The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

7.5 kg. , 16.6 lbs.

Coralgrouper, Spotted Plectropomus maculatus

Record Category: Women Speargun

Diver:		Jessica Mangan
Date:		4/6/2021
Location:		AUSTRALIA

There is very few times in your life that you get the perfect storm and are able to find and land a fish of a lifetime. This day was a dream day for diving, sunny, with only a whisper of wind. The 3rd piece of the puzzle the vis was not quite there but you rarely get 'perfect' conditions. I was diving with a boat of boys who's capabilities were far greater than mine, and we had stopped off at a nice 'shallow' (to them) 12 meter spot. As I jumped in I was looking at the ground from the surface, loaded my gun and started breathing up. I was trying to make out the bomies from the surface with the water a little silty, and only the shadows of the big rocks visible, when I saw a fish shape. I dove down and sat on the bottom, with a school of 5 coral trout sitting in front, and within a second of me leveling out they all took a tail kick and darted off on different directions like a firework. I thought I had lost my chance, until in the corner of my eye I saw one didn't go that far. I slowly lined it up and when it came just close enough I took my shot. I hit it just behind the gill plates and knew I had a good hold, so started swimming up. This is when I knew it was big. As I was swimming it was taking line, I had a hold of the line with all of my might and as I tried powering up it was still taking me down a little. It took 2 big kicks and tried to get under a ledge but with my hands now above my head holding the line and kicking with all of my might I held it off. As I got to the surface, I got it in my hands and used the ikijimi method to dispatch it humanely. This is the fish that I never in my life thought I would have the chance to get! Especially not being capable of diving the deep 20m+ depths that were producing the great fish during the start of the trip. I am incredibly proud of myself for handling this catch from start to finish, and truly working for it. I have had it gyotaku'd by our friend bluewaterprints to forever capture the life size, the jaws will be mounted, and the fish has fed us with some fantastic dinners since.