IGFA: hot news of september 2011

In the past month the IGFA’s Records Department has received some impressive and unique potential freshwater records from the far corners of the globe, as well as some quality saltwater fly and Junior records. Here’s the latest from Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Mexico, Angola, and the U.S. states of Alaska, Colorado and New York

Targeting All-Tackle Length records on a recent trip to Bolivia, angler Michael Sadar of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA landed this very toothy payara (Hydrolycus spp.) while casting a custom tied fly in the San Simon River on July 29, 2011. Sadar needed 23 minutes to subdue his potential All-Tackle Length record fish, which was released after being photographed and measured at 88 cm on the Official IGFA Measuring Device. The current IGFA record is vacant.

Fishing Angola’s Kwanza River on July 10, 2011, London native Robert Lewis landed this potential men’s 10 kg (20 lb) line class record African red snapper (Lutjanus agennes). Lewis’s fish weighed in at a hefty 7.4 kg (16 lb 5 oz) and took the angler five minutes to land after the toothy snapper crushed his Tyger soft plastic jig. With the current IGFA record at 2.8 kg (6 lb 2 oz), Lewis’s snapper would best the existing record by more than 4.5 kg (10 lb) – nice catch, Robert!

In September of 2009, Wesley Davis, age 10 at the time, became the youngest angler in IGFA history to accomplish the coveted Billfish Royal Slam – a feat that requires catching nine billfish from around the world. The young Davis is making history again; having recently completed his second Billfish Royal Slam with the capture of an Atlantic blue marlin off St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on August 15, 2011 and a broadbill swordfish taken off Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, just three days later. While eventually traveling to Venezuela, Panama, both coasts of the USA, and the U.S.V.I., Wesley started his quest towards a second slam with a Pacific sailfish caught off Zihuatanejo, Mexico on January 16, 2008. And with the young angler receiving release certificates for the majority of his billfish catches, Wesley’s dedication to the conservation of our sport is equally as admirable as his highly matured angling skills.

On August 14, 2011, angler Alexander Kesseler of New York, New York, USA, was fishing the Hudson Canyon with his father, Howard Kesseler, Jr. when this 84.82 kg (187 lb 0 oz) Atlantic bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) hit the clone lure they were trolling. Having gone 25 hours without a bite, the young angler quickly grabbed the rod and settled in for the 1 hr 20 minute battle that ensued. With his experienced father at the helm and gaff man at the ready, the team was able to land the fish and in doing so, qualified Alexander for the potential male Junior record. The current IGFA record is vacant.

Angler Margaret Angier Shaughnessy of Medford, Oregon, USA recently traveled to Bahia de los Sueños, Mexico with hope to add to her current record count for roosterfish, where she already holds records in the women’s 4 kg (8 lb), 6 kg (12 lb) and 8 kg (16 lb) tippet classes. Guided by Marco Antonio Green Lucero, Shaughnesssy landed a spectacular roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis) on May 29, 2011 while casting her kinky muddler fly from the shore. Weighing in at 9.53 kg (21 lb 0 oz), Shaughnessy qualifies for the women’s 10 kg (20 lb) tippet class record. And to make the potential record catch even sweeter, the fish was released alive after being weighed, measured and photographed. The current IGFA record is 8.55 kg (18 lb 13 oz).

Angler Bob Gaines of Irvine, California, USA, recently took a trip north to take advantage of the fantastic late summer salmon run found in Alaska’s Kenai River. Armed with his fly rod and Official IGFA Measuring Device, Gaines hit the river on August 20, 2011 and caught a gorgeous sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) that he landed in five minutes after the fish took his red comet fly. Having been released alive after measuring a whopping 74 cm, Gaines’ salmon qualifies for a new All-Tackle Length record for the sockeye species. The current IGFA record is vacant.

IGFA Lifetime Achiever Martin Arostegui of Coral Gables, FL, USA has compiled more world records than anyone else in IGFA history – often times submitting 30+records in a single year. However, Arostegui recently submitted a record that has taken him years to achieve. Fly fishing Lake Livingston, Texas, USA on August 22, 2011 with Captain Kirk Kirkland, Arostegui finally hooked up to the fish he describes as “the fish of 10,000 casts” – a 28.35 kg (62 lb 8 oz) alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) that qualifies him for the 08 kg (16 lb) tippet class record. Thirty minutes after the fish struck his custom fly, Arostegui was able to land, weigh and release the fish alive. The current IGFA record is 11.25 kg (24 lb)

Endemic only to the island nation of Papua New Guinea, the Papuan black snapper (Lutjanus goldei) is a brutal adversary to anglers brave enough to target them. Strangely enough, these fish are not found in saltwater, but rather in the freshwater lakes and rivers of Papua New Guinea. Ian Middleton currently holds five line class records for this species and during a recent trip from his hometown of Cairns, Australia, Middleton landed this massive 32 lb fish that could possibly replace his current 3 kg (6 lb) line class record. Fishing for barramundi on Lake Murray with guide Trevor Green on July 6, 2011, Middleton needed 42 minutes to land this toothy critter after it crushed the Sebile diving plug he was casting. Middleton’s current 3 kg (6 lb) record is 9.07 kg (20 lb 0 oz).

Fishing with guide Moho Fauzi Mustaffa in Kota Bharu, Malaysia on July 23, 2011, native Malaysian angler Mohd Ali Ismail landed this beautiful butterfly peacock (Cichla ocellaris) while casting a Yozuri lure. Measuring a respectable 52 cm on his official measuring device, Ismail’s catch qualifies for a potential new All-Tackle Length record. As with every All-Tackle Length record, the fish was released after the two minute fight, and the necessary information was documented. The current IGFA record is 49 cm.

 

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