The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

12.5 kg. , 27.6 lbs.

Halibut, California Paralichthys californicus

Record Category: Men Sling / Polespear

Diver:		Brandon Vaughan
Date:		6/12/2025
Location:		UNITED STATES

After a trip to the Bahamas I got excited again to hunt with a pole spear. I set a goal to shoot a record fish on the California coast with one. After many successful trips to a spot that usually holds halibut I finally came on the big fish I was looking for. Visibility was so poor I had given up on the spot. Swimming back towards the boat on the bottom I spotted a hazy tail just to my left. I couldn’t see the head of the fish due to the poor visibility but was able to line up on what I thought was the middle of the body. I shot, hit the fish hard and penetrated deep into the sand beneath her. I pushed the pole spear hard into the sand trying to get control and hopefully create enough movement to ensure my slip tip deployed off my injector rod. With the tip of the injector rod deep in the sand and the fish thrashing; all this force some how snapped the threads of the pole spear. Fortunately my hand was already close to the end of the pole spear and I grabbed the broke off end of the injector rod and kept the tip buried into the sand. The fish stopped thrashing momentarily and I was able to slide my hand under it, along the sand and grab ahold of the other side of the injector rod. With the fish sandwiched between my hands on the injector rod I was able to lock it between my legs and float to the surface. Back on the boat I was both shocked I landed the fish, shocked the gear failed and shocked that I may have got the record.
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