International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

24.9 kg. ,   54.9 lbs.

Snapper, African Brown    Lutjanus Dentatus

Record Category: Men Speargun

Diver:		Benjamin BRISSON
Date:		12/17/2022
Location:		BENIN

On December 17, 2022, we have been traveling in Benin for 3 days and are starting to get used to the area. Our guide takes us to abandoned oil rigs that we have already visited 2 days earlier. I had spotted beautiful African Brown Snapper (ABS) there. The boat drops us (Jérémie and me) upstream from the platform, I ventilate myself and see a nice school of rainbow runners which is a good omen. During my descent from 18/19meter I see a beautiful ABS facing the current. I'm just above him which is an excellent position, the fish is looking for me but doesn't see me. I continue my descent to 22 meters; the fish is 3 or 4 meters below. I see the structure which is very close, my speargun (bazil daniel 104 single roller) is powerful but a little limited for this kind of fish. I have to ensure a lethal shot. I hit the fish right in the column, he is shocked ! I think I killed him but I'm wrong... He starts slowly because he is badly injured, but he tries to get into the structure, I prevent him twice, then he goes out to sea. At this moment I understand that the fight is won! I go back to the surface, leaving the line just taut. Once on the surface I bring up the fish, it is heavy but does not oppose much resistance. He comes to the surface and did not support the too rapid ascent. The fish is out of service. The boat and my teammate are almost next to me, I approach the boat and ask for the (unloaded) small gun. The fish is on the surface and hardly moves but I want to be sure that it doesn't have a burst of life and breaks free. I load the small gun (rob allen 90 ) and shoot it from the surface. I swim to the boat, climb in and take my fish out of the water. I am happy. We will then spear all the day, and after a long day of 8 hours of fishing we return to port. We weigh the fish and the scale indicate 24,900kg . Mathieu ( our guide ) tells me that it is a possible record, I am very happy. Le 17 Décembre 2022, nous sommes en voyage au Bénin depuis 3 jours et commençons à nous habituer à la zone. Notre guide nous ( Jérémie et moi ) emmène sur des plateformes pétrolières abandonnées que nous avons déjà visitées 2 jours plus tôt . J’y avais repéré de beaux African Brown Snaper ( ABS ). Le bateau nous dépose en amont de la plateforme, je me ventile et vois un joli banc de rainbow runer ce qui est un bon présage. Lors de ma descente dès 18/19mètre j’aperçois un beau ABS qui fait face au courant. Je suis juste au-dessus de lui ce qui est une excellente position, le poisson me cherche mais de me voit pas. Je continue ma descente jusqu’à 22 mètres, le poisson est 3 ou 4 mètres en dessous. Je vois la structure qui est très proche, mon fusil ( Bazil daniel 104 simple roller ) est puissant mais un peu limite pour ce genre de poissons . Je dois assurer un tir létal. Je lâche le tir et touche le poisson en plein dans la colonne, il est choqué et marque un temps d’arrêt ! je pense l’avoir tué mais je me trompe … Il démarre doucement c

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