The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

14.3 kg. , 31.5 lbs.

Jack, Crevalle Caranx hippos

Record Category: Men Sling / Polespear

Diver:		David L. W. DeSouza
Date:		11/15/2015
Location:		BERMUDA

On November 1, 2015 I was lobster diving and spearfishing about 4 miles off of Hog Bay, Bermuda. It was a beautiful sunny day with flat calm seas. We had already been out for several hours when I swam down the length of a reef that was steadily deepening towards the end. A single jack swam across me and I immediately pursued it on the surface. Just my luck it went deeper as I was diving down to shoot. I was about 15 to 20 feet down in about 40 feet of water and right at the edge of my shooting range. Only as I had gotten closer did I realize it was larger than I first thought. Unfortunately the fish bolted just as I released my shot, hitting it in the tail. I was almost out of breath now but was not worried at the time (not having fully factored in the larger size of the fish) as I figured I would just pull it to the surface as I swam up for air. The jack had full leeway to swim in any direction it chose though as it was hit in the tail and had no head or spinal damage. I swam up realizing I was not getting anywhere. I was swimming as hard as I could with marginal gains. I was holding onto the spear by the now completely stretched rubber band. I considered letting go several times as I fought to reach the surface, but did not wish to lose both the fish and my spear. Finally I burst through to the surface gulping in air and shouting to the boat, about 80 feet away, for assistance. As boat captain Ted Gauntlet and friend Anthony Mahabir scrambled to pull anchor and navigate the reef to get to me, my fellow spear fisherman St Jean Orridge, was swimming to my aid from a similar distance. In the meanwhile, the jack pulled me back under several times before tiring. It must have looked and sounded like I was getting attacked by a shark. Thankfully the fish was completely tired out now, as was I, and it did not move from that point on. I pulled it in to me and clipped it to the fish stringer on my belt. St Jean swam up as the boat arrived and they threw us a rope for security. I hauled the fish into the boat and was amazed to see my pole spear tip was just barely held in by a few strands of tail muscle and tendon. Contrary to popular belief, this fish tastes delicious when seasoned and cooked properly. The rumors had me a little worried until my wife Andrea prepared a delicious West Indian Steamed Fish dinner.
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