The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

7.1 kg. , 15.5 lbs.

Salmon, Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Record Category: Women Speargun

Diver:		Katya Karankevich
Date:		6/16/2023
Location:		UNITED STATES

I took a poor shot with my wooden JBL on this fish next to my long time friend, Dane Ketner, who was facing away from me in poor visibility hunting the rest of the school of King Salmon in Prince William Sound. The shot did not go all the way through the flesh, so it was at high risk of getting off, even though one of the two floppers opened under the skin. instead of pulling the rod to take the fish to surface, potentially causing loss, i took the hastiest breath and dove down to the bottom, pushing the rod down into the rocks, with the salmon in between. I pinned her to the rocks with my hands and tried to force the spear tip further in. My pal was not sure where I was in the low visibility, but said that I and the fish were making struggling noises from below. When I realized that I could not drive the spear further in, since on flopper was engaged partway within the fish, I decided on a new tactic. I swam it horizontally and brought it up to surface near a rocky shore, holding onto the tail. I pinned her between two large rocks near surface and caught my breath, while she struggled to wiggle free. The spear tip dislodged immediately and I cursed JBL, but I had the fish secured enough to get under the gillplate with my hand and grab a bonking rock.
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