This month’s IGFA Hot Catches report brings with it some incredible potential new world records, including a swordfish, a black drum, a dorado and more – plus an electric eel! Read on for some of the hottest recent catches made in Brazil, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Delaware and the Florida Keys in the United States.
German angler Andreas Siegesmund recently returned from a trip to Guinea-Bissau where he landed a new potential All-Tackle Length cobia (Rachycentron canadum) that measured out to an impressive 136 cm. Siegesmund was fishing around Acunda-Bijugos with local guide Jean-Robin Dubouchet on April 27, 2012, and needed 25 minutes to land this tough fish after it ate the live bait he cast. After the proper measurements and photos were taken, the fish was released alive. The current IGFA record stands at 101 cm.
Light tackle fly angler Dotty Ballantyne continues her pursuit of saltwater game fish records on fly, this time targeting barracuda. Fishing out of Key West, Florida, USA with Capt. Robert Trosset on May 11, 2012, Ballantyne landed a 8.87 kg (19 lb 9 oz) great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) after it ate her baitfish pattern fly and put up a six minute fight. Ballantyne’s fish qualifies her for the potential new women’s 4 kg (8 lb) tippet class record, as the current record stands at 6.57 kg (14 lb 8 oz).
Florida Keys native Frank Young was fishing off the Dry Tortugas on May 6, 2012 when he landed a 10.23 kg (22 lb 9 oz) black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) that qualifies him for the potential new men’s 10 kg (20 lb) line class record. Young was fishing with squid and needed only eight minutes to boat the hard fighting bottom fish. The current IGFA record is (8.16 kg) 18 lb.
On a recent trip to Argentina, angler Michael J. Sadar of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA landed a beautiful dorado (Salminus brasiliensis) on April 22, 2012 while fishing the Uruguay River with local guide Rico Enzo. Sadar was casting a black and red streamer fly to entice the 103 cm fish to bite, and after a quick seven minute fight, the fish was subdued. The dorado was released alive after the necessary photos and measurements were taken, qualifying Sadar for the potential new All-Tackle Length record. The current IGFA record is 97 cm.
The IGFA recently received a potential men’s 37 kg (80 lb) line class record for swordfish (Xiphias gladius). The 404.4 kg (891 lb 8 oz) broadbill was landed by Kiwi angler Jim Gigger, while off Cape Karikari, New Zealand on April 9, 2012. Fishing aboard the Primetime with Capt. John Gregory, Gigger needed only an hour and 20 minutes to land the monster swordfish after it took the skipjack tuna they had rigged for bait. The existing men’s 37 kg (80 lb) line class record stands at 369 kg (813 lb 7 oz), and was caught on May 28, 2003 by Gerald Garrett while fishing out of the same location, Karikari, New Zealand.
IGFA Lifetime Achiever Dr. Gilberto Fernandes continues to add to his mounting record total with this electrifying All-Tackle record submittal. Fishing Igarape Taboca in his native country of Brazil, Fernandes landed a 3.36 kg (7 lb 6 oz) electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) on May 5, 2012 while soaking cut bait. The fish was safely boated in about three minutes and qualifies Fernandes for the potential All-Tackle record.
Angler Louis W. Melton traveled a few hours north from his hometown of Clarkesville, Maryland, USA on May18, 2012 to fish the Delaware Bay with IGFA Captain Brian Wazkavek. Melton was soaking surf clams when the 125 cm black drum (Pogonias cromis) hit and took him for a 17 minute fight. The fish was successfully boated, measured, photographed and released alive, qualifying Melton for the potential new All-Tackle Length record, which currently stands at 121 cm.
French angler Daniel Lopuszanski currently holds the men’s 8 kg (16 lb) line class record for tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) with a 92 kg (202 lb 13 oz) fish, but he may have recently bested his own record. Fishing out of Pointe Noire, Congo on April 4, 2012 with local guide Maurice Gregoire, Lopuszanski landed a massive 105.2 kg (231 lb 14 oz) silver king. Lopuszanski was using a live baitfish and needed an hour to land this potential new men’s 8 kg (16 lb) line class record.
