Courtesy International Game Fish Association
Anglers 11 to 16 years of age qualify for the IGFA's junior-angler category.
As a sequel to our gallery, “50 Greatest Women’s World-Record Catches,” we wanted to share some of the top world records in the International Game Fish Association’s junior-angler category. This category stipulates the angler be 11 to 16 years of age (and of course accomplish their catches while abiding by IGFA rules and ethics).
Many fine catches in addition to these could be included, but we found these 40 (presented in random order) particularly impressive. (Also, some catches wouldn’t work for this gallery simply because the photos provided to the IGFA with the record application weren’t good enough to try to share here.)
A major word of thanks to Jack Vitek at the IGFA for his above-and-beyond help in finding these photos in the association's archives.
(If you enjoy this gallery, stay tuned for the greatest world-record catches by small fry — kids 10 and under — coming soon.)
Courtesy International Game Fish Association
More and more anglers are choosing the option of enter their catches in length categories, taking quick measurements and a photo, to release their trophies alive.
Finally, this editor’s note: Sport Fishing does not condone or encourage the killing of marlin, sailfish, tarpon or large sharks by anglers. In general, we avoid showing photos of such fish, dead at the dock. However, we make a rare exception in cases where legitimate world records are involved. But generally, we hope young anglers learn the satisfaction that comes from seeing a trophy fish swim away from the boat in great shape.
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
105-POUND BLACK DRUM
Angler: Kevin Brown, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Age: not listed
Location: Virginia Beach
Date: August 1997
Reel: Penn 650 SS
Method: Casting a bucktail jig
Fight time: 22 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
105-POUND, 13-OUNCE GIANT TREVALLY
Angler: Audrey Ferrand, St. Paul, Réunion Island
Age: 12
Location: Réunion Island
Date: March 2009
Reel: Shimano Stella 20000FA
Method: Bait fishing (bait type not specified)
Fight time: 1 hour, 12 minutes
Note: Also the women's 130-pound line-class world record
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
1,001-POUND BLUE MARLIN
Angler: Bill Reilly, Oxford, Michigan
Age: 13
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date: Aug 2000
Reel: Shimano
Method: trolling
Fight time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
90-POUND, 9-OUNCE ALMACO JACK
Angler: Maximilian Hampl, Cartago, Costa Rica
Age: 15
Location: Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica
Date: June 2010
Reel: Accurate Boss Magnum 870
Method: Drift fishing a live pompano
Fight time: 25 minutes
Note: Also the men's 20-pound line-class record
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
86-POUND COBIA
Angler: Ken Braddy Jr.
Age: not listed
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Date: 45 minutes
Reel: Shimano
Method: Fishing an eel
Fight time: 45 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
868-POUND, 9-OUNCE BLUEFIN TUNA
Angler: Ben Bruce, Souris, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Age: 13
Location: North Lake, Prince Edward Island
Date: September 2014
Reel: Penn
Method: Fishing a mackerel
Fight time: 1 hour
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
547-POUND, 6-OUNCE THRESHER SHARK
Angler: Jack Leverone, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Age: 15
Location: Kona, Hawaii
Date: May 2014
Reel: Shimano
Method: Drifting an opelu (scad)
Fight time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
14-POUND, 1-OUNCE BONEFISH
Angler: Alan Cockerham, Islamorada, Florida
Age: 15
Location: Islamorada, Florida
Date: December 2002
Reel: Daiwa Whisker 1600
Method: Bait fishing with a crab
Fight time: 10 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
58-POUND, 8-OUNCE GAG GROUPER
Angler: Christopher A. Deckert, Ponce De Leon, Florida
Age: 16
Location: Gulf of Mexico (no more information listed)
Date: May 2007
Reel: Shimano
Method: Drifting cut mackerel
Fight Time: 20 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
102-POUND WHITE MARLIN
Angler: Matthew A. Sheehan, Boston
Age: 11
Location: Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Date: August 2011
Reel: Shimano
Method: Bait fishing a live scup
Fight time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
250-POUND YELLOWFIN TUNA
Angler: Ashley Eslick, Culver City, California
Age: 16
Location: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Date: July 2005
Reel: Penn
Method: Trolling a skipjack
Fight time: 2 hours
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
124-POUND HALIBUT
Angler: James C. Seegraves, Tampa
Age: 16
Location: Icy Bay, Alaska
Date: July 2008
Reel: Penn
Method: Jigging bait
Fight time: 20 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
147-POUND, 11-OUNCE PACIFIC SAILFISH
Angler: Jorge Saca Bahaia, San Salvador, El Salvador
Age: Not listed
Location: El Tamarindo, El Salvador
Date: April 1998
Reel: Penn 80tw
Method: Trolling a Williamson's Marlin lure
Fight time: 35 minutes
penn 80 tw
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
68-POUND KING MACKEREL
Angler: Giancarlo Martell, Miami, Florida
Age: 15
Location: Key Largo, Florida
Date: December 2002
Reel: Shimano 6500B
Method: Drift-fishing a ballyhoo
Fight time: 35 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
46-POUND, 12-OUNCE RED DRUM
Angler: Bekki Dize, Onancock, Virginia
Age: 12
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Date: September 2001
Reel: Penn 320 GTI
Method: Fish a croaker
Fight time: 15 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
44-POUND AFRICAN POMPANO
Angler: Cody Lapnow, Wilton, Connecticut
Age: 16
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Date: February 2008
Reel: Accurate Boss
Method:Fishing a goggle-eye
Fight time: 10 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
60-POUND STRIPED BASS
Angler: Ted Carroll, Chatham, New Jersey
Age: 14
Location: Fishers Island, Connecticut
Date: July 2010
Reel: Shimano Baitrunner
Method: Casting a live eel
Fight time: 10 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
77-POUND, 15-OUNCE CUBERA SNAPPER
Angler: David Horton, Orland Park, Illinois
Age: 16
Location: Gulf of Mexico (more specific information not provided)
Date: June 2007
Reel: Shimano
Method: Bottom fishing squid
Fight time: 20 min
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
407-POUND, 3-OUNCE STRIPED MARLIN
Angler: Zane Roderick, Tauranga, New Zealand
Age: 13
Location: Tauranga
Date: March 2003
Reel: Penn 50SW
Method: Bait fishing a kahawai
Fight time: 3 hours, 50 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
59-POUND WHITE SEABASS
Angler: Shane Aviano, Poway, California
Age: 14
Location: Imperial Beach, California
Date: June 2002
Reel: Shimano Corsair 400
Method: Casting a Slammer jig
Fight time: 20 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
46-POUND PERMIT
Angler: Ben Cohen, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Age: 16
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Date: April 2002
Reel: Penn 975LD
Method: Casting a crab
Fight time: 35 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
231-POUND, 13-OUNCE SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA
Angler: Angus Johnson, Hobart, Tasmania
Age: 16
Location: Hippolyte Rocks, Australia
Date: April 2014
Reel: Shimano
Method: Trolling a Rapala
Fight time: 35 miinutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
391-POUND SWORDFISH
Angler: James Angus, Kerikeri, New Zealand
Age: 14
Location: Middlesex Bank, New Zealand
Date: July 2004
Reel: Shimano Tiagra 80W
Method: Trolling squid
Fight time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
11-POUND, 1-OUNCE SPOTTED SEATROUT
Angler: Chris Kirkhart, Stuart, Florida
Age: Not listed
Location: St. Lucie River, Florida
Date: May 1997
Reel: Shakespeare
Method: Fishing a live mullet
Fight time: 8 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
70-POUND, 11-OUNCE ROOSTERFISH
Angler: Kyle Vincent, Hobe Sound, Florida
Age: 13
Location: Piñas Bay, Panama
Date: March 2010
Reel: Shimano Tiagra 50
Method: Trolling a live bonito
Fight time: 20 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
58-POUND, 4-OUNCE STRIPED BASS
Angler: Juliana Rose Merighi, Vineland, New Jersey
Age: 13
Location: Delaware Bay, New Jersey
Date: October 2010
Reel: Shimano Tekota 600
Method: Bait fishing bunker
Fight time: 10 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
39-POUND BLACKFIN TUNA
Anger: Nick Trapp, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Age: 14
Location: Key West, Florida
Date: April 2008
Reel: Shimano Stella
Method: Jig and bait
Fight time: 15 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
60-POUND, 10-OUNCE GUINEAN BARRACUDA
Angler: Francisco Albuquerque, Luanda, Angola
Age: 11
Location: Luanda
Date: November 2003
Reel: Penn GTI 320
Method: Trolling a Rapala
Fight time: Not listed
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
59-POUND, 9-OUNCE LINGCOD
Angler: Tim Lucason, Ninilchick, Alaska
Age: 13
Location: Kodiak Island, Alaska
Date: July 2004
Reel: Penn Formula 15KG
Method: Jigging a lead-head with plastic tail
Fight time: 9 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
146-POUND, 9-OUNCE GREATER AMBERJACK
Angler: Ricardo Martinez-Martinez, home not listed
Age: 16
Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands
Date: January 2009
Reel: Shimano Stella
Method: Jigging an Evil Metal Hunter jig
Fight time: 25 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
14-POUND, 4-OUNCE BONEFISH
Angler: Chelsea Moeller, Islamorada, Florida
Age: 11
Location: Islamorada, Florida
Date: October 2002
Reel: Daiwa SS1600
Method: Casting a live crab
Fight time: 15 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
81-POUND, 5-OUNCE ATLANTIC SAILFISH
Angler: Lydia Nicolson, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Age: 15
Location: Lobito, Angola
Date: March 2013
Reel: Shimano
Method: Trolling a ballyhoo
Fight time: 1 hour
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
614-POUND, 3-OUNCE PACIFIC BLUEFIN TUNA
Angler: Shyloh Knight, Awanui, New Zealand
Age: 15
Location: Hokitika Trench, New Zealand
Date: April 2009
Reel: Shimano 130W
Method: Bait fishing with a hoki
Fight time: 1 hour, 57 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
94-POUND, 2-OUNCE SOUTHERN YELLOWTAIL
Angler: Kieran Pullman, Whangarei, New Zealand
Age: 16
Location: Mimiwhangata, New Zealand
Date: May 2008
Reel: Shimano TLD 50
Method: Bait fishing with a kahawai
Fight time: 20 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
40-POUND RED SNAPPER
Angler: Joshua Thompson, Tazewell, Virginia
Age: Not listed
Location: 28-Fathom Ledge, Ponce Inlet, Florida
Date: July 1998
Reel: Penn 6/0
Method: Bottom fishing a live pinfish
Fight time: 12 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
62-POUND BROOMTAIL GROUPER
Angler: Keshin Harrison, London
Age: 13
Location: Piñas Bay, Panama
Date: August 2011
Reel: Shimano
Method: Trolling a live bonito
Fight time: 12 minutes
Note: Also the men's 80-pound line-class record
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
70-POUND, 1-OUNCE NARROWBARRED MACKEREL
Angler: Dale Leenstra, Richard's Bay, South Africa
Age: 14
Location: Richard's Bay
Date: April 2012
Reel: Accurate
Method: Trolling a Mydo Bait Swimmer
Fight time: 30 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
54-POUND, 14-OUNCE CALIFORNIA HALIBUT
Angler: Daniel Hadawi, Stevenson Ranch, California
Age: 14
Location: Bodega Bay, California
Date: July 2014
Reel: Avet
Method: Drifting a live squid
Fight time: 10 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
716-POUND MAKO SHARK
Angler: John Paton, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
Age: 16
Location: Broken Bay, Australia
Date: January 2011
Reel: Shimano Tiagra
Method: Drifting a skipjack
Fight time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
1,093-POUND, 7-OUNCE BLACK MARLIN
Angler: Alexander Johnston, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Age: 14
Location: Linden Bank, Australia
Date: November 2006
Reel: Penn
Method: Trolling a scaly mackerel
Fight time: 1 hour, 15 minutes