Rae Bushby, an angler who has been fishing for just over a year, landed a massive rainbow trout in New Zealand’s Tekapo Canal. Fishing with her 88-year-old father, Robert, Bushby hooked into the giant trout using a small, mealy larva called a huhu grub as bait. The fish put up a strong fight, and Bushby had to carefully manage the tension on her line to avoid losing it. After an intense battle, she reeled in the most gorgeous and biggest trout she had ever seen—a whopping 30.31-pound rainbow trout measuring 34.6 inches long1.

The catch potentially sets a new International Game Fish Association (IGFA) women’s 8-pound line class world record. The current record stands at 29 pounds, 5 ounces, caught by Emily Allum in the same Tekapo Canal in 20192. Bushby has submitted her record application to the IGFA and is awaiting confirmation.

Tekapo Canal is renowned for its fat trout, and anglers from around the world seek out its behemoths. While some may debate whether this monster fish should qualify as a new fishing record, there is no denying the thrill of Rae Bushby’s remarkable catch3.

Are you looking to catch a world record trout?  See our article Jig Fishing for World Record Trout.

Please send pictures of your fishing success.  You can contact me by email at [email protected].

Tight lines …  Captain P.