Puerto Vallata, Mexico – November 2003

Geoff Flores has just returned from a trip to Puerto Vallata, Mexico fishing light tackle inshore.  The undoubted highlight of the trip was a 38lb Roosterfish taken on 16lb test - like all the Jack species a tremendously strong fighter.  But Geoff also reported catching Sierra Mackerel to 8lb, Yellow Jacks to 6lb 3oz and Red Snapper to 9lb 12oz.

Just one word of caution.  Geoff had had assurances that the panga was equipped with all line classes from 6lb upwards.  Luckily they took their own light tackle – the lightest gear they found on the boat appeared to be based on 40lb test!

IGFA News – November / December 2003

Let me start by offering my congratulations to two of our members who have recently been appointed as IGFA Representatives - Jorg-Dieter Hasselhorst and Steve Collins.  I guess, on a member to member ratio we must now have the highest number of IGFA representatives of any affiliated club.  They join existing representatives – Jack Reece, Robert Rein, Stan Massey and Ted Entwhistle.

Scanning through the latest ratified records there are some, I have to say, curious species – typified by things like a Midas Cichlid, and a Long-Spine Porcupinefish.  These are ostensively all regularly angled for gamefish species of trophy size.  The two I’ve singled out both came in at less than two pounds in weight.  Just an observation the bulk of these new All-Tackle records were awarded for species caught in either the ‘States or Japan.

Leaving these aside however there were some superb records established, mainly for fish from Africa.

Firstly an angler fishing from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) in March 2003 broke the long standing 80lb and All-Tackle record for Tarpon with a superb fish of 286lb 9oz (130kg).  It was just 3lbs heavier than the previous record - taken from Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela – that had stood since 1956!  Then another longstanding record, that for a 813lb 7oz (369kg) Swordfish on 80lb class tackle, was broken by a fish taken off New Zealand.  True to form, renowned as a species for their fighting ability, this fish took some 14hour 20 minutes to bring to the gaff.

Then there were two huge 300lb plus Yellowfin Tuna from off West Africa – a 385lb 12oz fish on 50lb class tackle to take the men’s line class record and a 314 pounder for the ladies’ 130lb class record.  The latter fish was taken by Candace Meyer, who I’m sure most gentlemen who have seen Gerard Aulong’s Game Fish Productions’ videos will remember.  Other than three ultra light tackle records – on 6 and 8lb test – these are the only Atlantic fish in the list.

Finally Club member Dave Huckle established two line class records for Nile Perch from Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania.  On what was co-incidentally the last day of the UK’s Coarse fishing season – 14th March 2003 – Dave took a 51lb 4oz fish on 6lb test and a fish of 149lb 12oz on 20lb class tackle.  Three days later, on 17th, Dave went on to break his own 6lb record with a fish of 56lbs.  Well done Dave!