September’s World Record Challenging Catches from the IGFA
OutdoorHub 09.13.12
The end of the year is just around the corner, and world record-seeking anglers have their eye on the 2013 IGFA World Record Game Fishes book. Some of the record hopefuls that have submitted applications to the IGFA this month may see their name in the next edition of the annual publication, but because the cut-off date for the annual world record cycle is August 15th for catches made in the United States and July 15th for catches made internationally, many will be hoping their potential records, if approved, will stand until the 2014 book.
Whether or not every fish in this month’s IGFA Hot Catches report – from as far afield as Australia, Canada, Ghana, Panama, Papua New Guinea and Alaska, Florida, and New Jersey in the United States – makes it into the IGFA World Record Game Fishes book, these anglers still have something to brag about – check out these catches!
Angler Angelo Ruvio of North Haledon, New Jersey, USA landed a massive great northern tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) while fishing Poorman’s Canyon off the coast of New Jersey on August 8, 2012. Ruvio was fishing with Capt. Jason Kim and needed 10 minutes to boat the fish after it hit the squid he was soaking on the bottom. Tipping the scales at 29.57 kg (65 lb 3 oz), Ruvio’s catch qualifies him for the potential All-Tackle record. The current IGFA record stands at 28.8 kg (63 lb 8 oz).
Aussie angler Steve Starling was fly fishing in Australia’s Darwin Harbour on June 17, 2012 when a 16 kg (35 lb 4 oz) talang queenfish (Scomberoides commersonianus) exploded on the clouser he was casting. After a brutal 35 minute fight, Starling had the fish boated and was headed back to the docks with his potential men’s 10 kg (20 lb) tippet class record. The current IGFA record is 9.45 kg (20 lb 13 oz).
Angler Dr. Mark Hatton recently traveled from his home in West Milford, New Jersey, USA to Canada’s Northwest Territories to target the variety of freshwater species the area has to offer. While fly casting a pink fly in the Nanook River on July 30, 2012, Hatton came tight with a beautiful Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). After a 30 minute fight, Dr. Hatton boated and quickly released the fish after taking the necessary photos and measurements. Taping out to 86 cm on his Official IGFA Measuring Device, Hatton’s char qualifies for the new potential All-Tackle Length record, as the category is currently vacant.
Papua New Guinea is a small island nation that is home to some very big fish, as native angler Jason N. Yip knows very well. Fishing the Kumimaipa River on July 30, 2012, Yip hooked into a monster of a Papuan black snapper (Lutjanus goldiei) that tipped the scales at 20.87 kg (46 lb). Yip’s potential All-Tackle record ate a Rapala Shad Rap lure and fought for 10 minutes before it was landed. After taking the necessary photos and measurements, Yip released the fish alive to grow even bigger. The current IGFA record is 19.2 kg (42 lb 5 oz).
Angler Bob Gaines spent time this summer away from his California home to target freshwater species in Alaska’s Kenai River. While fly casting the Kenai on August 23, 2012, Gaines hooked into a beautiful pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) after it hit his pink polar shrimp fly. Ten minutes later, Gaines landed the fish and took the necessary photos and measurements before releasing it alive. Measuring out to 67 cm, Gaines’ fish qualifies him for the potential new All-Tackle Length record. The current IGFA record stands at 65 cm.
Angler Sherrell Carter of Duluth, Georgia, USA, has held the women’s 2 kg (4 lb) line class record for dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) since 2009. Carter decided to try her luck with 1 kg (2 lb) line on August 25, 2012, when a big dolphin entered the spread off Piñas Bay, Panama. Under the guidance of Capt. Yoan Alcala, Carter pitched a ballyhoo to the dorado and was instantly hooked up. After a quick five minute fight, the gaffs were sunk and the fish was boated. Back at the docks, the fish tipped the scales at 20.35 kg (44 lb 1 oz), qualifying Carter for the potential women’s 1 kg (2 lb) line class record. The current IGFA record is 18.37 kg (40 lb 8 oz).
Aussie angler Peter Morse took advantage of the southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) bite off Narooma, Australia this past season, landing an 18.5 kg (40 lb 12 oz) fish on fly while fishing with Capt. Benn Boulton on June 26, 2012. The tuna ate a deceiver fly and put up a strong 13 minute fight before being landed. Morse’s fish qualifies him for the men’s 8 kg (16 lb) tippet class record, which currently stands at 9.8 kg (21 lb 9 oz).
Dr. Martin Arostegui, IGFA Trustee and Lifetime Achiever, recently made the best of the hot summer cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) bite in his backyard of Miami, Florida, USA. While fishing with Capt. Bouncer Smith on August 31, 2012, Arostegui pulled up a 124 cm cubera after it crushed the lobster being used for bait and put up an exhausting 25 minute fight. Once the fish was boated, it was quickly measured, photographed, and released alive. This fish qualifies Arostegui for the potential new All-Tackle Length record, which is currently vacant for this species.
Angler Marc Towers traveled to Ghana from his home in the United Kingdom to target some of the diverse freshwater species found in this country. On March 29, 2012, while casting a Mepps black flurry lure from the banks of Lake Volta, Towers hooked into something big. After a quick seven minute fight, Towers had landed a 12.93 kg (28 lb 9 oz) North African tigerfish (Hydrocynus brevis). This toothy critter qualifies Towers for the potential new All-Tackle record, which currently stands at 5.67 kg (12 lb 8 oz).
