IGFA June 2011 Hot Catches

International Game Fish Association World Records Coordinator updates us with eight recreational fish catches now before the world records committee, beginning with an angler who now has reached the century mark in record fish catches.

 

Angler Robert Lawler of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA was fishing by himself on May 2, 2011 in his hometown fishing hole in Lake Havasu, when he landed this astonishing red ear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus). This mammoth sunfish weighed in at 2.49 kg (5 lb 8 oz) and would tie the existing All-Tackle record of 2.48 kg (5 lb 7 oz), should everything go through with the pending application. Lawler was fishing a Berkley Powerworm, and needed two minutes to boat the potential record fish.

Angler Jon Nash of Thornton, Colorado, USA, braved the unseasonable snow and cold on May 11, 2011 and headed out to Barzx Ranch, Colorado, USA in search of some trout action on fly. Nash was rewarded with this beautiful brown trout (Salmo trutta) that qualifies for the potential All-Tackle (Length) record after measuring 72 cm on his IGFA Measuring Device. Nash’s trout ate a brown fly and after a quick 10-minute fight, the fish was photographed, measured and released in good condition with just a little frost on its scales!

Kiwi couple and avid anglers Sue and Scott Tindale of Silverdale, New Zealand have been on a record hunting tear, collectively submitting 13 record claims in the past month and a half! This potential All-Tackle (Length) record southern yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) was landed by Sue Tindale on April 8, 2011 while fishing Simpson Rock, New Zealand. Guided by her husband, Scott, Sue was able to land this tough fish in 15 minutes after it inhaled the jack mackerel she was using for bait. The fish was measured, photographed and released alive to be caught another day. Keep up the good work Sue and Scott!

With the water behind his boat frothing with feeding tuna, veteran charter captain David Christie of Cape Town, South Africa decided to try his angling hand on the fly rod. Fishing out of Hout Bay, South Africa on May 17, 2011, Christie tossed his custom chunk fly into the fray and was instantly hooked up to a large Thunnus species…but what species of tuna was it? When the fish finally surfaced close to two hours later, Christie was elated to see the size and species of the tuna he had been fighting; a 51.58 kg (113 lb 11 oz) yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) that qualified him for the new men’s 10 kg (20 lb) tippet class record.  The current IGFA record is 48.6 kg (107 lb 2 oz).

Fellow South African angler Tracy Leigh Hardman of Kwazulli Natal, South Africa was not going to let David Christie and his yellowfin take all the limelight from South Africa’s great fishery, as she proved with this potential women’s 10 kg (20 lb) line class record giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis).  Fishing out of Pennington, South Africa on March 20, 2011 with guide Evan Antel, Hardman hooked up to this 27.58 kg (60 lb 12 oz) GT while trolling a Gladiator Lure. After a very tough 40-minute fight with this reef dwelling monster, Tracy had the potential record fish boated.  The current IGFA record is 27 kg (59 lb 8oz.) 

     

           

Australian light tackle fly angler Frank Bluch of Corio, Australia took advantage of the southern bluefin tuna bite that was going off just outside of Portland, Australia, landing this thick 14.37 kg (31 lb 10 oz) southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) while fly fishing with guide Stephen Brown on April 28, 2011. Bluch fought his potential men’s 03 kg (6 lb) tippet class record for just under three hours after it hit his custom-tied pilchard fly. Great fish, Frank! The current IGFA record is vacant.

Fly fishing tandem Stacey G. Parkerson and Enrico Capozzi have racked up some very impressive tippet class records over the years, catching everything from billfish to snapper on fly. After a season in the Dominican Republic, both anglers submitted amazing records for white marlin on fly, one of them being this 21.15 kg (46 lb 10 oz) white marlin (Kajikia albida) landed by Parkerson on May 5, 2011. Stacey fought the fish for just under two hours, before landing this potential women’s 03 kg (6 lb) tippet class record. The fish was caught off Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, on an Enrico Special fly. Congratulations Stacey and Enrico on another fantastic season of fishing! The current IGFA record is vacant.

Fishing off the coast of Okinawa, Japan on April 25, 2011, angler Koji Yoshida hooked into this massive convict grouper (Epinephelus septemfasciatus) while bottom fishing with a live amberstripe scad. After a quick eight-minute fight, Yoshida had the 120 kg (264 lb 8 oz) monster subdued, and was on the way back to the docks with his potential All-Tackle record. The current IGFA record is 62.8 kg (138 lb 7 oz)

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