While you might hook a world-record fish nearly anywhere, check out these 10 places around the globe (listed alphabetically; not ranked) that International Game Fish Association statistics prove are among the most productive for setting fishing world records. There are, of course, a great many other destinations around the globe that have produced many world records. But these 10 score high in numbers of records, both because they offer great fishing and, generally, the infrastructure that attracts numbers of serious anglers.
ALASKA
Chinook Salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha )
97 pounds, 4 ounces
Kenai River
May 1985
Les Anderson
Bait/lure: Spin-N-Glo Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Pacific halibut ( Hippoglossus stenolepis )
459 pounds
Dutch Harbor (Aleutian Islands), Alaska
June 1996
Jack Tragis
Bait/lure: “Big ugly jig” Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
THE BAHAMAS
Bonefish ( Albula vulpes )
Bimini
February 1971
Jerry Lavenstein
Bait/lure: shrimp Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Scombrops (Scombrops oculatus)
21 pounds, 12 ounces
Bimini, The Bahamas
July 1997
Doug Olander
Bait/lure: chunk of barracuda
(Note: Caught using manual — non-electric — gear from 2,000 feet) Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO
Pacific white snook ( Centropomus viridis )
47 pounds, 8 ounces
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, surf
July 2001
Vito Allessandro
Bait/lure: caballito (scad) Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Wahoo ( Acanthocybium solandri )
184 pounds
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, offshore
July 2005
Sara Hayward
Bait/lure: Mean Joe Green Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
COSTA RICA
Pacific sailfish ( Istiophorus platypterus )
109 pounds, 12 ounces
Offshore of Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
January 1989
Deborah Dunaway
Bait/lure: bonito Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Colorado snapper (Lutjanus colorado)
24 pounds, 1 ounce
Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
September 2004
Wilbur D. Forbes
Bait/lure: blue runner Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
JAPAN
Greater amberjack ( Seriola dumerili )
156 pounds, 13 ounces
Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan
November 2010
Hideyuki Nemoto
Bait/lure: MC Works jig Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Madai (red seabream) (Pagrus major)
24 pounds, 14 ounces
Awashima Island, Nigata, Japan
May 2005
Katsuhito Takeuchi
Bait/lure: metal jig Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
KEY WEST, THE FLORIDA KEYS
30 pounds, 4 ounces
Dry Tortugas, Key West
November 1998
Richard Casey
Bait/lure: not specified Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Greater amberjack ( Seriola dumerili )
103 pounds, 12 ounces
Key West, The Florida Keys
January 1977
William J. Munro
Bait/lure: white streamer fly Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
NEW ZEALAND
Southern yellowtail ( Seriola lalandi )
114 pounds, 10 ounces
White Island, New Zealand
January 1987
David Lugton
Bait/lure: Zuker high-speed lure Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Striped marlin ( Tetrapturus audax )
494 pounds
Tutukaka, New Zealand
January 1986
Bill Boniface
Bait/lure: Kahawai Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
PIÑAS BAY, PANAMA
Dolphinfish (mahi) ( Coryphaena hippurus )
44 pounds, 14 ounces
Piñas Bay, Panama
August 2009
Sherell Carter
Bait/lure: ballyoo Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Pacific cubera snapper ( Lutjanus novemfasciatus )
62 pounds
Piñas Bay
June 2005
Sam Schechter
Bait/lure: bonito Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
SENEGAL
African red snapper (Lutjannus agennes)
132 pounds, 4 ounces
Keur Saloum, Senegal
February 2001
Stephane Talavet
Bait/lure: not specified Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Atlantic sailfish ( Istiophorus platypterus )
90 pounds, 13 ounces
Saly, Senegal
September 1995
Ms. Odile Robelin
Bait/lure: not specified Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
VIRGINIA
Snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus)
70 pounds, 7 ounces
Norfolk Canyon, Virginia
May 2011
Roger C. Burnley
Bait/lure: squid Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
Black drum ( Pogonias cromis )
105 pounds
Virginia Beach, Virginia
August 1997
Kevin Brown
Bait/lure: Bucktail Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
