The International Game Fish Association lists Max Domecq as the owner of two impressive records, actually world records for tarpon. During March of 2003, he landed a 286-pound, 9-ounce giant on 80-pound line establishing an IGFA All Tackle World Record and Line Class World record.

My angling bucket list includes finally catching one over 200 pounds and after decades of trying, a measured fish of 170 pounds has been my personal best. Imagine being hooked up to a 300-plus-pound African coast monster. Wonder if they turn and ram the boat?

Going through the IGFA records list is quite interesting and filled with angling feats that are simply amazing, especially when broken down into line class records.

Sticking with tarpon, consider the angling skills of George Hogan Jr. that owns 3 IGFA line class records for tarpon. In 1992 he caught a 106- tarpon on 2 lb. test and a 128-pound, 8-ounce fish on 4 lb. test. In 1997, he claimed the world record for 6 lb. test with a tarpon of 139 pounds, 14 oz.

Gus Bell has owned the 20 lb. line class world record for tarpon since 1975 with a fish weighing 243 pounds.

The fly rod gang claims their own IGFA glory with the Tippet Class World Records list showing a 32- pound tarpon caught on 2 lb. and a 194.8 pound tarpon on 12-pound Tippet world record caught at Pine Island by Tom Evans Jr. in 2010.

All tackle record weight for black grouper? 124 pounds and for gag grouper ,80 pounds, 6 oz. The 2-, 4- and 8-pound line class for black grouper are listed as vacant for anyone with enough patience and time wanting to try and pull a grouper out of a wreck with 2-pound test. Good luck!

Did you know the all tackle world record for redfish comes from the Carolinas and weighed 94 pounds, 2 oz. Costa Rica hosts the record for the common snook with a 53-pound, 10-ounce submarine on the books.

Another Southwest Florida favorite, the spotted seatrout, was caught north of here at Ft. Pierce and tipped the official scales at 17 pounds, 7 oz. What a gator!

Largemouth world record bass records show a tie at 22 pounds, 4 oz. with one caught in Georgia in 1932 and another caught in Japan in 2009.

Record line class info for bass indicates a 14-pound, 12-ounce bucket mouth was taken on 2-pound test and a 17-pound, 1-ounce on 4 pound test.

Of the 12 listed line class world records for bass, surprisingly only 3 came from Florida. The other 9 came from California and is the place to go for big largemouth and will surely be the home of the next official world record. These record breaking Cali bass all get huge on a steady diet of high protein, stocked trout.

Although many record holders are men, women anglers hold their own when it comes to records. Consider fly fishing master Dotty Ballantyne that has 162 Tippet class world records to her credit catching 42 species in 9 countries.

To qualify for an IGFA record, you must prepare. Get your scales certified for accuracy. Drop off or send your scales to the IGFA for certification ($40 fee).

Next have your line tested. Send 50 feet to the IGFA for certification ($40 fee)

Now the easy part — catch a world record sized fish then fill out an online application and submit it, but first carefully read the requirements for submission which include photos, witnesses, line samples, etc., all, of course, to prevent the ever present fraudulent record claims.

They say many fishermen lie but I don’t believe a word of it.

Catching big fish on lite line is popular but long fights in warm water can stress and kill big fish like tarpon.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. Contact him at 239-282-9434 or captgeorget3@aol.com.