The IGFA announced the official approval of several new world record catches, including Jada Holt’s Atlantic blue marlin from Ascension, Mark Weeks’ taimen from Russia, and Meredith McCord’s speckled peacock bass from Brazil.
Holt’s Blue Marlin Jada Holt’s enormous 591.9 kg (1305 lb) Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira indica) has officially become the new women’s 60 kg (130 lb) line class world record. Holt, a native of of Kona, Hawaii, caught the record marlin while fishing off Ascension Island in the South Atlantic on November 27th. With the combination of Holt’s angling experience and the expert crew, captained by Capt. Bryan Toney, the massive fish was landed in just 15 minutes after eating a trolled Moyes XL Pusherman lure. Now approved, the catch is not only the women’s 60 kg (130 lb) line class record for Atlantic blue marlin, but it is also the largest blue marlin caught by a women, ever recorded by IGFA.
Adlington’s Southern Bluefin -While fishing off Torquay, Australia on October 16th, angler Clinton Adlington of Victoria, Australia caught this massive 116.55 kg (256 lb 15 oz) southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) that has earned him the new men’s 15 kg (30 lb) line class record. Adlington battled the tuna for nearly six hours from his own 20 ft. boat, Eylander, after the fish ate the Pakula Sprocket lure he was trolling. Adlington’s catch replaces the previous record of 107.5 kg (236 lb 15 oz).
McCord’s Speckled Peacok -Angler Meredith J. McCord of Houston, Texas, USA traveled to the depths of the Amazon to catch this new world record – a 7.60 kg (16 lb 12 oz) speckled peacock (Cichla temensis) on fly tackle. McCord was fishing Brazil’s famed Marie River with local guide Gerson Kavamoto on September 20th when the record peacock crushed the fly she was casting. After a relatively quick fight, McCord had the fish subdued – which she quickly documented, weighed, and released alive. The catch earned McCord the new women’s 8 kg (16 lb) tippet class record.
Weeks’ Taimen – Angler L. Mark Weeks caught and released this new world record taimen (Hucho taimen) on October 14th while fly fishing outside of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. Weeks needed approximately 20 minutes to subdue the quality 17.1 kg (37 lb 11 oz) fish, after it crushed the large streamer fly he was casting. Once subdued, the fish was quickly weighed, measured, and released alive to grow even bigger. Now officially approved, Weeks holds the men’s 8 kg (16 lb) tippet class world record.
