From the latest International Game Fish Association newsletter:
On February 28, 2025, Gene Wilson was fishing off Alligator Point, Florida, when he landed this 95-centimeter red drum. With this fish, Gene has tied the IGFA All-Tackle Length Fly World Record for the species. The record redfish struck his fly and was landed after a 5-minute fight. Gene was then able to record the length on his official IGFA Measuring Device before releasing the fish safely.
That’s only 37in ?
To borrow an old baseball cliche, records are meant to be broken.
Haha yep, just surprised it is so low, I’m guilty of just releasing all big bulls with just a picture with or without measuring them. Not into chasing records but that would be an easy one to smash, with the breading schools in the fall/winter.
Definitely doable. IGFA requires the use of their measuring tape/stop when submitting All Tackle Length records though.
I should stat turning stuff in lol
I thought that’s why you bought the ruler, so you could rack up the stats! 
Oh I’m going to use it, 37” is easy as hell 
Billy Pate and all His Floridian guides actually encouraged the IGFA to make the length records in centimeters to keep you Louisiana boys off the trail.
worked for years.
What’s a centimeter?
You’d be constantly one upping the record…
Centi what? But seriously I’m surprised it’s only that myself. LA/NC should easily smash that one.
Cute fish.
Ill just say it, that is a weak record. Probably everyone on here who has fished Louisiana much has caught longer reds.
It’s 9:30 am and I’ve surpassed that record twice this morning Flyfishing solo from the poling platform
The IGFA is a business and charges membership fees and application fees for records. To each their own if it is important.
I checked the freshwater state records on the fly and I can say I’ve probably beat over half if not more of them. There is one guy who went on a run trying to grab the most records, so I started measuring some of the fish I was getting to see how I’d measure up. It was going to be too much paperwork and effort to have my name in a little book that only I would care about.
I cant wait to get down there. . only 23 days. . not that i’m counting or anything, haha.
I once talked to a woman who set the world record for running a marathon while pushing triplets in a stroller. She walked most of it.
