IGFA Hot Catches of February

World Record Coordinator shares some of the latest lunkers to cross the application desk at IGFA headquarters. Eight great catches from Japan, Russia, Brazil, Suriname, Laos, and the United States make up this month’s report, along with two new additions to the IGFA’s special clubs.

Angler Mike Livingston, of Sunland, California, USA, had no idea the kind of trip he would have when he climbed aboard Capt. Mike Lackey’s long range boat, Vagabond, in San Diego, California, USA. Livingston and the rest of the anglers aboard the Vagabond were targeting yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), but Livingston landed not only the fish of the trip, but the fish of a lifetime. 2 hrs and 40 minutes after the fish took Livingston’s sardine on November 30, 2010, the crew of the Vagabond boated this 183.7 kg (405 lb 0 oz) potential All-Tackle and men’s 60 kg (130 lb) line class record yellowfin. Although the boat is out of California, the fish was landed outside of Magdalena Bay, Mexico. The current IGFA record is 176.35 kg (388 lb 12 oz).

Veteran fly angler Dotty Ballantyne, of Bozeman, Montana, USA, got an early start on her 2011 record total with this beautiful 9.75 kg (21 lb 8 oz) cobia (Rachycentron canadum) that she landed while fishing with Rob Trosset in Key West, Florida, USA on December 31, 2010. Dotty needed 25 minutes to land this potential women’s 04 kg (8 lb) tippet class record after it hit her well-presented baitfish fly. The current IGFA record is 9.07 kg (20 lb 0 oz).

Angler Phillip W. Richmond, Jr., stationed in Los Chagos, Diego Garcia was fishing with local guide Ferdi when landed this beautiful potential All-Tackle eightbar grouper (Epinephelus octofasciatus), while fishing Los Chagos, Diego Garcia on December 11, 2010. Richmond’s grouper weighed in at 34.65 kg (76 lb 6 oz), and was caught on a jighead and scampi lure in 10 minutes.

 

Angler Denis Harrold of Bardon, Queensland, Australia was fishing Lake Monduran, Australia on December 12, 2010 when he hooked and landed this monsterous potential new All-Tackle and men’s 15 kg (30 lb) line class record barramundi (Lates calcarifer). After the fish hit his Squidgies Slick rig and a grueling 15 minute fight from his kayak ensued, Harrold’s fish weighed in at 44.64 kg (98 lb 6 oz). The current IGFA record is 37.85 kg (83 lb 7 oz).

Angler Alejandro Linares, of Medellin, Colombia was looking to surpass his current All-Tackle turquoise cichlid (Caquetaia umbriferum) record when he visited Quebrada Yanacue, Colombia on December 31, 2010. Linares was not disappointed as he landed this beautiful turquoise cichlid, weighing in at 4.76 kg (10 lb 8 oz) and qualifying for the new potential All Tackle record. Alejandro needed 3 minutes to land this fish after it hit his Rapala Xrap 10. The current IGFA record is 2.49 kg (5 lb 8 oz).

New All-Tackle Length Program

Since opening the program at the start of 2011, the IGFA is pleased to announce that there have been over 100 official IGFA measuring devices sold and 30 record applications received.

Wilton Lee Bull of Conroe, Texas, USA landed this beautiful 57 cm blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) while fishing the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Texas, USA, on January 24, 2011. Bull was casting a diamond jig and needed 10 minutes to boat the fish.

The yellow perch (Perca flavescens) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA thought that they would be safe from the All-Tackle Length record seekers, at least until the snow and ice melted off the water, but multi-record holder Patrick Sebile had other plans. Fishing with his own brand of Sebile lures, Sebile landed this 23 cm fish on January 17, 2011, in only 30 seconds. Sebile has also submitted two other potential All-Tackle Length records, one for a 62 cm spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), and also a 50 cm ladyfish (Elops spp.).

Barramundi aficionado Mark Hope, who currently holds three line class records for the species, recently submitted this beautiful 117 cm potential All-Tackle Length record barramundi (Lates calcarifer). Hope was fishing Lake Tinaroo, Australia on 1/23/2011 when he hooked into this beast. The fish hit Mark’s Predatek Viper lure, and he needed 15 minutes to land this great catch.