It’s Official! New All Tackle World Record Yellowfin Tuna Certified by IGFA
In a press release by the IGFA on Tuesday April 15, 2025, the All-Tackle World Record Yellowfin Tuna was certified at an incredible 443-lbs. This fish was landed by Earl Gil IV aboard Excel Sportfishing out of Fishermans Landing in San Diego California back in November, 2024.
It took nearly 5 months for the record to be certified, but the IGFA has made it official. This record beats the previous record by a whopping 16-lbs.
Here is the full post by IGFA.
“APPROVED: On November 11, 2024, Earl Gill IV was fishing aboard the Excel captained by Justin Fleck, when he landed this massive 200.94-kilogram (443-pound) yellowfin tuna. With this fish, Earl has set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record as well as the IGFA Men’s 60-kg (130 lb.) Line Class World Record for the species, surpassing the previous records by 16 pounds! The Excel was fishing the Lower Banks off Mexico when this record yellowfin struck Earl’s chunk bait. After an intense 1 hour and 45-minute fight, the crew of the Excel was able to gaff the tuna and bring it aboard. The Excel then returned to port where Earl was able to record the weight on a certified scale at Fisherman’s Landing in San Diego, California.”
From the scales to the stories, the IGFA is your official source for world records.
This is a phenomenal catch. Congratulations to Earl Gil IV, Captain Justin Fleck, and the entire crew of Excel Sportfishing. Equally as incredible is the fact that this world record yellowfin was caught with an Okuma Makaira 20 2-speed reel. Those reels have power!
