The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

17.0 kg. , 37.5 lbs.

Jobfish, Green Aprion virescens

Record Category: Men Speargun

Diver:		Aaron Puckeridge
Date:		2/21/2014
Location:		AUSTRALIA

We were anchored in the entrance to lagoon at Elizabeth Reef, NSW, Australia. The tide was at it’s peak and the water, which was usually dirty around the boat had become quite clear (about 15-20m visibility). I jumped in the water behind the boat with Dad, both of us had speared a couple of small green jobfish about 2kg. We saw a much larger swimming in mid water and coming in our general direction. I dived down without looking at the fish while strumming my rubbers. When I reached the same level that I thought the fish was at I looked up and saw the fish slowly swimming away. I took aim and took a long shot hitting the fish through the back half of the body with the spear exiting behind its pectoral fin. The fish took off and I kept tension on the line to prevent it from reaching the rocks below. A few small sharks became interested in it and through the duration of the fight Dad made numerous dives fending the sharks off. After 5 minutes I pulled the fish up and subdued it with my knife and realised just how big it was. We then took the fish over to the small sand kay in the centre of the lagoon where we weighed it.