The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

10.0 kg. , 22.0 lbs.

Conger eel Conger conger

Record Category: Men Sling / Polespear

Diver:		Laith Dajani
Date:		8/9/2022
Location:		UNITED KINGDOM

I had scouted the estuary the day before, 8th August 22, to determine a location for conger eels. I had heard stories from anglers and newspaper reports of monster river conger being in the area in the past, i had hoped to find something along those lines. The visibility was appalling, as expected, but i had located a section of rocks piled up, which almost every hole had a conger in there. Bingo. I took note of land marks and went back the next day with some back up, just in case. After looking in all of the holes for what to looked to be the biggest head, i set my eyes on this one, it was only 1.8m deep at the current state of tide, and around 10m from the shoreline. My first drop, i released the pole spear, however it deflected off the top of the congers head. The silt had stirred, making the visibility even worse, but my second shot landed right through the eye and gave me a great holding shot. I pulled, tugged, pulled some more, it took me a while before the conger loosened and i could pull him from it's hole. This is when i got nervous, i couldnt tell how large the fish was in the hole, and with 2m visibilty, i wasn't sure how to handle him in the water. Thankfully i was able to tire him out by letting him swim off, pull him in, and let him go again, till the point in which i was able to subdue him between my legs and put a knife through the head. He came out a little lighter than i was hoping for, but 10kg is still a good conger. I was unable and partially unwilling (i've seen those wolf eel videos..) to open up the mouth to try and pull the slip tip through for weigh in, so i've docked off 200g.