*This is the third gallery in our series of “greatest catches,” following 50 Greatest Women’s World-Record Catches and 40 Greatest World-Record Catches by Junior Anglers.
Below, we share some of the top world records in the International Game Fish Association‘s small-fry-angler category. This category stipulates that anglers be no older than 10 (and of course accomplish their catches while abiding by IGFA rules and ethics).
Many fine catches in addition to those listed here could be included, but we found these 28 (ordered by name of species) particularly impressive, as well as offering images good enough for us to share them (not always the case).
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A major word of thanks to Jack Vitek at the IGFA for his above-and-beyond help in finding these photos in the association’s archives.
Finally, this editor’s note: Sport Fishing does not condone or encourage the killing of marlin, sailfish, tarpon or large sharks by anglers. In general, we avoid showing photos of such fish, dead at the dock. However, we make a rare exception in cases where legitimate world records are involved. But generally, we hope young anglers learn the satisfaction that comes from seeing a trophy fish swim away from the boat in great shape.
62-POUND, 6-OUNCE ALBACORE
Age: not listed
Location: Hout Bay, South Africa
Date: March 1997
Reel: Shimano
Method: Trolling Rapala Magnum
Fight time: 5 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
52-POUND, 14-OUNCE GUINEAN BARRACUDA
Age: 10
Location: Mancha Branca, Angola
Date: June 2003
Reel: Shimano TLD15
Method: Trolling Rapala Magnum CD18
Fight time: 15 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
50-POUND, 9-OUNCE STRIPED BASS
Age: 9
Location: Kiptopeake State Park, Virginia
Date: November 2008
Reel: Shimano TLD20
Method: Bait fishing an eel
Fight time: 3 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
15-POUND, 8-OUNCE BONEFISH
Age: not listed
Location: Islamorada, Florida
Date: May 1997
Reel: Shimano 3500
Method: Live shrimp
Fight time: 20 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
55-POUND DOLPHIN (dolphinfish, mahimahi, dorado)
Age: 6
Location: Salinas, Ecuador
Date: February 2001
Reel: Penn
Method: Trolling a Bart Miller lure
Fight time: 46 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
80-POUND BLACK DRUM
Age: 10
Location: Delaware Bay, New Jersey
Date: April 2002
Reel: Shimano Calcutta 700S
Method: Bottomfishing a surf clam
Fight time: 30 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
50-POUND, 4-OUNCE RED DRUM
Age: 10
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Date: September 2001
Reel: Penn 320GTI
Method: Bait fishing a croaker
Fight time: 20 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
55-POUND BROOMTAIL GROUPER
Age: 8
Location: Isla del Muerto, Ecuador
Date: January 2012
Reel: Avet
Method: Trolling a MirrOlure
Fight time: 20 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
79-POUND, 8-OUNCE ALMACO JACK
Age: not listed
Location: Piñas Bay, Panama
Date: January 1999
Reel: Shimano Tiagra 50
Method: Live-baiting
Fight time: 25 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
35-POUND, 6-OUNCE JACK CREVALLE
Age: 9
Location: Palm Beach Inlet, Florida
Date: June 2010
Reel: FinNor 8500
Method: Bait fishing
Fight time: Less than a minute Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
52-POUND, 12-OUNCE LINGCOD
Age: 7
Location: Gulf of Alaska
Date: August 2010
Reel: Avet
Method: Jigging a Storm WildEye Shad
Fight time: 20 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
54-POUND KING MACKEREL
Age: 7
Location: Bimini, Bahamas
Date: April 2004
Reel: Penn 750SS
Method: Live cigar minno
Fight time: 20 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
72-POUND, 15-OUNCE NARROWBARRED MACKEREL
Age: 9
Location: Coffs Harbor, Australia
Date: March 2008
Reel: Shimano TLD
Method: Trolling bait
Fight time: 32 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
565-POUND BLACK MARLIN
Age: 10
Location: Ribbon Reef, Australia
Date: October 2005
Reel: Penn
Method: Trolling a scaly mackerel
Fight time: 10 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
496-POUND ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN
Age: 10
Location: Canary Islands
Date: August 2008
Reel: Shimano
Method: Trolling an RPP Black Bart
Fight time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
500-POUND, 7-OUNCE PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN
Age: 10
Location: Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Date: February 2005
Reel: Shimano Tiagra
Method: Trolling a Lumo lure
Fight time: 50 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
331-POUND, 12-OUNCE STRIPED MARLIN
Age: 8
Location: Cuvier Island, New Zealand
Date: February 2015
Reel: Penn
Method: Trolling a bronze Trogan Karma
Fight time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
76-POUND, 4-OUNCE WHITE MARLIN
Age: 6
Location: La Entallada, Spain
Date: September 2007
Reel: Shimano
Method: Trolling Iland SeaStar
Fight time: 22 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
39-POUND, 4-OUNCE PERMIT
Age: 10
Location: Marathon, Florida
Date: April 2001
Reel: Shimano 2000LC
Method: Drifting a live crab
Fight time: 40 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
91-POUND 11-OUNCE ATLANTIC SAILFISH
Age: 9
Location: Luanda, Angola
Date: November 2007
Reel: Shimano Tiagra 20
Method: Trolling a ballyhoo
Fight time: 20 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
121-POUND, 4-OUNCE PACIFIC SAILFISH
Age: 8
Location: Vava’u, Tonga
Date: October 2000
Reel: Duel 6/0
Method: Trolling a broadbill bonito lure
Fight time:45 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
54-POUND, 13-OUNCE WHITE SEABASS
Age: 8
Location: Pt. Mesquite, Mexico
Date: July 2009
Reel: Shimano TR2000LD
Method: Squid
Fight time: 15 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
476-POUND, 3-OUNCE MAKO SHARK
Age: 10
Location: Botany Bay, Australia
Date: January 2005
Reel: Shimano
Method: Drifting a mullet
Fight time: 45 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
333-POUND, 12-OUNCE THRESHER SHARK
Age: 10
Location: Brown’s Mountain, Australia
Date: August 2014
Reel: Shimano
Method: Drifting a mullet
Fight time: 2 hours Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
62-POUND PACIFIC CUBERA SNAPPER
Age: not listed
Location: Dry Tortugas, Florida
Date: June 2005
Reel: Shimano
Method: Trolling a bonito
Fight time: 30 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
158-POUND, 1-OUNCE TARPON
Age: 9
Location: Grand Isle, Louisiana
Date: August 2014
Reel: Penn International
Method: Trolling a Coon Pop
Fight time: 40 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
34-POUND, 8-OUNCE BLACKFIN TUNA
Age: 10
Location: Ocean Reef, Key Largo, Florida
Date: March 2009
Reel: Penn 750SS
Method: Trolling a ballyhoo
Fight time: 30 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
106-POUND, 8-OUNCE WAHOO
Age: 9
Location: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Date: March 2000
Reel: Penn International 50
Method: Trolling a Pakula Mini Sprocket
Fight time: 10 minutes Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
