17 of the World’s Biggest Fishing Catches!
There have been some impressive catches in history, and today we are going to show you 17 of the world’s largest ones! Of course, every angler dreams of reeling in the big one and experiencing the thrill of adrenaline and anticipation as they face off with a water giant. While we certainly don’t want to underestimate your imagination, we do realize it is easy to misjudge just how massive these water giants really are. So take a look and find inspiration from these top 17 water giants for your next fishing trip! Although there might not be mythical sea monsters inhabiting the deep crevices of the ocean, these actual catches do show you where these sea tales could have originated!
While many of these water kings are from the Billfish and Shark families, there are a few on here that might surprise you! With records dating back several decades, it’s incredible to see how fishing regulations have changed, ensuring some of these catches will remain some of the biggest fishing feats in history!
17. The 680 lb Goliath Grouper
Lynn Joyner reeled in this monster in Fernandina Beach, Flordia, back in May 1961 using a Spanish Mackerel. Once upon a time, Fernandina Beach was popular for its Goliath Grouper fishery. However, in 1990 the fishing population started to dwindle. As a result, catching these monsters is no longer allowed ensuring this record is here to stay for years to come.
Image source: IGFA
16. The 697 lb 12 oz Bull Shark
Caught by angler Ronald de Jager in Malindi, Kenya, on March 24, 2001, this Bull Shark broke the previously held 1994 record by 12 ounces.
Image source: IGFA
15. The 764 lb Dusky Shark
Reeled in by Warren Girle in Longboat Key, Florida, in 1982, this catch is undoubtedly impressive!
Image source: IGFA
14. The 767 lb Thresher Shark
David Hannah reeled in this prize on February 26, 1983, in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. He baited the monster using a Kahawai Salmon, a most impressive feat considering that this particular type of shark will smash the hook and lure with its tail before moving in to devour the bait.
Image source: IGFA
13. The 802 lb Bigeye Thresher Shark
Dianne North caught her monster in February 1981, in Tutukaka, New Zealand, just 30 miles away from where David caught his. A Kahawai salmon managed to hook this giant, resulting in a laborious, three-hour, and forty-five-minute battle!
Image source: IGFA
12. The 907 lb 6 oz Pacific Bluefin Tuna
The battle was intense, lasted for over four hours, and took place in stormy weather conditions in Three Kings Islands, New Zealand, on February 19, 2014. Angler Donna Pascoe arose victoriously despite the challenges and managed to reel in this impressive catch!
Image source: IGFA
11. The 1,182 lb Swordfish
Caught almost 70 years ago, Lou Marron’s remarkable record still holds its place of glory! Caught in Iquique, Chile, on May 7, 1953, Marron managed to tempt the Swordfish by trolling a live Bonito. His catch is a reminder of the skill required to reel in such a monster using nothing but angling to catch this ocean’s majestic creature!
Image source: IGFA
10. The 1,221 lb Shortfin Mako Shark
Reeled in by Luke Sweeney on July 21, 2001, this incredible Mako battled for three hours but was ultimately caught during the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament in 2001. Making this feat even more remarkable is that Luke was aboard the smallest boat in the tournament, a 24′ World Cat.
Image source: IGFA
9. The 1,280 lb Great Hammerhead Shark
In Boca Grande on May 23, 2006, charter captain Bucky Dennis found his way to the halls of fame by reeling in this Hammerhead monster! Usually an avid Snook and Tarpon fisher, Dennis knew that when the Tarpon come to Boca Grande, so do the hammerheads. Bucky caught this almost 15′ shark using a stingray for bait. The giant put up such a fight that the monster pulled Bucky’s 23′ boat nearly 12 miles out into the Gulf.
Image source: IGFA
8. The 1,298 lb Sixgill Shark
While the Sixgill Shark roams oceans worldwide, it isn’t often seen. However, Clemens Rump managed to catch a massive one on November 21, 2002, in the middle of the Atlantic near Ascension Island, British Overseas Territories.
Image source: IGFA
7. The 1,376 lb Pacific Blue Marlin
While trolling a Kita lute, Jay de Beaubien brought this massive beauty in under an hour on May 31, 1982, in Kaaiwi Point, Kona, Hawaii. Interestingly, his record was almost broken when another fisher caught another massive Blue Marlin off the very same coast!
Image source: IGFA
6. The 1,402 lb 2 oz Atlantic Blue Marlin
While unsuspectingly trolling with a Molecraft lure, angler Paulo Amorim brought in this massive Marlin off Victoria, Brazil, on February 29, 1992.
Image source: IGFA
5. The 1,496 lb Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
The cold coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, is famous for its Bluefin Tuna fishery, where angler Ken Fraser reeled in his massive catch! However, because the catching of Bluefins is much more regulated these days, Ken’s October 1979 record will stand for an indefinite period of time!
Image source: IGFA
4. The 1,560 lb Black Marlin
Legendary Alfred C. Glassell Jr. reeled in this monster almost 70 years ago in August 1953 off Cabo Blanco, Peru. His record is one of the longest-standing IGFA World Records. This legendary Marlin and a number of other impressive catches made by Glassell hold a permanent position in the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Image source: IGFA
3. The 1,708 lb 9 oz Greenland Shark
Terje Nordvedt managed to bring in this monster using a humble herring as bait in October 1987 off Trondheimsfjord, Norway. Interesting fact, this particular type of shark can live longer than 400 years!
Image source: IGFA
2. The 1,785 lb 11 oz Tiger Shark
Caught in Ulladulla, Australia, in March 2004, this catch is a little controversial. Angler Kevin J. Clapson thought he broke the 40-year-old record with this massive Tiger shark only to discover that because his catch was only 11 ounces heavier than Walter Maxwell’s 1964 catch, the record was now tied.
1. The 2,664 lb Great White Shark
While caught back in 1959 in Ceduna, Australia, this massive monster still holds the record for the largest fish ever caught and approved by the IGFA. Great White Sharks are now a protected species, so Alfred Dean’s impressive record is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Image source: IGFA
The catches discussed here provide truth to the old map marking, “Here there be monsters,” and represent some of humanity’s best anglers. Are you hoping to find your way to the hall of fish fame? Today’s conservation-oriented regulations mean that many of these records are here to stay, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find an impressive catch of your own! A fishing guide can make this feat exponentially easier. Check out some of our remarkable big fish stories, or contact us today to schedule a charter!
Want to see what we’ve been reeling in? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!