The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

51.6 kg. , 113.8 lbs.

Marlin, Striped Kajikia audax

Record Category: Women Sling / Polespear

Diver:		Katya Karankevich
Date:		11/17/2025
Location:		MEXICO

I dove down behind a sardine bait ball, awaiting the biggest marlin to crash through and predicted it would turn broadside to avoid hitting me for a 1 second opportunity to be within 2 feet of it. This is the proximity required for a lethal shot with a polespear. I shot it deep in the neck, hitting the spine and paralyzing it instantly. This was a 1/1000 chance, and I didn't believe it, so I poked the fish to make sure it wasn't just temporarily stunned and about to give me a long ride down. It was immobile like a door. On the same breath, I pulled it to surface with one hand while holding my spear with the other as it was rigged as a breakaway tip and I couldn't let go of either. The amazing new four spearing friends from Brazil I had met the day before just stared at me with their mouths open on the boat. I yelled "Ayuda mi, putos!" which means "Help me, bitches!" hoping that the captain would steer the boat over to me, so I didn't have to swim the fish far. One replied, "I don't think you need our help." I used an 11 foot carbon fiber RedTide roller polespear with a slip tip attached as a breakaway to a 50 foot floatline for less drag and a 3 ATM float.
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