How Much Did It Really Weigh?

xenia

Don't remember if I asked this before.  A couple years ago I saw a report of a kingfish that supposedly weighed 100 lbs taken off Ft. Lauderdale.  If true, that would make it a world record.  But IGFA still shows the all-tackle record as 93 lbs from Puerto Rico.  Looking at the photo of this fish, and comparing it to my biggest king that weighed 73 1/4 lbs (IGFA certified scale), I don't see that the one on the left is really almost 30 lbs heavier.  Maybe I'm missing something here.  BTW, my fish was close to the 77 lb world record for 20-lb test.  Close, but no cigar.  Still a fish of a lifetime that I will never forget. Below is a photo comparison of the supposed 100 lb PE king with my 73.25 king next to it trying to get the people to scale as best I could.  My king measured 5'5", with a girth of almost 30".  Below that is a photo of what a 100 lb king would look like.  It's a 101 lb Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel from the Pacific.  I honestly don't see how the PE king can weigh 100 lbs, and I'm usually pretty good with weights.  But.....who knows.  Thoughts?

xenia

Here are two more comparison photos.  I don't see the huge difference
100 lb

73.25 lbs

conchydong

Xenia, your "Serrucho" looks as large or even larger than the one from Fort Lauderdale. Great catch.

xenia

Thanks!  That was one magnificent fish.  I actually felt sad I killed it afterwards.  Fought for 32 minutes exactly, hooked it at 6:30 pm as the sun was setting and gaffed it at 7:02.  Didn't know how big it actually was until I put it on deck.  Only caught two kings that afternoon, an 8 lb'der and this one!

lemaymiami

Very tough to do a comparison with photos taken at different times with different backgrounds... .Having worked as a mate all those years ago on two different charterboat docks I'd only trust weights that were provided by certified scales.... Both fish are outstanding catches and I never saw any that big as a mate - not on my boats -or any others.... not even close... 

The closest I ever came to a world record was caught about seven or eight years before the IGFA added African Pompano to the record books.. It weighed exactly 35lbs and was taken on the Lake Worth pier in 1976... I know its exact weight since I sold it to a fish market (a common practice back then...).  After the IGFA added africans... it was a few years before anyone beat that 35lb fish... True story... 

plastered

lemaymiami said:

Very tough to do a comparison with photos taken at different times with different backgrounds... .Having worked as a mate all those years ago on two different charterboat docks I'd only trust weights that were provided by certified scales.... Both fish are outstanding catches and I never saw any that big as a mate - not on my boats -or any others.... not even close... 

The closest I ever came to a world record was caught about seven or eight years before the IGFA added African Pompano to the record books.. It weighed exactly 35lbs and was taken on the Lake Worth pier in 1976... I know its exact weight since I sold it to a fish market (a common practice back then...).  After the IGFA added africans... it was a few years before anyone beat that 35lb fish... True story... 

Bob i caught a 43 lb African Pompano 1993 set IGFA record
on 20 lb line class.

lemaymiami

That’s an outstanding catch…  congratulations 

xenia

My first African Pompano weighed 31 lbs back in the late 70's, and I haven't caught one that big since!  That 43 lb on 20# test must have been one heck of a fight.  Great catch.

plastered

Yep was a good fight.Caught over Tennaco wreck
on live pilchard.