In a remarkable achievement for the sport fishing community, a 175-pound cobia has officially set the record for the largest fish caught on rod and reel. This momentous catch off the coast of Perth, Australia has captured headlines and the admiration of anglers worldwide.
The record fish was reeled in by 18-year-old angler Koby Duncan during a charter trip celebrating a friend's 21st birthday. With the help of his captain, Drew Clowes from Jazz Charters, Duncan utilized a 1.5-ounce Z-Man HeadlockZ jighead with a 7-inch Z-Man Jerk Shad, targeting a reef pinnacle located about 12 nautical miles from Perth.
"It was a great catch by the young man," said Capt. Drew Clowes. He noted that during the fight, he initially believed Duncan was hooked on a large stingray due to the way the fish wrapped itself in weeds. “I must have told him to break it off five or six times thinking it was a big stingray sitting on the bottom. I’m glad he didn’t in the end,” Clowes chuckled.
The impressive cobia was weighed on certified commercial lobster scales in the presence of a weighmaster from the Perth Game Fishing Club, clocking in at 79.6 kg, or over 175 pounds. This new record surpasses the current International Game Fish Association (IGFA) all-tackle world record by approximately 40 pounds.
Duncan, a commercial angler by trade, demonstrated skill and determination throughout the fight, which lasted nearly half an hour. He was equipped with an Ocean’s Legacy Inshore Casting rod, rated for PE3, equivalent to a 6000-size spinning setup loaded with 15 kg (33-pound-test) braid. Despite being under-gunned for a fish of this size, Duncan persisted.
“It was such a heavy fish. You gotta remember, it’s like four bags of concrete with a tail,” Clowes explained during an interview with 6PR, Perth Radio. He expressed amazement at Duncan’s persistence: “I was like, ‘Oh, man. I don’t know what you’re doing.’ For 10, 15 minutes he was just stalemated.”
Eventually, the massive fish surfaced, leading Clowes to question if they were dealing with a shark. “When we got a glimpse of it going down the side of the boat, it was like, ‘Oh God, that’s amazing!’” Clowes said, reflecting on the moment of revelation. He advised Duncan to take it slow with the powerful fish that had become a worthy adversary.
“The young fella was going pretty hard on that gear. That gear was probably maxed out,” Clowes noted, cautioning Duncan towards the end of the fight. "You’re grabbing the spool. You’re loading a PE3 rod. You can’t go too hard with that. It’s essential to flatline off the spool, pretty much. You go at it a bit hard, and that rod might explode.”
In the midst of the challenge, Duncan’s experience as a commercial fisherman shone through. Clowes commented, “Strong as an ox, but yeah, he was definitely puffing by the end of it.” The teamwork and camaraderie on board Jazz IV during this birthday trip contributed to the jubilant atmosphere once the record cobia was finally gaffed by mate Harley Jarosz.
Cobia fishing is not commonly pursued off the southern coast of Australia, where the primary targets include yellowtail kingfish and pink snapper. Despite this, the colossal catch has the potential to inspire local anglers to take on new challenges in their fishing adventures.
The achievement symbolizes not just a personal victory for Duncan, but also a celebration for the fishing community in Australia. As the stories of this incredible catch circulate among enthusiasts, the world record cobia stands as a testament to skill, perseverance, and the thrill of fishing.
In this era of sports fishing, records like these spark renewed enthusiasm and determination among anglers, potentially leading to more remarkable catches in the years to come.