IGFA Hot Cathes November 2011

The year may be winding down but anglers are still in high gear! This month catches from Italy, Malaysia, Brazil, Australia, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey are all in contention for new world records. More than half of this month’s Hot Catches were released alive – a strong closing to the first year of the new All-Tackle Length release record category!

New Zealand angler Brett Patterson recently traveled from his home in Auckland to the Cook Islands to experience the amazing inshore fishery found there. Guided by Itu Davey, Patterson landed a 71 cm bonefish (Albula spp.) on September 30, 2011, to qualify for the potential new All-Tackle Length record. Patterson was fishing the flats of Aitutaki when his potential record bone hit the fly he was throwing. After the 10 minute fight, the fish was photographed, measured and released alive. The current IGFA record is 66 cm.

Although she has never before held an IGFA world record, Australian angler Nikki Murray recently submitted two impressive potential line class records for golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus): a 5.3 kg (11 lb 10 oz) on 02 kg (4 lb) line and a 9.28 kg (22 lb 11 oz) on 4 kg (8 lb) line. Both of these great catches were made while fishing off Exmouth, Australia on August 7, 2011. Landed in under 20 minutes, the fish were caught on trolled artificial and live bait - and with the expertise of Murray’s guide, Leigh Mitchell. The current women’s 2 kg (4 lb) line class record is vacant and the women’s 4 kg (8 lb) record stands at 5.6 kg (12 lb 5 oz).

In the northeastern USA, early fall means one thing: stripers. Angler Ron Mazzarella of Livingston, New Jersey, USA took advantage of the fall striped bass (Morone saxatilis) run – landing a potential record fish on October 18, 2011, while fishing Ortley Beach, New Jersey, USA. Weighing in at 11.03 kg (24 lb 5 oz), Mazzarella’s fish qualifies him for the potential new men’s 02 kg (4 lb) tippet class record. Ron’s potential record fish took him 11 minutes to land after the fish fell for his well-presented deceiver fly. The current IGFA record is 10.43 kg (23 lb).

 

If approved, Mazzarella’s striper will be the fifth record for the species set this year.

Angler Sue Tindale, of Silverdale, New Zealand was fishing with her husband and personal captain Scott Tindale on September 22, 2011 off Maori Rock, New Zealand when Mrs. Tindale landed a beautiful 112 cm southern yellowtail (<i>Seriola lalandi</i>). Using jack mackerel for bait, she needed 20 minutes to fight the brute before she was able to photograph, measure and release it alive, qualifying her for the potential tie of the existing record – a 112 cm fish caught by her husband, Scott. The Tindales’ yellowtail rivalry precedes this potential tie; prior to Scott’s catch on April 8, 2011, Sue held the All-Tackle Length record for a few brief hours with a 109 cm fish she caught earlier that day

Angler James Sollecito of Baldwinsville, New York, USA, landed a potential All-Tackle Length record Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) on October 18, 2011, while fishing the Salmon River, in his home state of New York. Sollecito’s salmon measured 88 cm – more than 16 cm longer than the existing record. The fish was caught on a green salmon fly and took the angler 22 minutes to land. As is required with every All-Tackle Length record, Sollecito released his fish alive after taking the necessary photographs and measurements.

On a recent trip to Tocantins, Brazil, angler Maximilian Hampl of Cartago, Costa Rica landed a toothy 6.25 kg (13 lb 12 oz) payara (Hydrolycus spp.) on September 13, 2011 while fishing the Rio Tocantins. Hampl used a live truvira (bait fish) to induce a strike from this strong predator, and needed eight minutes to land it. Hampl’s catch qualifies him for the potential new male Junior record, which currently stands at 4.2 kg (9 lb 4 oz). If approved, this record will be number 19 for the junior angler but his first for a payara.

Angler Philippe Plentincx traveled from his home in Switzerland to experience the amazing freshwater fishing offered in Malaysia. Fishing the town of Kenarong on October 7, 2011 with renowned guide Jean-Francois Helias, Philippe landed this massive snakehead (Channa spp.) while casting a M2 Frog Lure from the bank. The fish was landed in five minutes and measured 84 cm before being released alive – besting the current All-Tackle Length record by nearly 10 cm.

Italy’s Po River is known for the large wels (Silurus glanis) that can be found between the waterway’s expansive banks. These prehistoric bottom feeders can grow in excess of 140 kg (300 lb) and are typically not a popular species for fly anglers. But on August 13, 2011, Milan native and nine-time IGFA record holder Paolo Pacchiarini hit the water to attempt his second wels tippet record – and he was not disappointed.

Already holding the 3 kg (6 lb) tippet record for a 11.79 kg (26 lb) wels he caught from the same river in August of 2010, this time Pacchiarini ended up with a 27.22 kg (60 lb) wels that qualifies him for the potential 08 kg (16 lb) tippet class record, which is currently vacant. The fish ate a baitfish wiggle fly and took the angler 20 minutes to subdue. The fish was weighed on the shore and released alive to fight another day.

www.IGFA.org