Newly Approved IGFA World Records

On March 9, 2024, IGFA Chairman Roy Cronacher set the IGFA Men’s 10-kg (20-lb) Tippet Class World Record for swordfish by landing a 26.90-kilogram (59-pound, 5-ounce) swordfish on fly. Roy was fishing off South Florida aboard his boat, Gladiator, captained by Tim Richardson, when the record swordfish took his fly. The fish was teased up to the back of the boat at night, and Cronacher battled it through the darkness. The crew of the Gladiator successfully boated the swordfish and returned to the docks, where its weight was officially recorded on their certified scale.

While fishing in Pago Pago, American Samoa, on January 21, 2024, Alden Tagarino landed a 4.17-kilogram (9-pound, 3-ounce) saddle-back snapper. He caught the record fish using a top and bottom rig baited with squid, then returned to port to weigh it on a certified scale. With this catch, Alden set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species, surpassing the previous record by nearly two pounds.

Julia Mason Berstein set the new IGFA All-Tackle Length Junior World Record for mutton snapper on February 16, 2024, while fishing the Marquesas out of Key West, Florida. She caught the beautiful 72-centimeter snapper while fishing with Dale Bittner aboard the Bait Stealer, using a goggle eye as bait. After quickly taking photos and measuring the fish on her official IGFA Measuring Device, Julia and Captain Dale safely released the snapper.

Nathan “Bibil” Barreto set the IGFA All-Tackle Length Junior World Record for speckled peacock on February 12, 2024, while fishing the Araca River in Brazil. Bibil was casting a swimbait when the record 82-centimeter peacock struck. After a short fight, he was able to boat the fish. Once subdued, Bibil and his guide quickly recorded the length on his Official IGFA Measuring Device before hopping in the water to snap a great photo before releasing the fish back into the river.