New IGFA world record; 385 lb shark on 16 lb tippet is now heaviest fish caught on fly
By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications – IGFA PR counsel
DANIA BEACH , Fla. , U.S.A. -- (May 17, 2006) -- The catch-and-release of a 385 lb lemon shark on fly has officially been approved as a world record by the International Game Fish Association IGFA). It also becomes the heaviest documented fish caught on fly tippet.
IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds made the official announcement that Dr. Martin Arostegui , Coral Gables , Florida , U.S.A. had caught the heaviest fish ever documented on fly beating out a nearly 40 year old record.
A little background on Arostegui; last year the retired Miami-area physician received a lifetime achievement award from the IGFA for over 100 world record catches through 2004 and this past March took home a grand slam of honors at the IGFA World Record Achievement Awards ceremony for the most world records in 2005 in saltwater, freshwater and on fly.
Guided by Capt. Ralph Delph, Key West , Fla. , and fishing near the Marquesas Keys west of Key West, Florida, Arostegui used the scent line of a filleted barracuda to entice sharks onto the flats. Instead of a tiger, a lemon shark smelled the scent so Arostegui switched to another fly rod with 12 lb tippet and a bright orange seven-inch long feathered fly streamer in an attempt to break another record he held. Like the tiger shark the lemon shark is a member of the whaler shark (carcharhinidae) family and once hooked Arostegui battled the fish for over an hour.
As he muscled the fish next to the boat, Arostegui said the toothy shark attacked the hull of Delph’s 29 ft. Contender. “When it opened its mouth, I said to myself this shark could eat half of me in one bite,” joked the doctor. Next in a carefully orchestrated technique that Arostegui and Delph have used before, Delph gaffed the shark in the soft, fleshy part of its tail as Arostegui dropped the fly rod and lassoed the fish in front of the tail with a cleated rope.
After a breather they enlisted the help of another flats angler and guide fishing nearby. The four men were able to wrestle the shark, while controlling its dangerous head, through the transom door into a specially designed eight foot long, three foot deep aerated, hydraulic live well. After an hour long ride back to Key West the pair, with the help of Delph’s son Mike who is also a noted Keys guide, finished documenting the catch. For that Arostegui used a portable ScaleMaster II from International Weighing Systems along with a special canvas sling to cradle the fish.
“Since I bought the scale in the Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship tournament auction last year in Mexico , I’ve used it for documenting six other IGFA certified records, but nothing this heavy.” Minus the weight of the ropes and cradle the lemon shark weighed 385 lbs (174.63 kg). The avid angler who has practiced catch and release on over 90% of his fish catches slid the shark into the water of a nearby basin and while resuscitating it, measured the shark for its girth (49”
and length (90”
plus took photos.
Later as he looked at the photos of himself and Mike standing in the water, before releasing the giant fish which an hour before had been biting the boat, Arostegui chuckled and said, “I don’t recommend getting this close to a lemon shark, especially in his environment.”
Crap...I posted the wrong photo, same guy but different fish. Here is the record that was let go. I don't know about that last one, might be dead or alive. I know this one is alive.
Ok, now its more believable. With more than 100 IFGA records under his belt this guy must have his own official with him.
world reacord hammerhead
