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Wicked Catch! State Record Bluefin Landed in N.C.

April 12, 2018 By InTheBite Editor

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has certified a new state record for bluefin tuna that was caught on Saint Patrick’s Day by an angler aboard a Pirates Cove Marina boat.

The 877-pound bluefin was brought to shore aboard Capt. Dennis Endee’s A-Salt Weapon, after a 2 1/2 hour fight and then another 90 minutes to pull it on board, according to the Pirates Cove Facebook page.

The angler was Scott Chambers from Townsend, Del., a retired U.S. Army general. He caught the fish trolling bait on 130-pound line test on a Shimano 130 rod and reel.

It measured 113 inches curved fork length, tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail, and had a girth of 79 inches.

The “trophy-size” fish was caught on the final day that bluefins more than 73 inches long could be kept in the Atlantic south of Great Egg Inlet, N.J.

The new mark shatters the previous state record of 805 pounds, set in 2011 by Corey Shultz of Waverly, Va. fishing aboard the Sea Breeze out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

A bluefin weighing more than 1,000 pounds was hauled to the docks in Beaufort earlier this winter, but because that catch was sold to a dealer it was not eligible for the recreational-only N.C. Salt Water Tournament record.

Story courtesy via The Fishing Wire

Filed Under: Crew Records, Featured Stories, News Tagged With: Bluefin, InTheBite, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, north carolina, Oregon Inlet, record tuna, sportfishing, the fishing wire, the outer banks, trophy size

IGFA Rule Changes: The Latest

February 8, 2017 By InTheBite Editor

igfa-logo

The International Gamefish Association is the world’s source for fishing records and angling rules. The IGFA recently announced changes to the rules. These may affect your program, especially as it relates to record fishing. Two significant changes are language that defines who a third party may and may not assist the angler during a fight and when and if it is permissible to use backing when record fishing.

CHANGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ANGLING RULES 

Assisting the Angler

Current IGFA International Angling Rules state that “the act of a person other than the angler touching the rod, reel, or line either bodily or with a device once the fish strikes or takes the bait” constitutes a disqualification. However, nowhere in the IGFA’s rules do we discuss the legality of another person touching or making contact with the angler. The IGFA is frequently questioned on the legality of touching the angler while they are fighting a fish.

In order to clarify this important subject, the IGFA will be adding the following language to the section 3 of Disqualifying Acts: “Holding or touching an angler in a manner that assists them in fighting the fish or takes pressure off the angler. Touching or briefly holding the angler to prevent them from falling does not constitute a disqualification”.

This change is effective April 1, 2017.

Backing & Top-Shot

Current IGFA International Angling Rules state: “If the fishing line is attached to backing, the catch shall be classified under the heavier of the lines.” This rule has long been contested in cases where the main line or top shot is lighter than the underlying backing, as logic dictates that the lighter line will break before the heavier backing. This is also contrary to IGFA angling rules for fly fishing where the catch is categorized based on the breaking strength of the class tippet, which must be a minimum of 15 inches.

To address this issue, IGFA will be making the following alterations to Equipment Regulation A:

  • Title change from “LINE” to “LINE & BACKING”
  • Adding a new subsection that reads: “3. The use of backing is permissible.”
  • Adding a new subsection that reads: “4. The catch shall be classified under the breaking strength of the first 16.5 feet (5 meters) of line directly preceding the double line, leader or hook.  This section must be comprised of a single, homogenous piece of line.”

This change is effective April 1, 2017.

CHANGES TO WORLD RECORD REQUIREMENTS 

Minimum Ratio Requirements

Currently, to submit a line class or tippet class (fly rod) world record, the only weight requirement is that the fish must weigh at least .45 kg (1 lb). As a result, the IGFA has accumulated a significant amount of records where the weight of the fish is much lighter than the size of the tackle used to land the fish. In an effort to have IGFA world records better recognize outstanding angling achievement, the IGFA has established the following minimum ratio requirements for all new line class and tippet class world records:

For line class categories up to and including 10 kg (20 lb) and all tippet class (fly rod) categories:

The weight of the catch must weigh at least ½ as much as the line class it is eligible for. For example, a fish entered for the 6 kg (12 lb) line class or tippet class category must weigh a minimum of 3 kg.

For line class categories greater than 10 kg (20 lb):

  • The weight of the catch must be equal to, or greater than the line class it is eligible for. For example, a fish entered in the 24 kg (50 lb) line class category must weigh a minimum of 24 kg.

Minimum ratios will not be retroactive and records that currently do not meet the new minimum weight requirements will not be retired.  Records listed in the 2017 World Record Book and IGFA website will have a new column that instructs anglers what the minimum weight necessary is to establish a record for each line class.

This change is effective April 1, 2017.  

CHANGES TO RECOGNIZED GAME FISH SPECIES

Eligible Game Fish Species

The IGFA maintains All-Tackle world records for thousands of different species, however only certain game fish species are eligible for the additional line class, tippet class (fly rod), and Junior Angler world record categories. In an effort to better recognize premier game fish species around the world that merit having line classes, the IGFA will no longer be accepting line class, tippet class (fly rod), and Junior Angler world records on the 45 species of freshwater and saltwater fish listed below:

Freshwater: rock bass, shoal bass, white bass, yellow bass, bluegill, black bullhead, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, burbot, white catfish, black crappie, white crappie, freshwater drum, Florida gar, shortnose gar, spotted gar, oscar, European perch, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, red piranha, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, sauger, American shad, hickory shad, splake, green sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, tench, warmouth, lake whitefish, mountain whitefish, round whitefish

Saltwater: Pacific barracuda, black seabass, Japanese parrotperch, spotted parrotperch, Florida pompano, doublespotted queenfish, black-blue rockfish, Atlantic spadefish, oxeye tarpon

This change is effective February 1, 2017.

Filed Under: Crew Records, Featured Stories, General News, News Tagged With: IGFA, IGFA Rules, Rules Update, World Records

Hawaii Update: Big Island Blues Are Back

April 21, 2016 By InTheBite Editor

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Photo Bryan Toney

Big Island Blues are Back

April 21, 2016 Kona, Hawaii – Big blue marlin are once again take center stage in the Jurassic Park of the fishing world. One of the world’s greatest fishing destinations is [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crew Records, Featured Stories Tagged With: Hawaii Sportfishing, Kona Hawaii, Kona Marlin Fishing, Marlin Magic

2015 Biggest Marlin Captain of the Year Award

March 18, 2016 By InTheBite Editor

Northern-Lights-GRANDER-copy

Photo: The Charter Desk

InTheBite Captain of the Year “Biggest Marlin” Cup Winner

InTheBite would like to congratulate Captain Mat Bowman on the Northern Lights for [Read more…]

Filed Under: Captain of the Year, Crew Records, Featured Stories Tagged With: Biggest Marlin, Biggest marlin ever caught, Bigggest Marlin of 2015, Hawaii Marlin, Norther Lights 1309 bluemarlin

Pending Female Blue Marlin Record?

November 4, 2015 By InTheBite Editor

Kona-Carol2Pending Female Record For Blue Marlin
By Mark Johnston

A big congratulations to angler Carol Hinkle-Herren, [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crew Records, Featured Stories Tagged With: Blue Marlin Record, Kona Blue Marlin Records, Raptor Sportfishing

Captain Randy Baker Sets New Blue Marlin Record

September 18, 2015 By InTheBite Editor

The tree named "Wilson" provides Nomad crew with a marlin trip of a lifetime!

The tree named “Wilson” provides Nomad crew with a marlin trip of a lifetime!

July 18, 2015: Here’s an incredible story how the Nomad crew found a tree on the way to [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crew Records Tagged With: Randy Baker

Booby Trap Releases 1000th Swordfish

August 3, 2015 By InTheBite Editor

Booby Trap 1000 SwordsCapt. Brett Holden catches his 1000th swordfish aboard the Booby Trap, July 26, 2015. Capt. Brett has lead his anglers and crew on over 1000 swordfish catches over the years. Brett says, “It was a great trip and a good bite this week. I’ve got the best crew [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crew Records Tagged With: Booby Trap, Swordfish Records

New Florida Yellow Tail Record

May 26, 2015 By InTheBite Editor

yellowtailJeffrey Bowles now holds the Florida State Record for the largest yellowtail snapper! The fish was caught about 100 miles off Naples in the Gulf of Mexico and weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces. Bowles caught the fish on live mullet. It took about five minutes to land the fish! The previous record was set in 1996 at 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

Filed Under: Crew Records Tagged With: Yellowtail Snapper

Pending #2 lb World Record

May 6, 2015 By InTheBite Contributor


Copy_Spear_GalMay 2015 Pending a line test from the IGFA, ultralight angler Gary Carter of Atlanta, Georgia  added a [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crew Records, Featured Stories Tagged With: Gary Carter, Light Tackle Record, Spearfish Record

New Virginia Bluefin Record?

April 3, 2015 By InTheBite Editor

main_tunaReport and photos credit: Virgina Beach Fishing Center

April 2, 2015  just before closing we got a call about a huge Bluefin Tuna being brought in to our docks, rumor had it it could possibly break the state record. We hung it from our scales and it weighed in at 578 pounds, breaking the current state record. We notified the state board and they sent down a witness, the official pending state record weight was 576.5 pounds. A huge Congratulations to Robert Smith and crew!
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Crew Records Tagged With: Bluefin Tuna Records, Virgina State Records

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