50 Greatest Women’s World-Record Catches

112-POUND AMBERJACK, 30-POUND LINE CLASS

If you think saltwater fishing is a man’s sport, the anglers in this gallery would no doubt beg to differ (or just whack you upside the head with their fly rod). Since the International Game Fish Association keeps world records in separate categories for men and for women, I thought it would be fun (and revealing) to compile a gallery of photos and information covering some of the most impressive world records taken by those of the feminine perusasion. These include outstanding all-tackle, line-class and tippet (fly-rod) records.

Granted, it’s a subjective list, and these 50 records are not all that one might include here. And some I would have liked to include were omitted for the lack of a decent photo. But I think you’ll agree that all the anglers listed can boast a considerable accomplishment in setting these records. A major note of thanks to Jack Vitek at the IGFA for his considerable assistance in finding these photos in the association’s archives.

(But wait! There’s more! Check out Sport Fishing‘s gallery of the greatest catches made by junior anglers and IGFA fishing world-records caught by youngsters under 10 years old.)

112-POUND AMBERJACK, 30-POUND LINE CLASS

Editor’s note: Sport Fishing does not condone or encourage the killing of marlin, sailfish, tarpon or large sharks by anglers. In general, we avoid showing photos of such fish, dead at the dock. However, we make an exception in a case like this, where most of these records are historic and show fish taken many years and often decades ago.

911-POUND, 12-OUNCE MAKO SHARK, 130-POUND LINE CLASS

60-POUND GREAT BARRACUDA, 16-POUND TIPPET

454-POUND GIANT SEA BASS, 50-POUND LINE

265-POUND, 5-OUNCE SWORDFISH, 12-POUND LINE CLASS

49-POUND ATLANTIC SNOOK, 20-POUND LINE CLASS

1,170-POUND BLUEFIN TUNA, 130-POUND LINE CLASS

83-POUND, 6-OUNCE DOLPHINFISH (MAHI), 20-POUND LINE CLASS

111-POUND BLACK DRUM, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

1,525-POUND BLACK MARLIN, 130-POUND LINE CLASS

39 1/2-POUND KING MACKEREL, 16-POUND TIPPET CLASS

249-POUND TARPON, 30-POUND LINE CLASS

199-POUND PACIFIC SAILFISH, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

368-POUND PACIFIC HALIBUT, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

1,164-POUND WHITE SHARK, 130-POUND LINE CLASS

64-POUND WHITE SEABASS, 50-POUND LINE CLASS

996-POUND, 14-OUNCE PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

126-POUND, 6-OUNCE COBIA, 30-POUND LINE CLASS

109-POUND, 5-OUNCE WHITE MARLIN, 16-POUND TIPPET CLASS

93 1/2-POUND BLACK GROUPER, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

1,073-POUND ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN, 130-POUND LINE CLASS

157-POUND, 10-OUNCE DOGTOOTH TUNA, 130-POUND LINE CLASS

153 1/2-POUND WAHOO, 50-POUND LINE CLASS

423-POUND, 4-OUNCE STRIPED MARLIN, 50-POUND LINE CLASS

53-POUND LINGCOD, 6-POUND LINE CLASS

49 1/2-POUND BLACKTIP SHARK, 6-POUND LINE CLASS

998-POUND BLACK MARLIN, 20-POUND LINE CLASS

36-POUND, 12-OUNCE RED DRUM, 2-POUND LINE CLASS

102-POUND PACIFIC SAILFISH, 2-POUND LINE CLASS

314-POUND YELLOWFIN TUNA, 130-POUND LINE CLASS

42-POUND JACK CREVALLE, 20-POUND LINE CLASS

209-POUND, 6-OUNCE STRIPED MARLIN, 4-POUND LINE CLASS

46-POUND, 12-OUNCE STRIPED BASS, 6-POUND LINE CLASS

803-POUND WHITE SHARK, 30-POUND LINE CLASS

103-POUND, 9-OUNCE SOUTHERN YELLOWTAIL, 50-POUND LINE CLASS

772-POUND SWORDFISH, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

64-POUND, 13-OUNCE NARROWBARRED MACKEREL, 8-POUND LINE CLASS

134-POUND, 3-OUNCE TARPON, 4-POUND LINE CLASS

97-POUND, 4-OUNCE WHITE MARLIN, 4-POUND LINE CLASS

75-POUND ALBACORE, 20-POUND LINE CLASS

81-POUND, 12-OUNCE ATLANTIC COD, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

907-POUND, 6-OUNCE PACIFIC BLUEFIN TUNA, ALL-TACKLE RECORD

54-POUND COBIA, 4-POUND LINE CLASS

44-POUND, 4-OUNCE DOLPHINFISH (MAHI), 2-POUND LINE CLASS

78-POUND, 4-OUNCE KING MACKEREL, 80-POUND LINE CLASS

445-POUND BLACK MARLIN, 16-POUND LINE CLASS

77-POUND, 2-OUNCE GIANT TREVALLY, 12-POUND LINE CLASS

91-POUND, 12-OUNCE PACIFIC SAILFISH, 6-POUND TIPPET CLASS

97-POUND, 7-OUNCE MAKO SHARK, 2-POUND LINE CLASS

82-POUND WAHOO, 12-POUND LINE CLASS