ANGLERS LAND NEW IGFA WORLD RECORDS

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) tracks record sh catches around the globe. eir world record database is a great source to see some of the sh anglers are catching around the world. Here are a handful of catches recently approved for the record books. To see all newly approved IGFA records, visit igfa.org.

Pin’s Snakehead

On Aug. 12, 2022, Ng Yam Pin landed this beautiful 28-pound giant snakehead in Rawang, Malaysia to set IGFA’s mens 20-pound line class world record. Pin caught the big snakehead on a Duo Fangbait lure and released the sh a er recording the weight and proper measurements. e IGFA all-tackle world record for giant snakehead was also caught from Rawang. It weighed 30 pounds. Bluch’s

Rainbow Trout

On Nov. 5, 2022, Aussie angler Frank Bluch was shing the Tekapo Canal, New Zealand, with guide Nicor Sutherland, when he landed this impressive 21-pound, 13-ounce rainbow trout. It set the new IGFA men’s 2-pound tippet class world record. e sh ate a y Frank calls the “Orange Monstrosity.” e all-tackle world record rainbow was caught from Lake Diefenbaker, Canada. It weighed 48 pounds.

Ochmann’s Wels

Joachim Ochmann caught this huge 140-pound, 10-ounce wels from Rio Ebro, Spain on Oct. 1, 2022. It took him nearly two hours to land the new IGFA men’s 16-pound line class world record. He released it a er taking proper weight and measurements. e all-tackle world record wels was caught from River Po, Italy in 2010. It weighed 297 pounds, 9 ounces.

Okuyama’s Grass Carp

Fumiya Okuyama holds several IGFA world records for grass carp, and he recently set another with this 109-centimeter (nearly 43-inch) sh he caught on Oct. 20, 2022, to establish the new IGFA all-tackle length y world record. e all-tackle world record by weight was caught at Piasuchnik Dam, Bulgaria in 2009. It weighed 87 pounds, 10 ounces.

Fishing Forecast

April. What a fine time to be in the panhandle. I will forever and always write about one thing in April. Just as predictable as the tides I could tell you about my fishing forecast for April of 2028 if I wanted because I like to do one thing in April and that's hunt for Cobia!

Notice how I didn't say catch Cobia...noooo that would just make me an overconfident Cobua fisherman. It's about the hunt after all; the time, the long days, the missed opportunities and did I mention the story's and laughter that happen in the tower. It's quite a riot to be honest. But it's all worth it when you come tight on a pair or even a dink after hours of tower time searching the beaches for the these powerful fish.

I know it's not what it used to be. And that's ok. I'm not after what it used to be - I'm not after catching 50 fish in a day. I crave the hunt and the challenge. I crave the long hours of boredom intertwined with brief moments of chaos. Does that make me crazy? Haha maybe it does but I absolutely love April in the panhandle for the thrill and the camaraderie that seems to define Cobia fishing here in Destin.

This year we will be entering "Home Grown" in the Boshamps Flat Head Classic tournament. April 20-23. And we also offer Cobia trips daily in April at discounted rates so give us a call to get on board!

"That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers."

Psalm 1:3