A big prehistoric-looking fish was simply discovered off Florida. Are you able to eat it for dinner?

One of many coolest, most prehistoric-looking fish lives in Florida’s offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

It occurs to be the most effective to eat but in addition probably the most elusive. Discovered around the globe in tropical climates, massive African pompano catches have surged lately within the Gulf, and angler Dave Miller may need led one among his pals to a current world file.

Whereas good climate has been uncommon this winter, Miller and crew took benefit of the small window Friday, Feb. 9, aboard his 31-foot Contender. They began across the 45-mile mark fishing massive backside for African pompano, or APs as many anglers name them.

“I look for many bait on a spot,” mentioned Miller, a regulation enforcement officer who lives in Sarasota County. “We began round 45 miles that day and didn’t fairly see the fish we wished, so pushed out additional.”

Calm climate made the journey simpler, and the crew began fishing with slow-pitch jigs and pinfish on the brand new spot that had the exercise Miller was on the lookout for. However once they would hook as much as fish, the tax man was prepared and ready.

“We have been having hassle with sharks! Once we have been hooking up with fish proper on the underside, they have been getting sharked rather a lot. There have been just a few that have been in all probability 30 kilos and presumably as massive because the one we received later,” mentioned Miller, upset they have been dropping extra fish than they have been catching to aggressive sharks.

To fight the shark consuming their hooked fish, the anglers began fishing increased within the water column. African pompano are usually in various depths via the water column. They fished pinfish midway down and that’s when angler Dwight “DJ” Andress hooked into a big fish on his 6500 spinning reel with 50-pound braided line.

“He was placing loads of warmth on the fish,” Miller mentioned. “Throughout a earlier combat, he broke his rod and fought it with just one information earlier than ultimately breaking the fish off. This one was screaming line, taking place towards the underside, however he stored heavy drag on it.”

After a 20- to 25-minute combat the anglers seemed down and noticed the shiny African pompano they wished beneath. Behind it was one other shark trying to benefit from the drained fish.

“There was a giant shark arising beneath him. It was in all probability an 8-foot bull shark. Earlier we misplaced one 12 ft beneath the boat and had a giant head left when a shark received it,” Miller recalled. “However we received this one up with a gaff in it and began freaking out after we received it within the boat!”

The massive AP was the primary of two they landed that day, a ship restrict for the Gulf of Mexico. They continued fishing for yellowtail snapper as properly, bringing residence a handful.

But it surely was the subsequent day at Marina Jacks they realized simply how massive and particular the African pompano was. At 45.2 kilos, it was solely 5 kilos off the all-tackle world file. However for the 50-pound line class, the crew seen their catch broke the previous file.

“I had by no means seen an African pompano that massive in individual or on a discussion board. I knew we had a world-class fish,” Miller mentioned. “Marina Jack’s is a licensed scale and we took a number of the line off the reel he was utilizing and despatched it in to the [International Game Fish Association.] It’s pending certification.”