The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

31.3 kg. , 69.0 lbs.

Snapper, Pacific Cubera Lutjanus novemfasciatus

Record Category: Women Speargun

Diver:		Nicole Burko
Date:		12/7/2016
Location:		COSTA RICA

I was diving in Costa Rica, the water was murky (like a bad day in Miami) and especially dirty on the surface. As I dropped down to about 45 ft the water cleared up to about 10 ft of visibility and I was able to see a large school of snappers. Hopeful that a cubera would emerge I positioned my body to sink through the school with my gun partially outstretched. After hovering I see the big one, I do a slight ankle kick to intercept him. I raise my gun and shoot him in the head in about 60 ft. I quickly grab my reel (so that he can't rock up on the bottom) and kick to the surface. The cubera fought hard and still managed to pull out a bunch of reel line and create a wound halfway through his head. Once the fish was close I stab it to gain control and then grab it by the gills and swim excitedly back to the boat.