In an extraordinary catch that has stunned the global angling community, a Mexican fisherman has officially set a new world record after reeling in a giant snook so massive that experts say it could “swallow a pot-bellied pig whole.”
Carlos Méndez, a 38-year-old fisherman from La Paz, hooked the enormous fish while casting off the coast of Baja California Sur, an area renowned for its rich marine biodiversity. After a grueling one-hour battle with the powerful fish, Méndez and his crew managed to bring it aboard — and what they saw left them speechless.
The snook measured 1.75 meters (5 feet 9 inches) in length and weighed a staggering 49.3 kilograms (108.6 pounds), smashing the previous world record by nearly 10 kilograms. Representatives from Guinness World Records and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) confirmed the record-breaking feat earlier this week.
“I’ve been fishing since I was a kid, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Méndez said, still in disbelief. “When I first saw the line pull, I thought it was a shark. The strength of that fish was unreal.”
Marine biologists have described the catch as “one in a million,” noting that snook of this size are exceedingly rare. Typically, the species — known locally as róbalo — grows no larger than 1 meter and 25 kilograms.
Dr. Elena Vargas, a marine ecologist at the University of Baja California, remarked, “This fish is a true anomaly. It’s not just a record-breaker; it’s a scientific wonder.”
The enormous snook will be preserved and displayed at the Museo del Mar de Cortés in La Paz, where it will serve as both a trophy and an educational exhibit.
As for Méndez, he says the experience has changed his outlook on fishing forever. “I’ll keep fishing, but I doubt I’ll ever top this,” he laughed. “It’s the catch of ten lifetimes.”
