The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

6.5 kg. , 14.3 lbs.

Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus

Record Category: Women Speargun

Diver:		Lydia Laboccetta
Date:		9/17/2023
Location:		UNITED STATES

My husband Mark and I were diving on one of those very rare days in the midatlantic when the stars align and all elements: clarity, wind, current are ON. We had had a slow day of pretty, but not fishy diving and decided to do one last spot. We had seen a couple of smaller hogfish so we knew they were around, and then I spotted my fish. It was just at the edge of my field of clarity but I could recognize its movement and then I saw it edge under a piece of ledge. Since I knew it wouldn't be exploring any caves and would be popping out pretty soon I dove down and as it came out from under the reef I got a really good shot on it. It was actually my first time shooting my new Maverick American gun that Mark made for me and I had been a little skeptical about using a bigger gun than I was used to but I was super excited. We had been looking at world records on the website last winter and I remember Mark telling me what the record was and thinking then that it was within my reach, so when we got back home completely hammered tired from diving and then wrestling the seas home I insisted on weighing it. We were both so stoked, I think Mark more than me because he had no idea! I actually had to wait to weigh it with a weighmaster, but he reviewed my scale and certification and reweighed it there together and even after it had been on ice I was still good!