In spite of the number of big fish we continue to see in fisheries all around the globe, the world hasn’t seen an IGFA all-tackle world record for ANY species of billfish in about 16 years.  In fact, few billfish are even coming close to current world records, speaking perhaps to overfishing by longliners, maybe greater dispersion in the large fish, making them harder to target, or just some plain extraordinary luck with the world record catches.

At any rate, we’re figuring we’re due for a big one soon.  Billfish Report offers up the world record catches for each of the nine species of billfish…

Black marlin – 1,560 pounds, Cabo Blanco, Peru, 1953.

Atlantic blue marlin – 1,402 pounds, Vitoria, Brazil, 1992.

Pacific blue marlin – 1,376 pounds, Kona, HI, 1982.

Striped marlin – 494 pounds, Tutakaka, New Zealand, 1986.

White marlin – 181 pounds, Vitoria, Brazil, 1979.

Swordfish – 1,182 pounds, Iquique, Chile, 1953.

Atlantic sailfish – 141 pounds, Luanda, Angola, 1994.

Pacific sailfish – 221 pounds, Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador, 1947.

Spearfish – 91 pounds, Madeira, 1980.

It’s about time for the big one!