A 20-year-old saltwater fishing world record may soon fall, if a recent catch off Fort Lauderdale is verified and approved by the International Game Fish Association.

Sunday, aboard the charter boat Happy Day Today, angler Michael Hayes of Chesterton, Indiana, reeled in the catch of a lifetime — a 97.8-pound kingfish.

Fresh off a honeymoon cruise out of Port Everglades, Michael and wife of one week Brooke chartered Happy Day Today to enjoy a day of deep sea fishing. The charter boat sails daily from Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale.

Capt. Tom Zsak, owner of Top Shot Fishing and Happy Day Today charters, said Capt. J.B. Sirgany steered the Mayes party offshore of Fort Lauderdale to drift along the drop-off along the edge of the Gulf Stream. Using a live "bullet" bonito as bait and a 30-pound test tackle, Sirgany expected a bite from something like a sailfish, wahoo, big dolphin or perhaps a tuna. What he never expected was to see the largest king mackerel ever caught. By anyone. Anywhere. Ever.

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Zsak said the paperwork has been submitted to the IGFA for the 97.8-pound smoker. It takes 60-90 days typically for a record to be accepted. In order to qualify, a catch must be weighed on a scale certified within the past 12 months, a line sample must be submitted and only one angler may handle the rod. The king was weighed at Lauderdale Marina on 15th Street.

The current IGFA All Tackle World Record is a 93.0-pound king mackerel caught offshore of San Juan, Puerto Rico April 18, 1999 by angler Steve Graulau. The Florida record for a kingfish is the 90.0-pounder caught by Norton I. Thomton off Key West on Feb. 16, 1976. As for IGFA line class world records, there is a tie for the men's 30-pound test class. On May 22, 1966, Dr. Thomas Sims Jr. weighed a 75.0-pound kingfish at Walker's Cay, Bahamas and then on April 15, 2007, Douglas Eilertson fishing out of Pompano Beach did the same. Hayes' catch would replace all four of these records. Graulau's 93.0-pounder would still stand as the IGFA men's 80-pound test line class world record.

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A few kings over 70 pounds have been caught over the years during kingfish tournaments off Key West held each January. Saturday, the Preferred Marine fishing team won the Key West Meat Mayhem tournament with a 61.30-pound kingfish.

Zsak said the fish was taken to Gray's Taxidermy where a mold will be made from the giant kingfish and a mount will be created.

For more information, go to the Happy Day Today Charters Facebook page.

Crappie Management

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission invites the public to attend statewide public meetings to give input on the draft Black Crappie Management Plan. This plan was constructed utilizing stakeholder input and will be used as a guide for black crappie management in Florida. In some places, black crappie are also known as speckled perch or specks.

FWC staff will present the plan’s background and objectives and are seeking input from the public on these components. All meeting locations have accessible parking spaces and each meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dates and locations are:

Feb. 19: C. Scott Driver Recreation Pavilion, 10101 State Road 78 W., Okeechobee.

Feb. 28: Tenoroc Public Shooting Range, Hunter Safety Classroom, 3755 Tenoroc Mine Road, Lakeland.

March 5: UF/IFAS Extension Osceola County, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee.

March 12: Eustis Community Center, 601 Northshore Drive, Eustis.

March 21: Grand Lake RV & Golf Resort, 18545 NW 45th Avenue Road, Citra.

March 26: Lake Jackson Community Center, 3840 N. Monroe St., Suite 301, Tallahassee.

To view the draft Black Crappie Management Plan and/or make comments online, visit MyFWC.com/fishing, select “Freshwater Fishing Homepage” and then click on “Black Crappie Management Plan website” in the center of the webpage. For questions about these meetings or the draft Black Crappie Management Plan, contact Ryan Hamm at 352-620-7341 or send an email to BlackCrappie@MyFWC.com.