Fishing Records and the Lures They Used

The all-time largest saltwater fish catches were made using a mix of live bait, trolling lures, and artificial jigs. Below are the record catches for each species, the lures or bait used, and the story behind each legendary fish.

Great White Shark – 2,664 lbs

• Angler: Alfred Dean (1959, Ceduna, Australia)
• Lure/Bait: Whole porpoise
• Narrative: Dean used a heavy-duty rod and reel setup with a porpoise as bait. The shark was landed in under an hour, showcasing the raw power of the gear and angler. This remains the heaviest saltwater fish ever caught on rod and reel.
• Note: No artificial lure was used.

Bluefin Tuna – 1,496 lbs

• Angler: Ken Fraser (1979, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• Lure/Bait: Live mackerel
• Narrative: Fraser used a live mackerel rigged on a Mustad hook while trolling off Nova Scotia. The tuna took the bait and dove deep, initiating a brutal fight that lasted over 45 minutes. Fraser’s catch remains the IGFA all-tackle world record for bluefin tuna.

Blue Marlin – 1,402 lbs

• Angler: Paulo Amorim (1992, Vitoria, Brazil)
• Lure: Mold Craft Softhead (pink/white)
• Narrative: Amorim was trolling when the massive marlin struck the Softhead lure. Known for its lifelike motion and bubble trail, the lure triggered a violent surface strike. The fight lasted over an hour and cemented the Softhead’s reputation in big-game fishing.

Striped Bass – 81.88 lbs

• Angler: Greg Myerson (2011, Westbrook, Connecticut)
• Lure: Live eel rigged on a custom jig head
• Narrative: Myerson was fishing near underwater structure using a live eel on a weighted jig. The striper inhaled the bait and fought hard in the current. His catch broke the previous record and highlighted the effectiveness of natural bait near structure.

Bluefish – 31 lbs

• Angler: James Hussey (1972, Delaware)
• Lure/Bait: Live menhaden
• Narrative: Hussey was fishing inshore when a massive bluefish attacked his live menhaden. The fish fought with typical bluefish aggression, making blistering runs. Though artificial lures like Kastmasters and poppers are popular, this record was set with live bait.

Yellowfin Tuna – 427 lbs

• Angler: Guy Yocom (2012, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
• Lure/Bait: Live bait rigged on Mustad Demon Circle Hook
• Narrative: Yocom’s team used a live bait setup with a Mustad hook. The tuna took off on a deep run, and the fight lasted nearly two hours. The catch was later certified by IGFA and Mustad, earning Yocom a $1 million prize in a promotional contest.

Black Marlin – 1,560 lbs (Unverified IGFA)

• Angler: Capt. Ken Fraser (1953, Peru)
• Lure/Bait: Live bonito
• Narrative: Fraser used a live bonito while trolling near the surface. The marlin exploded on the bait and launched into aerial displays. Though not IGFA-certified, this catch is often cited as one of the most dramatic marlin fights ever recorded.

Snook – 53 lbs 10 oz

• Angler: Jorge Martinez (1978, Costa Rica)
• Lure/Bait: Live baitfish
• Narrative: Martinez was fishing inshore with live bait when the snook struck. Known for their powerful runs and head shakes, this snook put up a fierce fight. While modern snook anglers favor jigs and topwater plugs, this record was set using natural bait.

Record Catch Gallery

Here are images of some of these legendary catches:

Sources: Salty Cape toolsnova.com Marlin Magazine Sport Fishing Mag Cast & Spear All Fishing Gear Baitshop.com Florida Sportsman