The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

8.0 kg. , 17.7 lbs.

Walleye Stizostedion vitreum

Record Category: Men Speargun

Diver:		Matthew Deichsel
Date:		7/14/2018
Location:		US

First of all, credited to Brandon Miller for informative resources. It was rainy and windy. The water got choppy and upset while its temp dropped by 8 degrees. The visibility became worse. I was solo diving during that moment while all spearos, boaters, and fishermen called it off. Even after 8 hours of diving in many spots with over 120 dives, I decided to take a 'last chance' gamble to dive in that spot because its difficult to recognize the outside environment with raindrops hit my mask along with choppy waves splashed against my mask. I breathed up, spitted the snorkel out, and made a cautious slow stealthy dive. As I descended slowly with my shaft pointed out in front of me to protect me from headbutt into some unknown debris I could not see, the water temp dropped and I felt the chills. After several seconds of descending, I was uncertain how far to go, but, thankfully, I was able to recognize the murky bottom. I started to glide slowly as I paralleled to the bottom with my arm/hand out below my body to control my land safely and efficiently. As I landed, I saw a glimpse of fish before I could identified it, it turned around quickly and looked at me as it swam backward. I stayed motionless and silently with my gun aiming at it. After some moment, it finally turned to expose its 'once in a lifetime' features. I examined its feature to confirm it is not pregnant or female. Nope, it is a male fish...pulled trigger. It was out of control and scrambled everywhere to blind my view with murky and cloudy. I rushed in as I followed my shooting line to the fish. I grabbed its gill, at the meantime, I realized it is over 30 inches and my excitement took over. I ascended to the surface and the visibility was much improved. My adrenaline rocketed as I compared my fish with my floater's length. I swam to my ride as fast as I could with all messy shooting line and fish stringer behind me. I rushed to get everything loaded up, as it was late in the day, to find the closest certified scale. Obviously, it was a world record!
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