09/04/2026
Finnegan Arnold's ongoing quest has turned the Florida youngster into one of the most accomplished junior anglers in IGFA's record book. 👀
A two-pound, 14-ounce largemouth bass probably wouldn’t draw much attention at most boat ramps. But when 12-year-old Finnegan Arnold landed one on 4-pound line, the fish became the latest chapter in a world-record chase that has quickly turned the Florida youngster into one of the most accomplished junior anglers in the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record book.
Arnold, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, submitted the bass for consideration as an IGFA Junior Male 4-pound line-class world record. The application is currently listed as pending by the IGFA. For Arnold, however, fishing with line most bass anglers would consider unusually light has become almost routine.
Over the past several months, Arnold — who goes by Fin — has collected 26 recognized or pending IGFA Junior Line Class world records across an assortment of freshwater and saltwater species. His record list includes largemouth bass, king mackerel, red drum, mahi mahi, snook, snakehead, clown knifefish, and catfish. Five of his records have come while fly fishing.
The impressive part isn’t simply the number of records. Arnold is specifically targeting them.
His world-record run started after he discovered the IGFA’s line-class record system and began studying the record book. Instead of simply trying to catch the biggest fish possible, Arnold realized there were records available for anglers who could land fish on exceptionally light line. Some existing records looked nearly impossible. Others appeared within reach. There were even vacant junior records that nobody had claimed.
“I found out about line-class fishing records for different fish and that the IGFA keeps track of them,” Arnold said. “It sounded really cool so I started looking at them.”
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✍️: Keith Lusher
