20 Enduring IGFA World Records
Legendary Catches That Have Stood the Test of Time
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) was founded in 1939. Throughout those 86 years, the IGFA has maintained a database of world records from around the globe. In our archives live the memories of angling triumphs ranging from Line Class records to Tippet and All-Tackle records that defy all odds -alligator gar to albacore tuna and beyond, we've got it all.
All of these incredible testaments to angling skill and determination aren't hidden away in a vault or library, however, we've brought them home to you! We've recently released our 82nd edition of the "World Record Game Fishes" book. This book contains over 500 pages of articles, slam and trophy clubs, and of course, world records. By becoming a member of the IGFA, you will gain access to this incredible book as well as many other awesome benefits. Below is just a small sampling of what you will find in the book: 20 enduring records that have stood the test of time.
Les Anderson's Chinook Salmon
On May 17, 1985 Les Anderson was drifting the Kenai River in Alaska when he notched his place in angling history. Fishing with a spin glow lure, he was able to entice a monster chinook salmon, the largest of the salmonoids (AKA king salmon). After a 40-minute fight, he landed the All Tackle World Record salmon at 44.11 kilograms (97 pounds, 4 ounces). Anderson's salmon is the heaviest salmon ever recorded by the IGFA.
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Del Brown's Permit
On March 13, 1986, Del Brown was fishing with legendary guide and IGFA Hall of Famer Steve Huff on the pristine flats of Key West, Florida, where he landed this incredible 18.82-kilogram (41-pound, 8-ounce) permit on 8-pound fly tippet. After a 1-hour and 3-minute battle that no doubt tested the angler and guide, Brown brought the fish skiff-side. This permit smashed Brown's previous record, which he had set two days prior by an astonishing 9.24 kilograms (20 pounds, 6 ounces)!
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David Deuel's Red Drum
On November 7, 1984, David Deuel set the IGFA All-Tackle and Men’s 24-kilogram (50-pound) Line Class World Record with this massive red drum. Deuel was surf fishing from the beach in Avon, North Carolina, when the 42.69-kilogram (94-pound, 2-ounce) record fish struck the cut mullet he was using for bait. After a 45-minute fight that took him nearly a mile along the beach, the fish was weighed and measured (57” long with a 38” girth). Deuel's catch of a lifetime still stands more than 40 years later.
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Ken Fraser's Bluefin Tuna
On October 26, 1979, angler Ken Fraser set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for bluefin tuna with this incredible 678.56-kilogram (1,496-pound) fish. Fraser was fishing out of Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia and needed just under an hour to land the massive tuna after it ate the rigged mackerel he was trolling behind boat Lady & Misty. Fraser's catch is the heaviest tuna ever recorded in the history of the IGFA.
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Bruce Gernon's Rainbow Trout
A trout angler's dream from the Great White North. On September 22, 1982, Bruce Gernon landed this 11.11-kilogram (24-pound, 8-ounce) rainbow while fishing the Sustut River in British Columbia, Canada. With this fish, Bruce set the IGFA 4-kilogram (8-pound) Tippet Class World Record for the species. This record has stood for over 40 years and is the longest-standing record for rainbow trout that the IGFA currently holds.
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Willy Goldsmith's Atlantic Cod
Fishing out of Ogunquit, Maine, Willy Goldsmith was jigging when this massive 20.91-kilogram (46-pound, 1-ounce) cod struck. Goldsmith was able to subdue the cod after a brief fight and set the Men's Junior World Record for the species. Three of the four current Junior and Smallfry World Records for the species have come from Ogunquit, Maine - a true land of giant Atlantic cod!
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Sara Hayward's Wahoo
On July 29, 2005, Sara Hayward made IGFA history with a catch that still turns heads. Her father woke up early, eager for a day on the water, and Sara was the only one who joined him aboard the Pez Espada II out of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She was trolling with a Mean Joe Green lure when the reel started screaming. Sara took the rod, and after a grueling 45-minute battle, they hauled in an extraordinary 83.46-kilogram (184-pound) wahoo. That one catch shattered three world records: the IGFA Female Junior World Record, the Women’s 37-kg (80-pound) Line Class, and the All-Tackle World Record - those are some SERIOUS racing stripes!
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Raymond Houtmans' Giant Tigerfish
On July 9, 1988, Raymond Houtmans, the giant tigerfish king, set the IGFA All Tackle World Record with this massive 44-kilogram (97-pound) catch. He was fishing the Zaire River in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) when the tiger took his bait. After a 65-minute fight he was able to add this fish to his already impressive repertoire of six (now five) giant tigerfish records.
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Lothar Louis' Northern Pike
On October 16, 1986, Lothar Louis landed this massive 25-kilogram (55-pound, 1-ounce) northern pike to set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species. Lothar was fishing the Lake of Grefeern in Germany when this pike struck his spoon. After a 40-minute fight he was able to land this incredible fish. While often viewed as a species predominantly found in North America, nearly a quarter of the IGFA’s northern pike records come from Europe.
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Lou Marron's Swordfish
Lou Marron was fishing with Captain Eddie Wall aboard the Flying Heart off the coast of Iquique, Chile on May 7, 1953, when sportfishing history was made. Marron was trolling a bonito when this record-setting sword struck. After a back breaking two-hour fight, Marron was able to boat the 536.15- kilogram (1,182 pound) fish which set the All-Tackle record for the species and shattered the previous record by nearly 500 pounds. After 72 years, this swordfish still stands as the king of all swordfish. Talk about a sea monster!
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James B. Orthwein's Bonefish
The flats of the Bahamas are well known for their incredible bonefishing opportunities, and on March 17, 1983, James B. Orthwein took full advantage of them. It was the day that he captured this unbelievable 6.8-kilogram (15-pound) bonefish on four-pound tippet! Anyone who has caught even a small bonefish can attest to their drag-burning runs. Without a doubt, this fish put up an unbelievable fight after taking Orthwein's shrimp fly. Pictured here is Orthwein's guide with the record setting fish.
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Joey Pallota's White Sturgeon
On July 9, 1983, Joey Pallotta landed this gargantuan 212.28-kilogram (468-pound) white sturgeon that set the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species. He landed this impressive sturgeon in Benicia, California, after a grueling 5-hour fight. The largest freshwater fish ever caught on hook and line, this record will likely never be challenged because of its massive size as well as current conservation laws prohibit the harvesting of this species in California.
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Ken Pauliet's Flathead Catfish
On May 19, 1998, angler Ken Paulie set the IGFA All-Tackle world record for flathead catfish with this 55.79-kilogram (123 lb., 0 oz) behemoth from the Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas. This massive cat measured 154.94-centimeters (61.00 in) and had a girth of 108.59-centimeters (42.75 in). Paulie was fishing a live minnow on a jig head while using a Zebco 33 reel and 12-pound Berkley Fishing Trilene line.
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Kaitlyn D. Poggemoeller's Lake Trout
July 8, 2oo4 stands as a day that Kaitlyn D. Poggemoeller surely won't ever forget. She was trolling a five inch rubber jig on Wellesley Lake, Yukon, Canada when a huge lake trout took her lure. After skillfully battling the trout, she was able to land the fish which ended up being 13.6-kilograms (30 pounds). This fish set the female junior All Tackle record for the species.
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Gilbert Ponce's Common Snook
On October 18, 1978, Gilbert Ponce was fishing in Parismina Ranch, Costa Rica when this monster snook slammed his bucktail jig. After a 45 minute fight on 15 pound test, he landed this 24.32-kilogram (53-pound, 10-ounce) common snook. With this snook, Ponce eclipsed the previous record by more than 8 kilograms (18 pounds) and set the All Tackle World Record for common snook. That's a SERIOUS linesider!
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William Toth's Nile Perch
On March 14, 2003, Dave Huckle set the IGFA Men’s 10-kilogram (20 pound) Line Class World Record with this massive 67.92-kilogram (149-pound, 12-ounce) Nile perch. Dave was trolling a Mann’s 30+ Magnum off of Rubondo Island, Tanzania, when the rod went off. After an epic 55-minute battle, Dave landed the record perch and brought it to Rubondo Island Camp for an official weight.
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Jack Tragis' Pacific Halibut
On June 11, 1996, while fishing out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Jack Tragis landed a massive 208.2-kilogram (459-pound) Pacific halibut, shattering the previous record by more than 100 pounds. Equipped with a Shakespeare Sturdy Stick, a Penn Senator 4/0, and 130-pound line, Tragis was well-prepared for a fight. Dropping a “big ugly jig” to the bottom, he hooked into the mammoth halibut. When it struck, the battle was on, and after an exhausting 2-hour and 24-minute fight, he set both the IGFA All-Tackle and Men’s 60-kg (130 lb.) Line Class World Record.
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Robert Valtz's Brown Trout
Robert Valtz was fishing the Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, on January 29, 1993, using a custom fly when he set the Men's 4-pound tippet record for brown trout. This fish tipped the scales at a whopping 8.61 -kilograms (19 pounds), which unseated the current record at the time by nearly 3 kilograms (7 pounds). After 31 years, this record has been tied, however, it has yet to be broken. Only time will tell if this 4-pound record will continue to endure.
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Phillip Volken's Yellowfin Tuna
Phillip Volkens set the men’s six kilogram (12 pound) line class world record for yellowfin tuna on May 15, 1983, with this 74-kilogram (163-pound, 2-ounce) fish he caught while fishing in Montague Island, Australia. Volkens needed 3 hours and 45 minutes to land the record fish after it ate the mackerel he was using for bait. That's a lot of sushi!
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Attila Zsedely's Wels
On March 11, 2010, Attila Zsedely was fishing the River Po, Italy when he caught the All-Tackle World Record Wels. He was trolling a Rapala when the mammoth fish struck. This river has produced numerous All-Tackle World Records for the species, and at 134.97-kilograms (297-pounds, 9-ounces), this wels eclipsed the previous All-Tackle record by 21.47 kilograms (47.6 pounds).
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