Aussie angler Paul Worsteling landed a 98 cm golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) on December 2nd after it crushed the Rapala plug he was trolling in Harvey's Bay, Australia. After a tough 10 minute fight on spinning tackle, Worsteling was able to subdue the fish enough to bring into the boat, where it was quickly measured, photographed, and released alive – qualifying him for the potential new All-Tackle Length record. The current IGFA record is 63 cm.
While surf-casting from the shores of Mayumba, Gabon on the night of December 7th, angler Mauro Bigarelli hooked into something huge. Nearly an hour after the fish ate the mullet he was fishing, Bigarelli landed an enormous 30.7 kg (67 lb 10 oz) African red snapper (Lutjanus agennes), that could earn him the new men’s 15 kg (30 lb) line class record – which currently stands at 17.7 kg (39 lb). In fact, if Bigarelli’s record is approved, it will be the fourth heaviest African red snapper ever logged by the IGFA as a world record.
Japanese angler Koichi Hiratsuka caught and released a massive 100 cm common carp (Cyprinus carpio) on December 1st while fishing Japan’s Lake Biwa. Hiratuka needed only 10 minutes to subdue the potential record after it inhaled the boilie bait he was fishing from the shore. Once landed, Hiratsuka quickly measured and documented the catch, before releasing it alive. If approved, the catch will become the new All-Tackle Length record, which currently stands at 89 cm.
On December 6th, Aussie angler Nicholas Lorenz caught the potential new men’s 10 kg (20 lb) line class record for Samson fish (Seriola hippos) while live baiting off Rottnest Island in Western Australia. After crushing the live yellowtail he was fishing, Lorenz needed 20 minutes to subdue the hard-fighting Samson fish, which weighed in at an impressive 29.7 kg (65 lb 7 oz). If approved, Lorenz’s fish will be the first men’s 10 kg (20 lb) line class record for this species, as the current record is vacant.
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