According to the 2009 IGFA World Record Game Fishes book, just 71 people in the world have achieved a Royal Slam. Membership of this exclusive club means that you have achieved the capture of every single billfish species recognised by the International Game Fish Association.
( Pacific and Atlantic Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, White Marlin, Striped Marlin, Pacific and Atlantic Sailfish, Spearfish and Broadbill Swordfish)
The list will soon be amended to include John Angus who completed his Royal Slam aboard Bite Me last week with his last remaining species, the Pacific Sailfish.
Deckie Joe takes the leaderThe sailfish bite was oddly quiet but through a bit of perseverance, John landed a sail of about 80lbs and the TBF Release card was duly completed and sent.
Wahoo and
yellowfin by-catch kept us on our toes and Daisy-chain Teasers took a bit of a battering but it was all worth the fun. John then rounded of the trip with a nice
Blue Marlin of about 130kg.
A beautiful blue marlin lights up for the camerasWell done John ! A rare achievement and one any billfish angler would be proud of.
You can read about some of John's gamefishing exploits in his book "Confessions of a Billfisherman" published by the Halcyon Press.
Sons Robbie and James Angus hold or have held multiple IGFA Smallfry and Junior IGFA World Records including the Black and PAcific Blue marlin. In a couple of weeks time Robbie will be making a bid to reclaim his M-Junior Black Marlin World Record from Alex Johnston off Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Alex's record stands at a whopping 496kg...
Good luck Robbie !
The Art of angling runs right through the Angus family. Robbie is also an acomplished artist
painting many of the sights he sees out gamefishing.
He was kind enough to paint a scene experienced aboard
Bite Me and the painting will hang in
Matava Resort's main bure for all guests to see.
