The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

8.4 kg. , 18.6 lbs.

Snapper, Mexican Barred Hoplopagrus guentheri

Record Category: Women Speargun

Diver:		Lori R Nishimura
Date:		1/24/2020
Location:		MEXICO

I was about 200 yards away from where our sailboat was anchored. I worked my way back towards the boat taking drops and checking out the area. Nothing much to see, not that great structure, a little shallower than I had expected, pretty dead. When I came to the point I did a drop about 20 ft and sank down behind a boulder. I dusted a little and above me and slightly off to my left this fish came rushing in to see what was going on. I immediately pulled the trigger, hitting it in a soft spot behind the pectoral fin. It thrashed a few times but didn't have the strength to really make a run for it so pulling it in wasn't hard. But because the fish had come in so close when I shot it, and in addition to the thrashing, there was a good size hole in it. I grabbed the shaft and tried to push it further through the fish so it wouldn't come off but lo and behold it did exactly that. I screamed as it slowly swam away to the depths below me. Cursing at myself and rushing to reload my gun, I scan the structure below me- resigned to the fact that my fish is gone- and catch a glimmer of white. The fish had sank to the bottom too injured to really make an escape, "hidden" between two rocks with its face sticking out, the white of its chin clearly visible from the surface. I dive down and shoot it one last time. I brain it as I swim back to the sailboat and pass it to Kyle when I reach the swim step.