IGFA Hot Catches August 2012

Two species – the pinima peacock and the unusual butterfly kingfish – are being considered for first-time IGFA World Records in this month’s Hot Catches report. Standing records for calico bass, roosterfish, white seabass and more are also being challenged as anglers from Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan, Mexico, and Alabama, California, and Wyoming in the United States weigh in with more world-class catches!

 

 Brazilian angler Romulo Patrick was fishing Barragem do las Janhao, Brazil on March 10, 2012 when he landed a beautiful pinima peacock (Cichla pinima). Patrick was casting a plug under the watchful eye of local guide Gilmar when an 11.09 kg (24 lb 7 oz) potential All-Tackle record fish hit. After a tough nine minute fight, Patrick had the fish boated and was on his way to the scales! The current IGFA record is vacant.

On June 22, 2012, angler Rick Mickelsen landed a potential All-Tackle Length record golden trout (Oncorhynchusaguabonita) while fishing Golden Lake, Wyoming, USA. Mickelsen, a native of Wyoming, was casting a nymph fly and needed 15 minutes to land the 54 cm trout. As required for every All-Tackle Length record, Mickelsen’s fish was released alive after proper measurements and photos were taken. The current IGFA record is vacant.

 

While fishing out of Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA on June 30, 2012, Alabama native Tyler Kennedy potentially tied the current All-Tackle record yellowedge grouper (Epinephelusflavolimbatus) with a fish that weighed in at an impressive 20.92 kg (46 lb 2 oz). Kennedy was soaking cut bait on the bottom, and needed 10 minutes to land his potential record fish.  The current IGFA record is 20.92 kg (46 lb 2oz).

Japanese angler Satoru Nishimura was fishing off Kodomari, Japan on June 5, 2012 when he landed a 7.05 kg (15 lb 8 oz) madai (Pagrusmajor) on light tackle. Nishimura was casting a metal jig and skillfully played the fish for 40 minutes before landing the potential men’s 2 kg (4 lb) line class record.  The current IGFA record is 3.2 kg (7 lb).

 Angler Sjon A. Harless of Mobile, Alabama, USA is no stranger to IGFA world records - in fact, she is the 2012 IGFA Female Saltwater angler of the year - and during a recent stay in Costa Rica she landed another fish that could add to her total. Fishing out of Flamingo, Costa Rica on June 30, 2012 with Capt. Luis Ruiz, Harless landed a 27.98 kg (61 lb 11 oz) Pacific cubera snapper (Lutjanusnovemfasciatus) to qualify her for the potential women’s 60 kg (130 lb) line class record. Harless was slow trolling live bait and needed 10 minutes to boat the fish. The current IGFA record is 25.85 kg (57 lb).

Junior angler Ali Pfleger of Newport Beach, California, USA, was fishing with her father, Tom Pfleger, on June 22, 2012 when she landed a beautiful white seabass (Atractoscionnobilis) off Ventura, California. Weighing in at 17.49 kg (38 lb 9 oz), Pfleger’s fish easily qualifies her for the Female Junior record, which currently stands at 12.46 kg (27 lb 7 oz). Pfleger was fishing with live squid and needed 10 minutes to land her potential record catch.

Angler Valerie D. Simpson landed a gorgeous roosterfish (Nematistiuspectoralis) on June 27, 2012 while fly fishing from the beaches of Cabo del Este, Mexico. Simpson was fishing with fellow Californian and guide Lance Peterson and needed 45 minutes to land her fish after it ate a custom Mona Lisa fly. Weighing in at 13.15 kg (29 lb), Simpson’s rooster qualifies her for the potential women’s 10 kg (20 lb) tippet class record. The current IGFA record is 9.53 kg (21 lb).

Angler TJ Ponder of Encinitas, California, USA needed only 90 seconds to pull in a kelp (calico) bass (Paralabraxclathratus) after it hit the soft plastic swim bait he was casting. Ponder’s fish tipped the scales at 2.83 kg (6 lb 4 oz), and qualified him for the potential male Smallfry record. Ponder and his father where fishing out of Cedros Island, Mexico on June 25, 2012 with local guide, Jorge Gonzalez. The current IGFA record is 2.26 kg (5 lb).

Angler KimmoManttari of Jyska, Finland landed an impressive 5.85 kg (12 lb 14 oz) zander (Sander lucioperca) on April 29, 2012, while fishing Laukaa, Finland. Manttari was casting a Storm Pro Shad soft plastic on a jig when the fish hit, and needed 10 minutes to land his potential 4 kg (8 lb) line class record.  The current IGFA record is 4.65 kg (10 lb 4 oz).

www.igfa.org