A massive white seabass caught recently by a kayak angler off La Jolla, Calif., might break a line-class world record that has stood for nearly 50 years.
Brian Fagan, 56, hooked the 74.2-pound seabass near the kelp beds at sunrise. The Poway angler was towed for 30 minutes before the weary fish appeared within range of his gaff.
Fagan told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he expected the white seabass, which he enticed with a live mackerel and delivered to shore on his lap, would weigh at least 50 pounds – but it tipped the Dana Landing scale at 74.2 pounds.
Fagan this week informed the International Game Fish Association that he'll submit catch details for world-record consideration in the 80-pound line class. The current record in that category is a 74-pound white seabass caught at Santa Catalina Island in 1968.
For the sake of comparison, the IGFA lists as the all-tackle world record (the biggest fish regardless of line strength) as an 83-pound, 12-ounce white seabass caught off San Felipe, Mexico, in 1953.
Jack Vitek, IGFA World Records Coordinator, said Thursday that he received a “head’s up” from Fagan that the record submission for his catch is forthcoming.
–Photo: Brian Fagan displays 74.2-pound white seabass. Credit: Brian Fagan, via the IGFA
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