The Biggest Fish Ever Caught: All Time Records

The oceans around the world are home to the biggest animals in the world. Since the Old Stone Age, at least 40,000 years ago, humans have been fishing for the biggest fish. Wild stories of huge monsters have been told thoughout human history. And even today, modern anglers still tend to exagerate their catches. Everybody has a friend who’s catches are (much) smaller than what he claims.

But the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has some very strict angling rules and requirements to register a world record fish. Many large fish have been caught, but their sizes have not been officially recorded. Often big fish have been caught using nets, harpoons or spears by commercial fishermen.

In this article we’re only going to talk about the biggest fish ever caught landed on rod and reel in accordance with IGFA rules. So sit back and prepare for some BIG fish stories!

The Biggest Shark Ever

The biggest fish ever caught was a white shark. Although larger female white shark can grow up to 20ft in length and can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, this fish was a great white shark of 2 664 pounds (1 208 kg).

Caught off the australian coast of Ceduna, in April 1959, angler Alfred Dean landed the fish in only 50 minutes. He actually caught several 2000lb great whites and reportedly lost one which was estimated at near 4,000lb in 1952.

In 2014 a British angler caught a two tonne great white shark in South Africa. Actually, he was fishing for yellowfin tuna and then he hooked this massive shark.

Other huge monster shark records include a 1,785 pounds 11 ounces (810 kg) Tiger shark, and a world record 1,708 pounds 9 ounces (775 kg) Greenland shark. The biggest sixgill shark, hammerhead shark and mako shark were all 1,200 pounds +.

Huge Bluefin Tuna

Giant Bluefin Tuna release in Mallorca

The all-tackle world record for Atlantic bluefin tuna is 1,496 pounds (678.6 kg). It was hooked and landed in 1979 by Ken Fraser. To hook it, he trolled a mackerel tuna fishing off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Surprisingly, it only took him 45 minutes to reel in the fish.

According to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the biggest yellowfin tuna is a 424-pound record fish caught off the coast of Mexico in the Baja California.

Grander Marlin

Grander Blue Marlin release on board the Rampage with Capt. Gerhard in Portugal

Marlin are the greatest catch for many anglers and some specimens can be real giants. Catching a massive 1000 pounder is a true sport fishing dream.

On August 4, 1953, Alfred Glassell, Jr. caught the largest marlin ever. The fish, a huge black marlin, was 1,560 pounds (707.6 kg) and measured 14 feet, 6 inches in length and had a girth of 6 feet, 9 inches. The angler was trolling a cero mackerel as bait and landed the grander after a fight lasting one hour and 45 minutes.

On February 29, 1992, Paolo Roberto Amorim set the IGFA All-Tackle atlantic blue marlin record with an incredible 1,402-pound (636 kg), specimen he landed in Vitoria, Brazil.

On May 31, 1982, Jay de Beaubien caught the largest Pacific blue marlin ever recorded trolling a Kita lure around Kaaiwi Point, Hawaii. De Beaubien landed the 1,376 pounds (624.1 kg) billfish in 40 minutes.

Other Huge Fish

Amberjack

Large amberjack hooked on the jig off São Vicente, Cape Verde

The biggest amberjack ever caught, based on the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) records, weighed 224 pounds and was caught off the coast of North Carolina, USA in 2015 by Greg Stotesbury. This fish was caught using a conventional rod and reel and the catch was submitted to the IGFA for record consideration. The catch was certified by the IGFA as the new All-Tackle World Record for Greater Amberjack on December 7, 2015.

Giant Trevally

63kg (140lb) Giant Trevally monster released in perfect conditions in Madagascar (Emeraude Fishing).

The biggest giant trevally ever caught, based on the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) records, weighed 160 pounds and was caught off the coast of Tokara, Japan in 2006 by Mike McClelland. This fish was caught using a popper lure and the catch was submitted to the IGFA for record consideration. The catch was certified by the IGFA as the new All-Tackle World Record for Giant Trevally on May 22, 2006.

Tarpon

The biggest tarpon ever caught, weighed 286 pounds and was caught off the coast of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa in 2003 by Max Domecq. This fish was caught using a live mullet as bait. The catch was certified by the IGFA as the new All-Tackle World Record for Tarpon on March 17, 2004. It is worth noting that tarpon are typically caught using light tackle, making this catch all the more impressive.

Cod

The biggest Atlantic cod ever caught was a stunning 98 pounds (45kg) beast and was caught off the coast of Norway in 2013 by Marco Liebenow. This fish was caught using a pilchard as bait. The catch was certified by the IGFA as the new All-Tackle World Record for Atlantic Cod on March 16, 2014. It is worth noting that cod populations have been declining in many areas, and in some places, fishing regulations have been put in place to protect the remaining fish stocks.

Pike World Record

Swedisch pike can get huge!

According to the Guinness World Records, the largest pike ever caught in the world weighed an impressive 67.48 pounds (31kg)! It also measured 5.29 feet long. The International Game Fish Association verified that Louie Spray in the Chippewa Flowage at Hayward in Wisconsin, USA caught the large fish on 24 July 1949.

Sturgeon

The shortnose sturgeon is a large fish that can grow up to 40 inches. In 1827, a female beluga sturgeon was captured in the Volga Delta at a whopping mass of about 3,463 pounds.

Most experts agree that the biggest certifiable sturgeon, and thus the biggest known fish caught in America’s freshwaters, was a 12½-foot, 1,285-pound sturgeon that went blundering into a salmon gill net in the Columbia in the spring of 1912.

Biggest largemouth Bass

The biggest largemouths ever caught with a rod and reel was caught by George Perry in Montgomery Lake in Georgia in 1932. The record fish was 22 pounds and 4 ounces. That world record has held up for 8 decades!

Other huge 20lb+ bass have been caught like the 21 pounds bass caught by Robert Crupi, on March 9, 1990 in Castaic Lake, California; the 21 pounds 3 ounces bass caught by Raymond Easley on March 4, 1980 in Oak View, California; the 22 pounds largemouth bass caught by Robert Crupi on March 12, 1991 in Castaic Lake, California and the 22 pounds 4 ounces bass caught by Manabu Kurita on July 2, 2009 in Lake Biwa, Japan.

Catfish

Enormous Ebro Catfish caught this winter in Ribarroja (Spain)

Depending on the species, catfish can range in size from 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) to hundreds of pounds.

The is the biggest freshwater fish in the world. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long specimen caught in northern Thailand in 2005 weighted an astounding 646 pounds, making it the largest exclusively freshwater fish ever recorded.

In India a record Goonch catfish was landed weighing 165 lbs 5 oz (75 kg). These species can be found in the River Ramganga, India.

In rivers like the Ebro (Spain) and the Po (Italy) wels catfish thrive. The world record for this species was an individual of 297 pounds 9 ounces (134.97 kilograms).