New IGFA world record; 385 lb Shark on 16 lb Tippet..True?

[JerryInLodi]

A recent catch, a 385 lemon shark, claims to be the largest fish ever caught on a fly rod.

http://www.sportfishingmag.com/article.jsp?ID=42340

While it's an awesome achievement, I had though that some of the former fly fishing legends, especially Lee Wulff had beaten this record rather handily with catches of tuna and marlin of between 900 and 1,000 pounds

I did some net research and found that Lee did indeed catch some big marlin but I could not find the recorded weight of the fish without purchasing a couple of books.

I've done some salt water fishing and have actually landed a 120-130 pound blue shark on something around 15# tippet (with a braided steel leader). Other than the time involved, it really wasn't a big deal.

So, my question is, is this REALLY that big of a deal or is it that the catches of Lee and guys like Stu Apt and Ted Williams just never were recorded in IGFA.

Any old timers out there that can help us out?

[Darian]

Jerry,.... Ya know, I don't have any materials at hand to prove or disprove your point about larger fish caught on fly in the salt but do recall reading about very large Marlin caught by the ol' timers.... I seem to recall reading that Trey Combs has caught some big Marlin on a fly as well as those you've named. :? :? 8)

My personal feeling is that any fish over 100 pounds is big. :shock: :shock:
I don't know how big a deal the Lemon Shark catch is but I do feel that a Shark caught in very shallow water may be very different than, say, a 100 pound Yellowfin Tuna in open water. 8) 8)

[PaulC]

I would think some of the blue marlin would blow doors off that.
http://www.flyfishinsalt.com/article.jsp?ID=41121&destinationID=
-Paul

[bajafly]

Pacific Blue Marlin
Species Scientific Name Tippet Class Weight Catch Place Catch Date Angler Status
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet M-01 kg (2 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet M-02 kg (4 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet M-03 kg (6 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet M-04 kg (8 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet M-06 kg (12 lb) 60 lbs. 6 oz. - 27.39 kgs Port Vila Vanuatu Dec 13, 2004 Thomas M. Evans Jr. WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet M-08 kg (16 lb) 203 lbs. 8 oz. - 92.3 kgs Guanamar Costa Rica Feb. 12, 1991 Jim Gray WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet M-10 kg (20 lb) 288 lbs. 12 oz. - 131 kgs Port Stephens Australia Mar. 2, 2002 Thomas Evans, Jr. WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet W-01 kg (2 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet W-02 kg (4 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet W-03 kg (6 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet W-04 kg (8 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet W-06 kg (12 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet W-08 kg (16 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, blue (Pacific) Makaira nigricans Tippet W-10 kg (20 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec

Pacific Striped Marlin
Species Scientific Name Tippet Class Weight Catch Place Catch Date Angler Status
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet M-01 kg (2 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet M-02 kg (4 lb) 97 lbs. 0 oz. - 43.99 kgs Cabo San Lucas Mexico Dec. 24, 2000 Tony Hedley WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet M-03 kg (6 lb) 94 lbs. 0 oz. - 42.63 kgs Magdaleena Bay Mexico Nov. 18, 2001 Charlie Tombras WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet M-04 kg (8 lb) 105 lbs. 0 oz. - 47.62 kgs Cocos Island Costa Rica June 28, 1996 Charles Owen, Jr. WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet M-06 kg (12 lb) 153 lbs. 12 oz. - 69.75 kgs Port Stephens Australia Jan. 22, 2004 Thomas M. Evans, Jr. WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet M-08 kg (16 lb) 230 lbs. 12 oz. - 104.69 kgs Gafftoe Bank N.S.W., Australia Feb. 25, 2002 Thomas Evans, Jr. WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet M-10 kg (20 lb) 211 lbs. 10 oz. - 96 kgs Port Stephens N.S.W., Australia Mar. 10, 1998 Fouad Sahiaoui WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet W-01 kg (2 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet W-02 kg (4 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet W-03 kg (6 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet W-04 kg (8 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet W-06 kg (12 lb) 194 lbs. 0 oz. - 88 kgs Port Stephens N.S.W., Australia Jan. 10, 2000 Ms. Sophie Grover WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet W-08 kg (16 lb) 109 lbs. 2 oz. - 49.5 kgs Port Stephens N.S.W., Australia Feb. 15, 1999 Ms. Sophie Grover WorldRec
Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax Tippet W-10 kg (20 lb) 170 lbs. 13 oz. - 77.5 kgs Port Stephens N.S.W., Australia Feb. 23, 1999 Annick Prot-Chopin WorldRec

Pacific Sailfish
Species Scientific Name Tippet Class Weight Catch Place Catch Date Angler Status
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet M-01 kg (2 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet M-02 kg (4 lb) 94 lbs. 8 oz. - 42.86 kgs Quepos Costa Rica Jan. 9, 1991 Jim Gray WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet M-03 kg (6 lb) 103 lbs. 0 oz. - 46.72 kgs Quepos Costa Rica Feb. 16, 1995 Tony Hedley WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet M-04 kg (8 lb) 106 lbs. 8 oz. - 48.3 kgs Quepos Costa Rica Jan. 2, 1991 Jim Gray WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet M-06 kg (12 lb) 136 lbs. 0 oz. - 61.68 kgs Pinas Bay Panama June 25, 1965 Stu Apte WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet M-08 kg (16 lb) 124 lbs. 0 oz. - 56.24 kgs Gulf of Papagayo Guanacaste, Costa Rica July 21, 1989 Eizo Maruhashi WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet M-10 kg (20 lb) 130 lbs. 0 oz. - 58.96 kgs Guanamar Costa Rica Feb. 5, 2002 Charlie Tombras WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-01 kg (2 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-02 kg (4 lb) 0 lbs. 0 oz. - 0 kgs Vacant WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-03 kg (6 lb) 50 lbs. 0 oz. - 22.67 kgs Los Saneos Costa Rica Jan. 15, 2004 Cary Owen WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-04 kg (8 lb) 75 lbs. 0 oz. - 34.01 kgs Iztapa Guatemala Apr. 22, 2000 Ms. Suzanne Fahling WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-06 kg (12 lb) 114 lbs. 5 oz. - 51.86 kgs Pinas Bay Panama Dec. 18, 2003 Ariel Kane WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-08 kg (16 lb) 113 lbs. 12 oz. - 51.6 kgs Pinas Bay Panama Dec. 11, 2003 Margot Vincent WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-10 kg (20 lb) 111 lbs. 6 oz. - 50.53 kgs Pinas Bay Panama Dec. 11, 2003 Margot Vincent WorldRec
Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus Tippet W-10 kg (20 lb) Tie 111 lbs. 8 oz. - 50.57 kgs Pinas Bay Panama Dec. 15, 2003 Ariel Kane WorldRec

[mems]

Damn! I better start fishing with 2lb tippet! Mems.

[formula1]

A recent catch, a 385 lemon shark, claims to be the largest fish ever caught on a fly rod.

http://www.sportfishingmag.com/article.jsp?ID=42340

While it's an awesome achievement, I had though that some of the former fly fishing legends, especially Lee Wulff had beaten this record rather handily with catches of tuna and marlin of between 900 and 1,000 pounds

I did some net research and found that Lee did indeed catch some big marlin but I could not find the recorded weight of the fish without purchasing a couple of books.

I've done some salt water fishing and have actually landed a 120-130 pound blue shark on something around 15# tippet (with a braided steel leader). Other than the time involved, it really wasn't a big deal.

So, my question is, is this REALLY that big of a deal or is it that the catches of Lee and guys like Stu Apt and Ted Williams just never were recorded in IGFA.

Any old timers out there that can help us out?

Hi Jerry

That is indeed the largest recorded fish on a fly. It is my understanding that guys like Wulff have landed big marlin up to 1000 lb. but it was no way on fly tackle. Read Trey Combs book - it took Billy Pate multiple tries to get a small marlin into the record books initiallly because they were so strong he barely had a chance to even start fighting them before they broke off or sounded on him and made the chore impossible. Trey also spoke of fighting a world record YFT (over 100 lb) that he fought for hours and cramped up his hands, etc, and eventually lost - he took months to recuperate from that. The biggest marlin on regulation IGFA tackle was the 297 lb one the Tom Evans landed. Back in the day of Lee Wulff and Stu Apte I doubt the reels would have held up to marlin that big - I think most of the reels would have exploded or melted down - seriously.

I've found that most sharks in the smaller sizes don't have a lot of endurance - although I've never fished for larger ones like mako's, I think a fish like a tarpon fight just as hard as a shark but have a lot more endurance and when it comes to tunoids like YFT's and BFT's there's simply no comparison.