Holy mackerel, talk about a reel-y big deal!
A Northern California eighth-grader landed a potential world record-breaking 63.7-pound white sea bass during a family fishing trip, making him an instant celebrity among his classmates and the angling community.
Julian Her, 13, of Rio Oso hooked the massive fish on Aug. 10 while fishing with family in Tomales Bay, about 30 miles southwest of Santa Rosa.
“I feel like a star,” Julian told the Los Angeles Times when asked about the media attention and constant questions from friends about his epic catch.
The youngster weighs only about 15 pounds more than his record-breaking fish, making the accomplishment even more impressive. His previous best catch was a modest 10-pound catfish he snagged in May.
Julian’s father Rinna Her, who lives with his wife and three children in Rio Oso, struggled to contain his excitement about the once-in-a-lifetime moment.
“I don’t know how to describe it at the moment,” Rinna Her told the LA Times.
“It was so fun, a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and I think we know that my son, myself or anyone in the party will never catch a fish like that again.”
The family is now working with the Florida-based International Game Fish Association to verify the catch and potentially establish a new world record.
If approved, Julian’s fish would demolish the previous junior world white sea bass record of 59 pounds set in 2002. The catch would also establish a new junior class record for that specific fishing line strength.
The Her family arrived at Tomales Bay at 5 a.m. on Aug. 10, targeting halibut in ideal fishing conditions with temperatures hovering in the high 50s to low 60s.
Around noon, Julian was eating a sandwich when his uncle alerted him that his rod was bending dramatically in its holder.
Julian initially struggled to control the powerful fish, leading the fishing party to assume he was battling a common area bat ray rather than a trophy sea bass.
It wasn’t until Julian’s uncle helped him reel in the monster that they realized the true magnitude of his catch.
“I’m thinking, ‘I don’t know if this is real, I didn’t know if it was real,’” Julian told the LA Times.
“Did I really pull that massive sea bass in?”
The fish was eventually hauled onto the boat, photographed extensively, and then rushed to Bodega Tackle in Petaluma for official weighing.
Store manager Angelina Love confirmed that white sea bass are common catches in Tomales Bay, but Julian’s fish generated extraordinary attention due to his young age.
“There’s been a lot of attention,” Love told the newspaper.
“People have been asking who’s the kid who caught the giant sea bass.”
Bodega Tackle has witnessed impressive catches before, including when store owner Ken Brown hooked a 202.6-pound bluefin tuna in 2022.
However, Julian’s achievement stands out because of the angler behind it.
“The thing that’s been cool about catching this fish is so many people come up to you and ask you, ‘Where did you catch this fish?’ Or they say, ‘That’s an amazing fish,’” Julian said.
The shop is helping the Her family complete the extensive documentation required by the International Game Fish Association to verify record catches.
The IGFA requires applicants to document their catch thoroughly, weigh the fish on certified scales on solid ground, and submit detailed information about the tackle used.
The verification process could take several weeks as officials review the documentation and confirm all requirements have been met for the potential record.
If confirmed, Julian’s catch would place him among the youngest anglers ever to hold a world fishing record, cementing his place in angling history.
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