The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

10.6 kg. , 23.4 lbs.

Grouper, Striped-Fin Epinephelus posteli

Record Category: Men Speargun

Diver:		Jaco Bonthuys
Date:		1/10/2015
Location:		SOUTH AFRICA

We were out on a spearfishing trip myself, my father (Hennie) and my 3 friends Duan De Villiers, Clintin Bierman and Andre Potgieter on the 10th of January 2015. We were diving one of our favourite local spots on the South Coast of Durban in South Africa. We were targetting common reef fish such as Englishman, Natal finger fin and Spadfish. We were diving on the 25 - 30 m line 10 23 degree C water, with the visibility of 15 - 18m and a mild current of 2km/ph. We were diving from our boat Bont Blasie which is a 5.4m Crusader rubber duck equipped with 2 x 60 hp Suzuki motors. We launched at 6am and around 12 I made my descend to 22mm hovering above the reef when I saw a big grouper like fish making its way towards me. At first I though it was a Potato Bass, which is a protected specie but when it came into range I saw the red colouring and took the shot with my 1.3 Rob Allen Tuna railgun hitting the fish in the centre of its body and it took off. After a 30min struggle and multiple dives to 23metres I wrestled the fish out of a cave finally getting my hands on the fish and was able to ascend and handed the fish to the skipper. On our arrival to shore at about 15h00 on the 10th I sent the picture to one of my fellow spearfisherman Richard Colyn for identification of the specie. He informed me that it was a Tiger Grouper (Epinephelus posteli). He contacted me and advised me to weigh the fish and take the necessary photos as it could be a world record. We weighted the fish at 10.62 kg on the Prince and Brentwood scales and confirmed that it was indeed a world record. I could not believe my luck, such an amazing fish to spear.