Matthew Stewart with his World Record fish

Again, the fish was handled with care and the formalities required to certify a World Record were taken care of quickly.  For the fish to qualify for World Record status, the angler must send the lure with the leader and 20 feet of line, pictures of the rod used, photographs of the fish on the certified scales (weight visible and readable), pictures of the fish with a ruler, measuring length and girth, and a completed application with the signatures of three witnesses and a certifying ichthyologist to the International Game Fish Association.  After all of this was taken care of, the fish was revived and released back into the ocean to fight another day.  

Matthew is here on Midway with his father and brother who own “The Hook-Up!” in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  You can be sure that this is one fish tale that will be told and retold over the counter of that store.  Luckily, Matthew will have the IGFA World Record Certificate to prove it…unless Adam decides to go out tomorrow and reclaim the title.