The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

2.4 kg. , 5.2 lbs.

Sucker, Utah Catostomus ardens

Record Category: Women Speargun

Diver:		Shelby Lynn Peterson
Date:		6/4/2022
Location:		UNITED STATES

My husband Ryan and I went diving on the first day a local lake opens for spearfishing. We were targeting trout. Utah suckers were nearing the end of their spawn and in abundance. Around 3 pm I dove onto a shelf 20 ft down near the shore. There were almost instantly several suckers that came to investigate me. I then noticed a larger-than-average sucker not moving just in front of the rock that I had perched on. I was not shooting any of the Utah Suckers that day as my target species was trout, but I knew this one was most likely a record size. To save my spear tip I nudged the sleeping sucker's tail so she would swim a bit away from me and out of the rocks. It worked, the fish swam up and away, right in front of my speargun. I made a solid shot right behind the head. I am so pleased that my instincts turned out to be correct, she was indeed a record-sized fish.
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