The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

162.5 kg. , 358.3 lbs.

Marlin, Striped Kajikia audax

Record Category: Women Speargun

Diver:		Nikki Watt
Date:		4/18/2025
Location:		AUSTRALIA

We arrived late the previous night to Eden on the South Coast of New South Wales. We had a late start on Good Friday – and with big swells and poor inshore visibility, we didn’t have high expectations of the day. We pushed on and made our way out to deep water on the shelf. As we travelled further east the water started to change from green-brown to a much nicer shade of blue. We only knew of one other boat out that day due to the conditions, but we had faith in our captain Luke Pattrick to find the fish. Aboard was also his partner Brittney Johnsen, and my husband Bryson Sheehy. Within about an hour we found a bait ball, with a seal. This was our only indicator for finding the bait, as it was so rough the birds were not working. By this time, the gear was set and I was ready to enter the water. Within seconds of jumping in, I saw the Striped Marlin. At first it veered away from the ball, but moved back in hastily, broad siding me and glaring at me with its big eye. I was able to get a great shot on the fish - so much so I thought I had stoned it! Instead of instantly peeling away the rig line and floats, it was stationary. Soon enough it began to swim away, but did not dive deep or pull the floats under the water. I spent some time pulling the rig line closer to the surface to get a good look at the fish. I unclipped the Riffe float once I had made quite a bit of ground on the line, and let the fish ‘hang’ about 15m from the surface. I called for an unloaded second gun so that I could spear it again. After loading the gun, I made the descent to get another shot in. It wouldn’t let me close enough for the second shot and began to run. The shark clip on the float slipped as the bungee tightened, so I held my hand just before the clip so it would hold and maintain diameter. After I got the fish back to 15m I went for the second shot. There was no way I could reach a kill shot in the brain at this point due to its length and fighting instinct, so I went for the tail. Thankfully this shot really slowed it down! I played the fish for a short while before getting it high enough in the water column again to go for a third shot. It was by this point I could see the original shot was solid and the slip tip had engaged. After loading the third gun I swam down and went for another body shot, and felt confident enough to start heaving it in from the surface. I only had to pull the fish with force for a few metres before it reached positive buoyancy, and then I quickly got alongside it to stick my knife in its brain. At this point I began to realize the sheer size of the fish! Having been diagnosed with breast cancer and requiring surgery only 4 months prior, I never thought a day like this could ever be again. To overcome these challenges and land a fish like this is something I will never forget. This 162.5kg Striped Marlin is also the final fish in my quest to spear a ‘Super Slam’, and as far as I am aware I am the first woman in the world to do so.
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