Top 10 Largest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught

Fishing is a popular activity in the United States and has been a prevalent and significant task all over the world for over 40,000 years. While many people use this prehistoric method as a source of food and livelihood, others do it for fun and leisure. But many anglers also crave the glory that sport fishing brings. 

If you’ve been fishing long enough, you might have had the exhilaration of battling big fish, especially when you target saltwater species through deep sea fishing. Any angler wants to have their heroic tale of landing giant fish while out on their sport fishing tours or spending time in waters they love. The sense of accomplishment, wonder, and bragging rights resulting from a successful catch motivate any competitive and keen angler. 

So to provide you with further motivation, here’s a countdown of the current top 10 largest saltwater fish ever caught in the world, sourced from the International Game Fish Association’s record:

10. Shortfin Mako Shark

On July 21, 2001, Luke Sweeney caught a 1,221-pound (553.8 kg) shortfin mako shark off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts. Sweeney used bonito as bait. Despite the sharks not being considered huge fish compared to other game fish, expect to see a lot of them on the list. So maybe consider going shark fishing next time you plan an all-out angling adventure!

9. Great Hammerhead Shark

After fishing for over five hours in Boca Grande, Bucky Dennis experienced the catch of his life when he landed a 1,280-pound (580.6 kg) great hammerhead shark on May 23, 2006. When it all happened, he was on a 23-foot boat using a stingray for bait.

8. Sixgill Shark

Clemens Rump managed to bag a ferocious 1,298-pound (588.8 kg) sixgill shark in the middle of nowhere in the Atlantic Ocean. The shark was caught near Ascension Island with dead bait. 

7. Pacific Blue Marlin

The first monster fish on the list that isn't a shark is a 1,376-pound (624.1 kg) Pacific blue marlin reeled in by Jay de Beaubien. The marlin was caught using a Kita lure in Kona, Hawaii, on May 31, 1982.

6. Atlantic Blue Marlin

Paolo Amorium had an extraordinary fishing trip while on the waters of Vitoria, Brazil. It's where he bagged an Atlantic blue marlin that weighed 1,402 pounds and 2 ounces (636 kg) with a Moldcraft lure three decades ago on February 29, 1992 (exactly on a leap year date, making it extra special.)

5. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Ken Fraser hooked a 1,496-pound (678.6 kg) Atlantic bluefin tuna in Aulds Cove near Nova Scotia in Canada. He used mackerel as bait when he caught the tuna fish on October 26, 1979.

4. Black Marlin

Black Marlin is unique because it's the oldest world record-winning giant fish on the list. On August 4, 1953, in Cabo Blanco in, Peru, Alfred C. Glassell Jr. successfully captured a 1,560-pound black marlin (707.6 kg) using mackerel.

3. Greenland Shark

Terje Nordvedt caught a Greenland shark on October 18, 1987, in Trondheimsfjord, Norway, weighing exactly 1,708 pounds and 9 ounces (775 kg). It's the largest of its kind ever to be caught by an angler. Nordvedt used herring to lure the fish into biting his hook.

2. Tiger Shark

Kevin James Clapson managed to secure the second spot on this list when he caught a monstrous tiger shark that weighed precisely 1,785 pounds and 11 ounces (810 kg) on March 4, 2004. He captured the tiger shark in Ulladulla, Australia.

1. Great White Shark

And finally, the largest fish currently ever caught in the world is a great white shark from Ceduna in Australia. Alfred Dean tops the list as an angler everyone should envy, as his trophy catch and top spot haven't been beaten since April 21, 1959. The biggest fish ever caught (covering saltwater and freshwater fish) weighed 2,664 pounds (1,208.38 kg.) Dean baited the great white shark with a porpoise after fishing for around 50 minutes. It's the only species on this list that surpassed the 2,000-pound mark, and by a lot!

Sport Fishing Guides

All anglers mentioned above have accomplished great things while out on the water. Many of the records won’t likely be beaten any time soon because a lot of the fish mentioned are now protected and endangered. This means these experiences will be preserved in sport fishing history for many years to come! If you want to experience your proud sport fishing moments, book a fishing charter that will take you on an unforgettable angling adventure! Many charter services offer Destin shark fishing in Florida, and Reel Runners is one you should check out as they are based in nearby Niceville. Florida Bay Fishing is one of the best Fort Lauderdale fishing guides that'll show you how to target popular game fish. Jawjackers Charters offers charter fishing in Port Aransas for trophy targets like tuna. Shannon Sea Sportfishing goes along with you to chase fish in Cape Cod.