Most anglers are happy to catch a fish that is large enough to keep, let alone one that smashes a world record. However, for some, heading out into treacherous waters in search of a prize specimen is a calling that simply cannot be ignored.
Trophy catches can come at quite a cost. They can damage equipment and take hours of hard work to land. Against that backdrop, it is not surprising that world record-breaking catches are usually the remit of seasoned fishers.
Read on for seven of the most impressive record-breaking specimens, along with the fishers who caught them.
1. Walleye – Mabry Harper (Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee, United States)
Fishing at Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee, in 1960, Mabry Harper caught a gargantuan 25-pound walleye measuring 41 inches long. His catch established an all-tackle world record for the species, which still stands today.
Belonging to the perch family, walleye are a commonly stocked game fish throughout North America that favor cool, deep, and quiet waters. Specimens landed today usually weigh just a few pounds, putting into perspective how impressive Mabry Harper’s record is.
2. Nile Perch – William Toth (Lake Nasser, Egypt)
Spanning more than 4,000 miles, the Nile River is home to the Nile perch, Africa’s largest freshwater fish. It is capable of reaching up to 6 feet 7 inches long and weighing up to 440 pounds.
On December 20, 2000, William Toth made history when he caught the largest Nile perch ever recorded. The specimen weighed in at a staggering 230 pounds.
3. Blue Catfish – Dylan Smith (Lake Tawakoni, Texas, United States)
In 2017, Dallas native Dylan Smith landed a 54 ½-pound blue catfish while fishing on Lake Tawakoni, a particularly impressive feat given that the ambitious angler was just 10 years old.
It took Dylan around 15 minutes to bring the fish in on a cold and blustery day in January, according to local fishing guide Michael Littlejohn, who was fishing with the fourth grader and his father at the time. Dylan’s catch earned him an International Game Fish Association Small Fry world record for anglers aged 10 or younger. After being weighed on certified scales, Dylan’s prize catfish was returned to Lake Tawakoni, which has an outstanding reputation as a catfish fishery.
4. Yellowfin Tuna – Guy Yocom (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
The International Game Fish Association approved an all-tackle world record set by Guy Yocom, who brought in a 427-pound yellowfin tuna while sea fishing approximately 100 miles off the coast of Cabo San Lucas on September 28, 2012.
Lured by chunk bait drifting weightlessly through the slick, the monster yellowfin was worth a cool million to Yocom after hook maker Mustad signed a 50-year sponsorship deal with the angler, agreeing to pay him $20,000 a year.
Speaking with reporters, boat skipper Greg di Stefano recounted saying, “That thing is huge!” as the monster fish pulled in 300 yards of line in no time. Following a 50-minute battle, Yocom finally reeled in his catch, scrupulously following International Game Fish Association regulations to ensure he had the best possible chance of being awarded the $1 million prize.
5. Alligator Gar – Tim Smith (Mississippi River, Tennessee, United States)
On April 28, 2023, a Tennessee fisherman made history by reeling in the largest fish ever landed in the state. Tim Smith landed a colossal alligator gar, his remarkable catch not only shattering state records but capturing the attention of the international fishing community.
Smith reported feeling a strong tug on the line, and following a long and intense battle, he finally reeled in the monstrous fish. Measuring 6 feet 4 inches and weighing in at 110 pounds, Smith’s catch smashed the previous state record for alligator gar established in 2001; that specimen weighed a comparatively modest 52 pounds.
6. Black Marlin – Alfred Glassell Jr. (Cabo Blanco, Peru)
On August 4, 1953, Alfred Glassell Jr. established an all-tackle record, landing a 1,560-pound black marlin off Cabo Blanco, Peru. The specimen measured a staggering 174 inches long with an 81-inch girth. Glassell caught the colossal creature while trolling a mackerel.
7. Goliath Grouper – Lynn Joyner (Fernandina Beach, Florida, United States)
Also known as the giant seabass, the goliath grouper is a massive fish with greenish skin and brownish-yellow or gray scales, with small black dots on the head, fins, and body. Goliath grouper live on small fish and crustaceans, and as large fish, have few predators.
On May 20, 1961, Lyn Joyner made history when he caught the largest goliath grouper on record while fishing at Fernandina Beach in Florida. Joyner brought in the 680-pound giant using Spanish mackerel as bait.
In 2020, beginning angler Reegan Werner came impressively close to Joyner’s record, landing a 583-pound goliath grouper while on her second deep-sea fishing trip, quite a feat for a 16-year-old weighing just 115 pounds. Her catch holds the women’s record for heaviest goliath grouper.