All Africa Record Shortbill Spearfish

[Fishingfundi]

Probable All Africa Record Fish Released



Morne Basson, an avid South African angler visiting the Pemba Channel Fishing Club, Shimoni, caught , tagged, photographed and released a potential All Africa Record Shortbill Spearfish whilst fishing aboard Shuwari on 10 January 2009. This very rare (in Kenyan waters) and seldom caught species (Tetrapturus angustirostris) is a pelagic, off shore, deep-water fish. They feed on or near the surface, mainly on small and medium sized fish and squids, including flying fish, needle fish and pilot fish. Available data indicates that the fish matures by the age of two and rarely lives past three years.



Morne caught his fish at 11.25 hours at South 4° 46.72' East 039° 37.50', midway between the mainland and the northern tip of Pemba Island. It took an 18cm (seven inch) purple and blue soft-head lure that had a strip of Dorado belly sewn to the 10/0 Mustad hook and he fought the fish for 16 minutes on 24 kilogram (50 lb) line before it was subdued at the boat and given an African Billfish Foundation tag # B31865. The crew estimated the weight of the fish at between 25 and 30 kilograms and it was significantly larger than any of the previous four Shortbill Spearfish that have been caught, surprisingly all on Shuwari, over the past 12 years. Visiting skipper, Steve Davidson who was aboard Shuwari in October 2006 when the first pair of Spearfish had been caught, identified the fish that had initially behaved like a small marlin, stripping about 300 metres of line from the reel and then diving deep without giving an aerial jumping display. Davidson is quoted "it gave a wonderful fight for the size of fish and it is a tribute to Morne's sportsmanship that it was released." To claim a world, continental or national record the fish must be killed and weighed on verifiable scales on land although it is rumored that the International Game Fish Association are considering starting a list of record fish that are released according to their estimated weight. (Shortbill Spearfish Kenya Record on 24 kg line is 18.8 kg.)

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The photographs below show the fish in the water and briefly held for a photographic record together with (left to right) Crew Hawk-eyes, Cosmos and Hamadi, angler – Morne Basson and Captain Eagle-eye-Baraza Mohammed.

[Anders]

Thanks for the info. Thats what I'm talkin about, release the records to live another day. Who cares about your name on a piece of paper.

[Van Wildonher]

Didn't know there was such a fish. It's a billfish without a bill.

[lilharcher]

candy bait for BIG blues and blacks.......