15 Biggest Fish Ever Caught

What represents the greatest joy for an angler? Well, we are sure that catching the biggest fish is the dream of most of them. A big catch is the pinnacle of excitement for any angler, whether a beginner or an experienced. Stories about capital fish specimens have always been a favorite topic among fans of this sport.

In this article, we explore the largest fish ever caught. These outstanding catches are trophies for the anglers who caught them. Not only that, but they are also symbols of the astonishing diversity of the aquatic world.

Stay tuned until the end of the text. Not only will we list the 15 biggest catches, but we will also describe them in detail. Of course, we will also reveal where you can catch them. Well, visit those places, and you might get lucky. Let's go on an adventure!

15. Giant Trevally

Venturing into the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, we encounter the fearsome giant Trevally. This species is famous for its speed, and power is another reason it is valued. One exceptional catch of this predator happened in 2018.

Angler Mark Berg caught a colossal Giant Trevally on the coast of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. This specimen measured 4 feet 11 inches and weighed 176 pounds! Berg's fight lasted several hours. 

The Giant Trevally is a predator that swims in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. It usually lives around coral reefs, lagoons, and channels. Trevally prefers to hunt in schools and has a diverse diet, catching their prey with lightning speed.

Their quick attack makes them challenging for anglers to catch. Furthermore, Giant Trevally is a highly territorial fish that displays aggressive behavior towards other members of their species.

14. Nile Perch

Nile Perch are known for their impressive size and voracious appetite. Angler Yuri Grisendi caught a huge one in 2002 on Lake Victoria in Uganda. This specimen was 8 feet long and weighed 249 pounds. Grisendi's battle with the perch lasted more than an hour.

Nile Perch is a freshwater fish from the Nile River and Lake Victoria. This giant predator feeds on other fish and aquatic organisms, usually including smaller fish. The Nile perch is known for its rapid reproduction rate and growth. These predators are very agile and can swim fast. They are especially valued for their delicious meat. The specialty Nile Perch in coconut sauce is especially famous.

13. Wels Catfish

One exceptional catch of this species took place in 2015. Angler Jakub Wagner caught a big Wels Catfish in the Po River in Italy. This specimen was 9 feet 1 inches long and weighed 280 pounds. A battle lasting more than an hour demonstrated the enormous power of the Welsh Catfish as a formidable game. 

These fish prefer calm waters such as lakes and swamps. In such places, they can find shelter among dense vegetation. In terms of diet, Wels Catfish are true predators. Their diet may include fish, amphibians, and small mammals. These Catfish are known for their ability to camouflage. They use their developed sense of smell to detect prey.

Their extraordinary size makes them an attractive target for sport anglers across Europe. Wels Catfish are known for their longevity. These Catfish can live up to 80 years in the wild, making them one of the longest-lived freshwater fish species.

12. Tarpon

In the warm coastal waters of America, we meet the legendary Tarpon. This species is highly valued for its ability to perform acrobatic jumps and is also known for its tenacious fighting spirit. They are most abundant in coastal waters and estuaries along America's Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

The world record for the largest Tarpon ever caught is a 286-pound, 9-ounce specimen. This massive fish was caught in 2003 off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, by angler Max Domecq.

As Tarpon is highly popular, it's worth noting that the Florida state record for Tarpon caught with conventional tackle is 243 pounds. This impressive catch was made by Gus Bell in Key West in 1975. This catch set the Florida record for the giant Tarpon ever caught.

11. Alligator Gar

The fearsome Alligator Gar lives in the murky waters of North American rivers and lakes. This prehistoric species has powerful jaws and generally belongs to the group of fish with a scary appearance. Although the name suggests that it is related to alligators, the Alligator Gar is a fish that belongs to the Lepisosteidae family. 

This fish is called an Alligator Gar due to its elongated head and teeth that resemble those of an alligator. These top predators swim in rivers and lakes across the southern United States. They are known for their distinctive hunting style, which involves ambushing their prey.

In 2011, angler Kenny Williams caught an Alligator Gar in the Trinity River in Texas. This remarkable specimen measured 8 feet and weighed 349 pounds.

10. Yellowfin Tuna

The largest specimen of this Tuna was caught in 2012 by the angler Gaj Jokom off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This remarkable specimen measured an incredible 8 feet and weighed an impressive 425 pounds. Jocom's monumental catch was made after a tremendous struggle. Witnesses reported that the Tuna nearly won, fighting fiercely until the end.

Yellowfin Tuna can most often be found in azure waters. It is valued for its speed, strength, and delicious meat. This Tuna is a highly migratory species and is recognizable by its distinctive yellow dorsal fin, streamlined body, and fast swimming abilities.

Its head is relatively small compared to its body, with a pointed snout and a large mouth filled with sharp teeth. Yellowfin Tuna's eyes are large and well adapted to low-light conditions, allowing it to effectively hunt prey in the ocean depths. Its average lifespan is 6-8 years.

9. Mekong Giant Catfish

In 2005, Thai angler Sutima Vongkasem caught a huge Mekong Giant Catfish in the Chiang Khong district of northern Thailand. This specimen measured 9 feet and weighed 646 pounds, a new world record for the most giant freshwater pike ever caught. Wongkasem's historic catch was made after a battle that lasted more than an hour. These iconic creatures are revered as sacred symbols of prosperity and abundance.

The Mekong Giant Catfish is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. It is most abundant in Southeast Asia, especially in the Mekong River basin. The Mekong Giant Catfish is a herbivore. The diet of this fish mainly consists of plant material, algae, plants, and plankton. During migrations, this species can temporarily switch to another type of food, including different aquatic organisms. This fish can live quite a long time, usually between 50 and 60 years.

8. Swordfish

Next on our list is the magnificent Swordfish. It is known for its powerful swimming abilities and elongated beak. One exceptional catch stands out as a testimony to the impressive size of this predator. In 1953, angler Lou Maron made fishing history. He then caught a massive Swordfish off the coast of Iquique, Chile.

This remarkable specimen measured an incredible 14 feet 11 inches in length and weighed an impressive 1,182 pounds. Otherwise, this is the largest Swordfish ever caught. It took Maron several hours to master his catch. 

Swordfish is a carnivore that lives in tropical waters worldwide. It is known for its delicious meat. The average lifespan is between 9 and 12 years, but some individuals can reach a longer lifespan; it depends on the environment. The Swordfish feeds on a variety of seafood. Its main prey includes smaller fish, squid, and crabs, and it hunts at depths of several hundred feet. 

Swordfish have a unique head shape. It resembles a sword, hence their name. Their pointed jaws make them effective predators. These fish can reach over 60 mph. They are capable of leaping out of the water several feet high.

7. Thresher Shark

In 2015, David Hanna, an angler from California, caught a massive Thresher Shark during a deep-sea expedition near Santa Catalina Island. The Shark was an astonishing 16 feet and weighed around 1120 pounds.

Hanan's fishing experience was evident as he battled the mighty Thresher Shark. On that occasion, this angler showed his skills in handling a fishing rod and machine. This remarkable catch earned David Hanna widespread recognition among his fellow anglers.

The Thresher Shark, also known as the "Striped Shark," is a fascinating marine predator known for its elongated tail. This species lives in moderately warm waters worldwide and feeds mainly on fish, squid, and prawns. It uses its elongated tail as a weapon to strike its prey. This Shark is known for its speed. It can reach up to 20 mph. Its exceptional speed helps it hunt its prey.

One interesting fact about the Thresher Shark is its elongated tail, which it uses for hunting, communication, and navigation. Studies have shown that the Thresher Shark often slaps its tail against the water to produce sounds used for communicating with other individuals of the same species. This Shark usually lives between 20 and 30 years.

6. Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin Tuna is a highly prized fish because of its size, speed, and delicious meat. In 2019, angler Peter Kramer caught a colossal bluefin off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. This specimen measured 12 feet in length and weighed 1,430 pounds.

This type of Tuna swims in temperate and subtropical waters worldwide. It is a highly migratory species with a torpedo-shaped body in metallic blue and fast swimming abilities. Powerful pectoral fins and a crescent-shaped tail fin provide exceptional propulsion through the water. The Tuna can reach up to 43 mph. Its large fins and excellent vision in low-light conditions make it a skilled hunter in the ocean's depths.

5. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Next on our list is catching Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. In 1979, angler Ken Fraser caught a giant Atlantic Bluefin Tuna off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. This fish was 13 feet long and weighed 1,496 pounds. It took Fraser 4 hours to subdue and catch it.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is also valued for its delicious meat, which is why it is vital in commercial fishing. To this day, Fraser's historic catch serves as a reminder of just how much excitement fishing can bring. His remarkable feat inspires anglers worldwide to test their mettle against the ocean's most fearsome species.

4. Atlantic Blue Marlin

Now, we are in the Atlantic Ocean, where we can meet the magnificent Atlantic Blue Marlin. They prefer to inhabit warm ocean waters, often congregating near underwater structures such as seamounts, reefs, and continental shelves, where they can find the most food. In 1992, the angler Paulo Amorim in Brazil caught the largest specimen of this species. This colossal specimen measured 19 feet and weighed 1,803 pounds.

Catching the Atlantic Blue Marlin was challenging, and the fight lasted for several hours, showcasing the fish's impressive strength and endurance.

These predators are known for their characteristic blue-black dorsal color, long beak, and spear shape. The Atlantic Blue Marlin primarily feeds on small fish, squid, and other marine organisms near the ocean's surface. Anglers are thrilling to watch as they leap and run powerfully, making them a highly sought-after target for sport fishing enthusiasts. It can live up to 20 years or more in the wild. 

3. Pacific Blue Marlin

In 1970, angler Jai de Beaubien caught a huge Pacific Blue Marlin on the coast of Hawaii. This specimen was 18 feet long and weighed 2,000 pounds. Pacific Blue Marlin is one of the most desirable catches in sport fishing. It is known for its acrobatic jumps. It's fascinating that these creatures dominate the waters of warm and sunny regions worldwide. 

Their natural habitat is tropical and subtropical environments, where the water is crystal clear and the sun shines bright. So, if you're looking for a memorable experience and an opportunity to explore the underwater world, there's no better place to be than these waters.

Pacific Blue Marlin feeds on various marine organisms, but its main prey is smaller fish. The Marlin uses its sharp beak and speed to catch its prey and then consume it. This fish species can live relatively long, usually between 10 and 20 years.

2. Greenland Shark

In 1987, an Icelandic trawler caught a giant Greenland Shark off the coast of Greenland. This specimen was 21 feet and weighed 2,200 pounds. The crew member responsible for the catch was Bjarni Bjarnason. Bjarnason and his crew were conducting routine fishing operations when they suddenly hooked onto a massive Greenland Shark. They brought it to their ship after a grueling battle that lasted several hours. 

This type of Shark has a slow metabolism and typically feeds on fish, crabs, squid, and the carcasses of whales. Interestingly, some individuals have been found with unusual items in their stomachs, such as bags, bicycles, cans, and other debris, as well as the remains of gray whales and whale parts.

These Sharks grow and mature very slowly, leading scientists to believe they are among the ocean's longest-living creatures. Some experts estimate that they can live anywhere from 300 to 500 years. They are most commonly found in the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans.

1. Great White Shark

Few creatures command as much awe and respect in the vast ocean as the Great White Shark. This fierce predator has an even more fearsome reputation.

In 1959 Australian angler Alf Dean made history when he caught a Great White Shark off the coast of Siduna, South Australia. This remarkable specimen measured 21 feet and weighed an impressive 5,000 pounds.

Great White Sharks are apex predators known for their smooth, torpedo-shaped bodies. They have strong jaws, and their sharp teeth mainly cause fear. Their mouth is lined with rows of serrated teeth, continually replaced throughout their lifetime.

These teeth are perfectly adapted for grasping and tearing prey, allowing the Great White Shark to consume various marine mammals, fish, and seabirds. Compared to other fish, they have a relatively long lifespan. They are estimated to live between 30 and 70 years on average.

Risks and Challenges: What Comes with Hunting Giant Fish

Hunting giant fish is an exciting experience. However, it carries numerous risks and challenges. To be ready for such a challenge, you must have courage, skill, and preparation. Below are some critical factors for catching big fish.

• Physical Challenges: Hunting for giant fish often requires physical endurance. Towing or maneuvering large fish can be very demanding. This especially applies to hunting and fighting fish. Also, if the fish is in inaccessible terrain, the angler will need a lot of strength to pull it out.

• Water Hazards: Whitewater fishing can be dangerous. Electricity or bad weather are just some of the danger factors. Anglers must be careful to avoid injury or accidents.

• Difficulty Finding Fishing Spots: Giant fish often live in hard-to-reach places, such as deep holes, rapids, or the open sea. Finding and accessing these fishing spots can be challenging and require planning and research.

• Costs and Equipment: Fishing for wild fish can be an expensive sport. Equipment and traveling costs are high. Remember to get permits. Anglers must be prepared to invest in equipment before embarking on a hunting trip.

• Conservation of Nature: Hunting for giant fish can also harm the environment. Overfishing can lead to a decline in fish populations and damage habitat. All of this can have long-term consequences for the ecosystem.

Be sure to analyze all these factors well before hunting for big fish. Do not take these factors lightly, as many can compromise your safety!

Final Thoughts

We have a chance to make a positive impact. Many fish species are on the verge of extinction, but we can help them survive. By establishing sustainable fishing practices and protecting their habitats, we can ensure that these species continue to thrive and play their vital role in maintaining marine ecosystems.

Together, we can make a difference in safeguarding these species for future generations to enjoy. What is your biggest catch so far? Is it close to someone on our list? Share with us; we can't wait for your comments!