BLOWN AWAY BY SMALL FISH ON BIG LINES
BLOWN AWAY BY SMALL FISH ON BIG LINESInternational Game Fish Association Report in Sport Fishing each issue. More times than not, that report makes me pull out my IGFA World Record Book to look up prior records for a particular catch [pending as a record]. While reading through some of the records in the IGFA book, I was absolutely blown away by some of the small fish caught on heavy (80- and 130- pound) tackle. The question, then, is why bother to keep records for such heavy lines on fish that would never exceed the weight of the line? (Some examples on 130-pound line: almaco jack, 22 pounds; gag grouper, 8 pounds; and roosterfish, 58 pounds.) While I’m not a world-record holder, I would be irritated to say the least to see my lifetime catch right next to an 8- pound gag grouper on 130. I am surprised that the IGFA (other than for a little revenue) would even have a category for very small species on large test.
As you know, IGFA keeps records for
line classes up to 130-pound test. However,
not all our line-class species are eligible for
heavy tackle. In fact, the maximum allowable line class for a given species is generally based on the maximum reported
weight of that species. For example, fish
that can grow to weigh more than 80
pounds are eligible for 130-pound tackle.
All the species mentioned in your letter can
exceed 80 pounds in weight: The men’s
130-pound line-class records, respectively,
for almaco jack, gag grouper and roosterfish are 105 pounds 13 ounces, 74 pounds
12 ounces, and 100 pounds. IGFA does not
require catches to be of a certain weight to
qualify for vacant line-class records; this
obviously gives anglers more opportunities
to apply for records. From time to time, this
results in anglers submitting very small
fish, regardless of the line weight used.
However, time has shown that this actually
helps inspire anglers to apply for larger
records when they realize, “Man, I can
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