Source: Sergio Escárcega Rodríguez for Fishbase

A giant female Pacific black snook (Centropomus) caught in Costa Rica earlier this year was recently certified as a world record by the International Game Fish Association (IFGA). The lucky angler is Ward Michaels, a fishing guide from Central Florida who has been putting together fishing trips to our country for his United States clients for a couple of decades. The leviathan snook has been recorded at 59.5 lbs, and it replaces the 1991 record catch of 57 lbs and 12 ounces, also caught in Costa Rica.

This prize catch took place in March and was reported by Outdoor Life as follows:

A 60-pound Pacific snook caught in Costa Rica two weeks ago may be headed for the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record book. The monster fish was caught by Orlando guide Ward Michaels who has made more than 80 trips to Costa Rica in 27 years after his favorite species.

Mr. Michaels promptly submitted his catch to IFGA headquarters in South Florida. These things take time, however, and the official record was announced by Florida Today on Saturday night:

IGFA officials put the official weight at 59 pounds, 8 ounces, the length at 47.6 inches and the girth at 31.3 inches, making it the heaviest of all snook species recognized by the IGFA.

“I found out while waiting for a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica, to meet a group of 22 anglers that I was taking on a tarpon fishing trip,” [Mr. Michaels] said last week.

Extra-large snook is not so uncommon in Costa Rica, and specimens heavier than 55 lbs are frequently reported in the Southern Pacific coast. As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star:

The Pacific Ocean in Southern Costa Rica is one of the best fishing spots in the world. Offshore in the deep water, people come from all over the world to catch Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi (Dorado in Spanish), Marlin and Sailfish. Inside the calm, pristine Golfo Dulce, inshore fishing is spectacular with snapper, snook, jack, roosterfish, bonito, barracuda, needlefish, blackfin tuna and mackerel ready for the catch.

Although prime sports fishing opportunities also abound in the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, readers of The Costa Rica Star know that our Pacific shores are blessed by the biomagic of the Thermal Convection Dome, which ensures that our marine life remains bountiful. If anything, fishing in the Pacific guarantees that just about anyone will be able to catch nice specimens.