Muskoka Outdoors Network

A recently hooked 405 lb Yellowfin Tuna has just been approved by the IGFA (International Game Fish Association) to be recognized as a world record in the organization's prestigious  All-Tackle category. The behemoth Yellowfin Tuna was caught and landed by Mike Livingston from Sunland, California.

Besides beating the odds of actually hooking the monster fish, what is significant about this catch is the way in which the catch met the strict criteria of the IGFA record standards.  Jason Schratwieser, IGFA Conservation Director, summarizes the significance this way,

"The IGFA examines all record submissions with extreme rigor, no matter if it is a 1 lb bluegill or a 1,000 lb blue marlin. However, big tuna caught on long-range boats are often not eligible for IGFA records because the angler may have handed off the rod to get around other anglers or used the rail at some point during the fight – both of which are against IGFA International Angling Rules."

Click Here to view the IGFA's press release in PFD format

Montana resident Dotty Ballantyne, hooked into a 114-pound bull shark with her fly rod on April 11, 2011. A large, custom orange fly triggered the bull shark to strike in Key West, Florida. The shark's weight does not make it a record - larger bull sharks have been caught. What makes the saltwater predator a potential record is the fact that Dotty caught it on a 16lb (8kg) tippet on her fly rod. This puts her toothy catch 'inline' for review in International Game Fish Association's (IGFA) women's 08kg tippet class record.

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping.

A hooked Canadian arctic char is potentially a new world record for the 2kg (4lb) tippet class of the IGFA fishing record system. On a recent release of the IGFA's Hot Catches news release, the fishing record keeper shares that:

"This year, Bluch and Harrison fished Canada’s Tree River, which produced two pending Arctic char (Salvelinus alpines) tippet class records for Bluch. The bigger of the two was this 9.64 kg (21 lb 4 oz) beauty caught on August 13, 2011 while casting a Dumbell Strip Tease fly. After a 20 minute fight, the angler and guide combo were able to weigh and release the potential 02 kg (4 lb) tippet class record fish. The current IGFA record is 7.17 kg (15 lb 13 oz)."

Nice fish Mr. Bluch!

A new IGFA (International Game Fish Association) length record may have been broken in the North West Territories, Canada. Marc Hatton, caught and released a 118 cm northern pike on the Taltson River. Visit the IGFA Website for more details.