The largest fish taken on a fly rod.

[PanamaJack]

Looking through the latest edition of the International Angler, the IGFA's bi-monthly publication, I noticed that an angler, fishing on the flats (shallow water) off Key West has landed what is, if ratified, the largest fish caught on 'IGFA legal' fly fishing tackle.

On 7th March, fishing with a 12 weight rod, he landed a Lemon Shark of 385lbs.

The even nicer side of the story is that they transported the fish to the weigh scale in a specially designed live-well. That journey took 3 hours! Then the fish was weighed in a customised canvas sling and released to swim away, tired but healthy.

Prior to that, if you leave aside a 'joke' fish - a Jewfish, or to be more politically correct in this 'enlighten age', a Goliath Grouper, of 356lbs on a 12lb tippet - the biggest was a Hammerhead of 353lbs, again from Key West. That again would have been taken on the flats. The largest 'blue water' fish was a Pacific Blue Marlin of nearly 289lbs from Port Stephens in Australia.

With IGFA regulations you're limited to just 12" of shock (wire) leader plus, of course, you can use two hooks in the 'fly' - the eyes of which can be up to 6" apart. But it says an awful lot for the guide's boat handling skills to keep the class tippet away from the shark's skin.

[PanamaJack]

Just to confirm that 16lb tippet record has now been confirmed by the IGFA in a Press Release. For anyone interested here's the url - http://www.igfa.org/News.asp?qs=169. It includes a picture of the fish in the water after weighing.

If nothing else it shows that catch-and-release can be valid for some record purposes.
Dave