February marks the 30-year anniversary of two historic light-tackle world records for swordfish set by Deborah and Jerry Dunaway aboard their legendary The Hooker with Capt. Skip Smith out of Tropic Star Lodge in Piñas Bay, Panama. On February 17, 1986, Deborah fought her swordfish for only 12 minutes before she set the women’s 16-pound-line-class record with a 174-pound swordfish. In the history of the International Game Fish Association, this is the only record submitted by a female angler for a swordfish caught on 16-pound tackle. A week later, on February 24, Jerry followed suit after a 1½-hour fight with a 109-pound swordfish to earn him the men’s 8-pound-line-class record. As was the case with Deborah’s record, Jerry’s catch is the only swordfish ever submitted to the IGFA on 8-pound tackle.
