International Underwater Spearfishing Association
World Record  
16.5 kg. ,   36.3 lbs.
Drum, Black    Pogonias cromis
Record Category: Women Sling / Polespear

Diver: Lucie Cardet
Date: 7/19/2018
Location: UNITED STATES


It was my first time diving the oil rigs up off the coast of Louisiana. It was early on in the day the first day of the dive trip, so I was still getting used to the concept of the murk layer that I had to swim through before opening up to clearer water beneath. On this particular rig the top murk layer was about 15 feet. The sun was out so it did make it easier to see the submerged part of the rig once I broke the top murk layer. With my polestar half cocked, I remained calm and dove another 20 feet through the clear layer so that I was hovering a little bit above the bottom murk layer just outside the rig. As I looked into the complex structure of pipes inside the rig, I noticed two large fish approaching me to inspect what I was. I cocked my polespear the rest of the way and waited behind a large pipe for them to come in close. Once within close enough range, I aimed and shot the larger of the two towards the head of the fish. I didn't stone him but was able to pull him upwards and towards the boat without having to let out any of my belt reel line. I then pulled him all the way to the surface, got a good grip on him, and hauled him into the boat.

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