 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: It took Evans two hours to subdue this giant of Pine Island, Florida. Fly Used: Tarpon Toad
Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
Burbot
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 25 lb. 2 oz. The Lowdown: Konrad, who already holds the world rcord for rainbow trout and burbot, has broken his previous brubot record by more than 6 pounds. Bait Used: Herring Click here for more F&S coverage of this catch
Arcole Veroma, Italy
Wels Cafish
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 250 lb. 3 oz. The Lowdown: Caught in Italy’s River Po, which had already given up the previous world-record wels, Godi managed to weigh and photograph this mammoth catch before releasing it in goo health. Click here for more F&S coverage of this catch
Lafayette, IN
Spotted Bass
Female Smallfry Record
** Weight: 5 lb. 3 oz. The Lowdown: Looking to fill a currently vacant record slot, Voelz stuck it out during the 10-minute fight on Lake Lanier in Georgia to make her mark on IGFA history. Bait Used: Blueback herring
Western Australia
Golden Trevally
6-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 24 lb. 14 oz. The Lowdown: It took Clatworthy an hour to best this fish near his home town of Exmouth. This record slot is currently vacant.
Corio, Victoria
Meagre
2-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 4 lb. 12 oz. The Lowdown: This Australian species caught in the Glenelg River may be the first to fill the currently vacant slot for this saltwater species record. Fly Used: Yellow rabbit streamer
Amagasaki-Shi Hyodo
Nigoi
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 6 lb. 9 oz. The Lowdown: Inada caught this nigoi back in April while fishing in Mogawa, Japan. Bait Used: Red swamp crawfish
San Ramon, CA
Sicklefish
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 1 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: Wozniak hooked this fish while fishing from a dock in Singpore. If it qualifies as a record, it will be the first of the species entered into the IGFA books. Bait Used: Peeled prawn
Porirua, New Zealand
Wreckfish
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 190 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Price fought this fish for over 25 minutes, and it stands to beat the current record by ten pounds. Bait Used: Squid
Coral Gables, FL
Sturgeon
130-pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 77 lb. 0 oz. The Lowdown: Martini used baitfish to attract the fish and battled it for 40 minutes. After this photo and documenting it he safely released the fish back into the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. Bait Used: Baitfish
Jupiter, FL
Tripletail
Boy’s Smallfry Record
** Weight: 22 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: It took Anyzeski eight minutes to beat this fish. Bait Used: Sardine
Steamboat Springs, CO
Brook Trout
Boy’s Smallfry Record
** Weight: 4 lb. 14 oz. The Lowdown: Snyder hooked this fat brookie in Colorado’s Lower Spring Creek Reservoir. **Bait Used: ** Night Crawler
The Woodlands, TX
Whip Stingray
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 167 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: With this catch, Nabozny may be introducing a new IGFA All-Tackle record species to the books. He caught the fish in Gambia. Bait Used: Herring
Opelika, AL
Redear Sunfish
8-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 2 lb. 12 oz. The Lowdown: Mann hooked this mighty panfish for in Alabama’s Tallapoosa River. Fly Used: Grab-A-Holt
Brazil
Ripsaw Catfish
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 47 lb. 6 oz. The Lowdown: The thorn-like projections on a ripsaw require careful handling. Fernandes fought this fish for 15 minutes near Amazonas, Brazil. Bait Used: Sardine
Bangkok, Thailand
Thai Shark Catfish
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 4 lb. 10 oz. The Lowdown: Helias already holds the All-Tackle Reocrd for this species, but broke it again by 3 ounces with this fish. Bait Used: Bread and rice husk flour
Palmetto Bay, FL
Cobia
80-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 121 lb. 2 oz. The Lowdown: Thomas beat this monster cobia in only five minutes. Bait Used: Live Pinfish
Homestead, FL
Amazon sailfin catfish
All-Tackle Record
** Weight: 2 lb. 4 oz. The Lowdown: This catch may qualify as a new All-Tackle record species if approved. Bait Used: Power Bait
Corio, Victoria
Arctic Char
2-Pound Tippet Record
** Weight: 7 lb. 12 oz. The Lowdown: Fly fishing in Canada’s Coppermine River, Bluch and took 18 minutes to carefully play the fish that beats the former record by exactly one pound. Fly Used: Sparkle Bugger
Sanbu-Gun, China
Asian Yellowtail
All-Tackle World-Record
** Weight: 109 lb. 2 oz. The Lowdown: This fish caught off Okinawa, Japan, may best the current all-tackle record by over 50 pounds. Taniwaki beat the yellowtail in 12 minutes. Lure Used: Pencil Bait
Springfield, Queensland
King Threadfin
Female Junior Record
** Weight: 19 lb. 4 oz. The Lowdown: Young Nicole had this king threadfin landed in eight minutes. She hooked it in Australia’s Brisbane River. Bait Used: Live Gar
Tauranga, New Zealand
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
130-pound Line-Class Record Weight: 619 lb. 7 oz. The Lowdown: It took Randaup 33 minutes to best this beast of a tuna while fishing over New Zealand’s Hokitika Trench. Bait Used: Hoki
Oklahoma City, OK
Sorubim
80-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 97 lb. 1 oz. The Lowdown: Wise pulled this heavy specimen from Argentina’s Rio Parana, and after a few photographs and documentation, released it to swim another day. Lure Used: Cucu Trolling Lure
Ocean City, NJ
Striped Bass
2-Pound Line-Class Record
** Weight: 23 lb. 8 oz. The Lowdown: It took 45 minutes of careful finesse for Klause to land this striper on such light line in Delaware Bay. Bait Used: Bunker Chunk
Newport Beach, Calif.
California Corbina
20-Pound Line-Class Record
The Lowdown: With the record currently vacant, Narcizo hopes to step in.
Bait Used: Innkeeper Worm
Rosegg Austria
Grayling
Weight: 4 lb. 12 oz
The Lowdown: Garhantini caught this fish in the Steinfield River.
Coral Springs, Fla.
Pacific Barracuda
6-Pound Tippet Record
Weight: 7 lb.**
The Lowdown:** Harkavy landed the fish after eight minutes while fishing Golflito, Costa Rica.**
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Norfolk, Va.
Striped Bass
20-Pound Tippet Record
Weight: 51 lb. 5 oz.**
The Lowdown:** Keatley, while fishing Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, fought with this fish for 30 minutes before he landed it.**
Fly Used:** Clouser Minnow Fly
Bozeman, Mont.
Jack Crevalle
2-Pound Tippet Record
Weight: 3 lb. 1 oz.
The Lowdown: After almost an hour Ballantyne brought in this fish, breaking her own record.
The Woodlands, Texas
Comizo Hybrid Barbel
All-Tackle Record
Weight: 15 lb. 5 oz.
The Lowdown: After documenting and photographing the catch, Nabonzy let the fish swim along.
Bait Used: Corn and Halibut Pellets
Landsdale, Wash.
Samsonfish
16-Pound Line-Class Record
Weight: 65 lb. 9 oz.
The Lowdown: Whittred used a jig to attract this fish — after half an hour, it was in the boat.
Reno, Nev.
Cutthroat Trout
Female Smallfry Record
Weight: 9 lb. 0 oz.
The Lowdown: Stout reeled in this prize in a about five minutes while fishing Pyramid Lake, Nevada.
Biblis, Germany
Leerfish
50-Pound Class-Line Record
Weight: 48 lb. 8 oz.
The Lowdown: Schwarzwaelder caught this fine specimen while fishing in Spain’s Delta de Ebro.
Bait Used: Mullet
Chiba, Japan
Japanese Parrotperch
50-Pound Class-Line Record
Weight: 7 lb. 14 oz.**
The Lowdown:** After documenting her catch, Ihara released the fish.
Bait Used: Sea Urchin
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
**
** 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.
_The International Game Fish Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to game fish conservation and research. Created in 1939, the IGFA maintains world records for both freshwater and saltwater game fishes. Records are divided by line class, tippet class and all-tackle categories. The IGFA introduced a new all-tackle length category in 2011, keeping separate records for length. Entries in this category must be measured on an official IGFA Measuring device — all fish must also be released alive and unharmed.
To qualify for weight records, a fish must weigh a minimum of one pound. With the exception of all-tackle records, anglers must submit their claim to the IGFA within 60 days of the date of catch for fish caught in U.S. continental waters. Applications for fish caught in other bodies of water must be received within three months of the date of catch.
In order for a fish to qualify for an IGFA record, it must be weighed on a certified scale. Anglers must also submit a completed IGFA form, mandatory length of line and terminal tackle used to catch the fish, plus photographs. For more information, visit the IGFA website._