The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

17.6 kg. , 38.7 lbs.

Seabass, White Atractoscion nobilis

Record Category: Men Sling / Polespear

Diver:		Forrest Galante
Date:		7/20/2016
Location:		UNITED STATES

We decided to do a last minute pole spear only run, even though we knew the conditions were bad, so after Kevin and I got done with work at about 5pm on a random Wednesday, we met at the harbor and fought the sloppy conditions for 45 mins along the coast to our chosen dive spot. We both hopped in immediately and were greeted with 5-7ft visibility and instantly regretted our decision to dive! We decided to give it an hour and then we would have to run home anyway as it would be getting dark. After only a few minutes Kevin's floatline went screaming by me and I knew he was on a fish! Sure enough he had stuck a 29lb WSB in the haze and quickly landed it! This was a MAJOR accomplishment given the conditions and the fact that we were on pole spear. Apparently the school had swum right below him on the surface and he did a casual drop and got his fish. I was excited for Kevin, but thought it was a fluke. 45 minutes later and I still hadn't seen a thing, I could barely see past the end of my loaded pole spear, I decided to start making my way back to the boat. I was doing a drop down to about 25ft and slowly cruising through the kelp when I spot a large tail swimming directly away from me. I had to fight myself to resist the urge to take a hail mary shot into the haze and instead started swimming away yet inline with the direction I thought the fish was going, sure enough he re appeared out of the murk and let me take a nice (but long) 7 or so ft shot at him broad side! The fish went nuts and shot off into the gloom. I played him lightly knowing he had a low shot on him, did as quick a breath up as I could and followed the float line to the fish. I could see the shot was not great so, although I was close to the end of my breath hold, I lunged at him and totally bear hugged the struggling sea bass. I quickly got my hands in the gills and I knew it was all over!! I was SOOOOOO excited to know then and there what a magnificent fish I had taken with a pole spear!