Three new contenders for freshwater record titles have captured our attention for the October edition of IGFA Hot Catches. Hailing from waters in Italy, Papua New Guinea and Slovenia, anglers are waiting to find out whether the bar will be set just a little higher for grayling, northern pike, and Papuan black snapper once the IGFA has finished reviewing the applications.
Even more international catches are competing for saltwater world record:
Aussie angler Ian Middleton already holds several line class records for Papuan black snapper (Lutjanus goldiei), and after a recent trip to Papua New Guinea, he may have claimed another. While fishing with local guide Barly Kelai on August 17th, Middleton tamed a 9.98 kg (22 lb 0 oz) black snapper on only 2 kg (4 lb) tackle! The fish hit a Sebile lure that Middleton was casting and it took him nearly 30 minutes to subdue the potential men’s 2 kg (4 lb) line class record. The current IGFA record is vacant – a testament to how difficult it is to land these fish on light tackle.
Italian angler Ivan Previcini landed an enormous 16.42 kg (36 lb 3 oz) northern pike (Esox lucius) on July 9th while fishing Italy’s Roncone Lake. Previcini was casting a Salmo Slider from the shore when he hooked up to his potential new 15 kg (30 lb) line class record pike. After a tough 10 minute fight, Previcini had the fish subdued and knew it was something special, as the current record stands at 15.64 kg (34 lb 8 oz).
During a recent trip to Slovenia, American angler Christian Anderson landed a potential new All-Tackle Length record grayling (Thymallus thymallus) while fishing the Soca River on August 7th. Anderson was fly fishing with a small ant patterned dry fly and needed three minutes to subdue the 39 cm fish – only the second record submission from Slovenia - that was released alive after being properly documented. The current IGFA record is vacant.
Ana Campos recently traveled from her home in the UK to experience some of the amazing fishing in Angola on Africa’s south west coast. While trolling a Storm Thunder lure in Luanda on August 11th, Campos hooked into an impressive 14.9 kg (32 lb 13 0z) African red snapper (Lutjanus agennes) that took her 20 tough minutes to subdue. With the existing record at 9.2 kg (20 lb 4 oz), Campos’ fish qualifies her for the potential new women’s 15 kg (30 lb) line class record.
IGFA Representative Dr. Iain Nicholson landed a 9 kg (19 lb 13 oz) giant African threadfin (Polydactylus quadrifilis) on June 22nd using only 1 kg (2 lb) tackle. Nicholson, a UK native, was fishing Barra do Kwanza, Angola, and used a live crab to entice the bite from the potential men’s 1 kg (2 lb) record fish – a record title which is currently vacant.
Junior angler John Andrew Aramendia, of New Braunfels, Texas, needed five hours to land a massive 95.71 kg (211 lb 0 oz) Atlantic bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) after he hooked the fish on only 15 kg (30 lb) tackle. Aramendia was fishing out of Ocean City, Maryland with Capt. Brad Durkin when his potential male Junior record bigeye exploded on the ballyhoo intended for a billfish. With the existing record at 84.82 kg (187 lb 0 oz), Aramendia’s fish will easily earn him the new record if approved.
While fishing out of Key West on July 20th with her uncle, Capt. Brian Bennett, angler Brielle Bennett landed a cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) that tipped the scales at 19.28 kg (42 lb 8 oz). Brielle, an experienced young angler, needed 30 minutes to best the potential female Junior record after it ate the bonito chunk she was soaking. The current IGFA record is 8.82 kg (19 lb 7 oz).
Smallfry Kiwi angler Ethan Owen Jones landed a 31.6 kg (69 lb 10 oz) southern yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) on July 29th while fishing off Mayor Island, New Zealand, with his father Chris Jones at the helm. The young angler needed 20 minutes to land his potential male Smallfry record after the fish exploded on the Boiye Pink Pusher lure he was trolling. The existing record is 21 kg (46 lb 4 oz).
Aussie angler Dr. Gary Justin Post recently put New Caledonia “on the map” for every inshore angler in search of trophy bonefish (Albula spp.) after landing an incredible 7.48 kg (16 lb 8 oz) bone on July 19th while fishing Boat Pass Flats. After taking a well presented Crazy Charlie fly, Post’s fish put up an amazing 45 minute fight before it was landed, properly documented, and released alive. With the existing men’s 8 kg (16 lb) tippet class record standing at 6.97 kg (15 lb 6 oz), Post’s fish easily qualifies for the potential new record in this tippet class.
French angler Guillaume Fourrier was light-tackle fishing off Dieppe, France with local guide Emilie Couvreur on August 2nd when he hooked into a nice European bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Nearly 20 minutes after the bass ate the Madness Shad lure he was casting, Fourrier had his potential men’s 2 kg (4 lb) line class record subdued. The existing IGFA record is 5.99 kg (13 lb 3 oz).
Angler Sherrell Carter of Duluth, Georgia, bested the women’s 8 kg (16 lb) line class record for Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) after landing a 241.8 kg (533 lb 1 oz) blue on August 26th. Carter, an experienced light tackle angler, was fishing the Condor Bank in the Azores with Capt. Olaf Grimkowski when the fish showed up in the spread. After pitching a live mackerel and coming tight on the fish, Carter needed only 17 minutes to subdue her massive marlin. With the existing record at 166.47 kg (367 lb 0 oz), Carter’s catch would easily replace this record that has stood since 1997, if it is approved.
