Yellowtail can be found in many places around the world (they are known as Yellowtail Kingfish in Australia and New Zealand) and have yellow coloring on the tail and along the body
Not to be confused with yellowfin tuna, yellowtail tuna can reach monumental sizes, and every now and then, one that looks impossibly large is caught on a successful fishing trip
Any fish that weighs over 100 pounds is an impressive sight to behold
Any angler who can successfully catch a fish weighing over 100 pounds is arguably even more impressive
In this article, we look at some of the details surrounding the truly monstrous world record breaking capture of California yellowtail, as well as some other records relating to yellowtail
The fish that Masakazu Taniwaki caught measured 6181 inches in length and broke the previous world record, which had stood for about five years
The current world record for the California Yellowtail is held by Masakazu Taniwaki, who caught his giant fish on October 24, 2009
He was fishing in Ohara, Chiba, Japan with an Aguira 76 lipple fisher rod, Shimano stell 10000 xg reel and Yotsuami line with original pencil lure
His catch, which turned out to be the largest yellowtail ever caught, weighed 109 pounds 2 ounces
Masakazu broke the previous world record, which had stood for about five years
The previous record for the California yellowtail was 92 pounds, so that goes to show how impressive this giant fish really was
The fish that Masakazu Taniwaki set the record with also measured 6181 inches in length
If all that wasn’t unbelievable enough, the fisherman actually caught the monster fish in just 12 minutes!
Considering this joint world record was set and tied in the 1980s, it seems to have stood the test of time with no one being able to break it
There are currently two record holders tied for the southern yellowtail record
The joint world record is 114 pounds 10 ounces
One record holder is angler David Lugton, who caught his giant yellowtail off White Island, New Zealand, on January 9, 1987
He was using his Kilwell rod, Penn 114 HL spool and Erskine line
The joint record holder is angler Mike Godfrey, who got his yellow tail in Tauranga, New Zealand
To land it, Mike was using a Kilwell rod, Penn 114-H reel and Amilan-T line
Considering this record was set and tied in the 1980s, it seems to have stood the test of time with no one being able to break it for several decades
114-pound fish are monsters indeed, so the fact that two were caught is something that will likely make both anglers extremely proud
Some other impressive yellowtail related records include the 30-pound line class record set by Kevin Pfeif in August 2004
Kevin landed a yellowtail weighing 92 pounds and 1 ounce on Guadalupe Island, Mexico
When captured, the record yellowtail measured 6375 inches in length and had a girth of 33 inches
It’s not just male fishermen who are catching the world record for yellowtail
Take angler Renee Shoberg, for example, who set the women’s 30-pound line class record with her 48-pound catch
Another huge yellow tail caught by a fisherwoman is the female record holder in the 50-pound line class
This world record is held by Agnes Jones, who caught a 56-pound, 9-ounce fish off Alijos Rocks, Baja California, Mexico
To catch her heavy fish, Agnes used a Kunnan model HR5980C rod, Penn International 50 spool, Ande line and sardines as bait
Not only did this yellow tail weigh over 56 pounds, but it was also 5225 inches long and had a girth of 23 inches
Alijos Rocks, Baja California, Mexico looks like a good place to be if you’re fishing for big yellowtail
On November 12, 1998, angler Brian Buddell set the 50-pound line class record with his catch that weighed 80 pounds, 11 ounces
At the time he broke the record, he was using a Calstar 610 rod, an Accurate 30 reel and an Izorline mono line baited with sardines
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