Setting an IGFA world record means catching a fish on International Game Fish Association legal tackle, then certifying it with a weighed catch, a line sample, photos, and witnesses so the catch officially beats or fills a record in the book. In this How 2 Tuesday I sit down with Meredith McCord, who holds around 180 world records, to walk through how records actually work and to debunk the myth that they are reserved for elite anglers.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
An IGFA world record is an officially certified catch recognized by the International Game Fish Association in a specific category, such as a line-class record, an all-tackle record, a length record, or a fly-rod tippet-class record. To set one you fish with IGFA-legal tackle, follow the rulebook on line and leader, then document the catch with a weight on a certified scale, a line sample, clear photos, and witnesses, and submit an application. Meredith McCord walks through the whole process in the episode.
Not always. There are length-based records and catch-and-release pathways that let you certify a fish without killing it, alongside the traditional weight records measured on a certified scale. The category you target determines what documentation you need. Meredith debunks this exact myth in the episode, because the fear of having to kill a fish keeps a lot of anglers from ever trying.
No, and that is the biggest myth Meredith and I cover. Many line-class and tippet-class records for various species are open or vacant, which means a prepared everyday angler who targets the right gap in the record book can realistically set one. It is less about being the best angler in the world and more about preparation, the right legal tackle, and picking your spot. We get into the strategy in the episode.
You generally need the fish weighed on a certified scale, a sample of the actual line or tippet you used, clear photographs of the catch and the angler, the completed application, and witnesses where required. Following the rulebook on line class, leader length, and tackle is what keeps the catch eligible. Meredith details how she keeps all of this organized so a record day does not fall apart on a technicality.
You study the record book and look for vacant or beatable line-class and tippet-class records for species you can realistically reach. Picking the right gap, then matching it with IGFA-legal tackle and the discipline to document everything, is the strategy that built Meredith's 180-plus records. She explains how she scouts those opportunities in the episode.
I have set a few records myself, but Meredith McCord operates on a completely different level. She holds around 180 IGFA world records, a lot of them on fly, and she understands the ins and outs of the record book better than just about anyone fishing today. I wanted her on because so many anglers think records are out of reach, and I knew she could take the mystery out of it and show how a prepared, everyday angler can actually go after one. Hear her explain it in the episode, so press play in the player above.
People hear world record and picture a giant marlin on a billfish boat, but the IGFA record book is far wider than that. There are all-tackle records, line-class records broken out by the strength of line you use, length records, and fly-rod tippet-class records. That structure is exactly why an everyday angler has a real shot, because a smaller, attainable fish in the right line class can still be a world record. Meredith breaks down each category in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The biggest thing holding anglers back is the belief that records are reserved for elites or only for monster fish. Meredith debunks that head-on. Many line-class and tippet-class records sit open or vacant, waiting for a prepared angler who targets the gap. It is less about raw skill and more about studying the book, choosing your spot, and showing up ready. She explains how she finds those openings in the episode, so press play in the player above.
A record day is won before you leave the dock. You need IGFA-legal line and leader lengths, a plan to weigh the fish on a certified scale, a way to save a line sample, photos, and witnesses if the category requires them. One detail out of place and the catch is disqualified. Meredith walks through how she keeps her tackle and her documentation dialed in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Around 180 records does not happen by accident. Meredith targets species and line classes with vacant or beatable marks, fishes the right legal tackle, and brings the discipline to certify every detail. She is proof that the record book rewards preparation and strategy as much as fishing ability. She tells the story of how she got started in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Talking with Meredith McCord changed how I think about the record book. It is not a locked room for elites, it is an open invitation to anglers willing to prepare, study the gaps, and fish legal tackle with discipline.
If you have ever wondered whether you could set an IGFA world record, take the myth-busting in this episode to heart and start looking for your opening. Press play in the player above.
Meredith McCord · IGFA · International Game Fish Association · line-class records · all-tackle records · fly-rod tippet-class records · length records · fly fishing · How 2 Tuesday · Tom Rowland Podcast · Saltwater Experience
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
Meredith McCord is one of the most prolific record-setting anglers in the world, with around 180 IGFA world records to her name, many of them earned on fly. She is widely recognized for her deep knowledge of the IGFA rulebook and record categories, and for encouraging everyday anglers to pursue records of their own.
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