The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

26.2 kg. , 57.7 lbs.

Snapper, Atlantic Cubera Lutjanus cyanopterus

Record Category: Men Sling / Polespear

Diver:		Christopher Mailman
Date:		8/8/2014
Location:		BAHAMAS

Bahamas, Friday, August 8, 2014, 12:30 PM. I hit the water with my 9’ Cameron Kirkonnell designed pole spear with a Head Hunter slip-tip spear point, accompanied by my 12-year old son, Matthew, and the captain of our boat. We used the big boat’s tender as our chase-vessel, which was manned by one of the crew, my wife and her friend. We were diving in 15' to 50' of water that morning and had been finding lobsters, grouper and schooled up snappers. As I dove down to scout a small shallow reef system, I saw the outline of a big lone fish under a reef ledge about 30 feet ahead of me. I surfaced and then approached the fish from the inside of the reef. I dove slowly towards the overhang where I had seen him moments earlier. I caught a glimpse of his right jaw as I descended but he was slowly turning to retreat. I quickly took the only shot I had, hitting him hard above his right pectoral fin. Game on: The monster cubera exploded towards the open sand and I released the pole spear before he could pull me through the small opening under the reef. I watched the fish swim quickly to the west and slightly south with the spear trailing. I swam hard after him, in a straight line, with my boy following, and saw bloody water as we approached the next reef. There, we found the spear, still intact, and searched the immediate area for 10 minutes to no avail. Two sharks showed up and I knew my window for finding the fish was closing. Having scoured that reef, I continued the search west. Within moments we saw another cloud of blood high in the water with the huge cubera snapper gently flopping on the surface. I grabbed the stunned fish by his gill plate as we called for the boat. I hoisted his head onto the swim platform where an eager group of friends and family excitedly greeted me and this extraordinary fish.