LRAB Chapter 419: Broke the Guinness World Record!
Chapter 419: Broke the Guinness World Record!
Chapter 419: Broke the Guinness World Record!
Especially for fish like red snapper and cod that have swim bladders, the gas inside their bodies expands rapidly as they rise, causing damage to their internal organs or even causing it to be expelled from their mouths.
They often "explode" halfway there, and all that's pulled up is a bloated corpse.
But at this very depth of twenty meters, the fishing line in Lin Yu'an's hand suddenly experienced a vibration even more violent than when he was in the deep sea!
"Buzz—!!"
That wasn't a death throes, that was the battle cry of a fully resurrected warrior!
Lin Yu'an's expression changed instantly, and the most terrifying physiological characteristic of this creature flashed through his mind: the halibut is a bottom-dwelling fish without a swim bladder!
This means that they are completely immune to the fatal damage caused by changes in air pressure.
The huge pressure difference between 500 meters and 20 meters did not harm it in the slightest. On the contrary, the lower water pressure in the shallow water area made its body lighter and more agile!
It saved every bit of energy it had conserved in the deep sea for this last moment before seeing the light!
"Damn it! It's going to wash its gills!!" Lin Yu'an roared.
The underwater behemoth clearly realized that the unusual light overhead meant death.
It began to shake its large head wildly, and the enormous force was transmitted fiercely to Lin Yu'an's hand through the taut fishing line.
Every head shake is an explosive force of 100 kilograms!
This is the most dangerous moment! Countless deep-sea anglers have perished in these last few meters, because the line will snap instantly in this unbridled surge!
Lin Yu'an dared not pull any harder. He had to kneel down, press his upper body against the ice, and use his arms as a "human shock absorber" to absorb each fatal impact.
He can't let go, or the fish will dive back into the deep sea; he also can't pull hard, or the line will break!
They remained locked in a stalemate, like trying to tame a raging bull.
Sensing that the struggle underwater had paused for a moment, Lin Yu'an immediately seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Get up!!!"
After he stood up, he leaned back and used the momentum of his body to pull himself up one last time!
"Thump!!!"
A dull, muffled thud suddenly came from beneath several meters of ice!
That wasn't the sound of water gushing out; it was the sound of a huge object crashing violently into the bottom of the ice!
At the narrow entrance of the ice cave, an enormous, cold, and murky fish eye stared intently at the humans outside the cave through the thin layer of water.
It's too big!
Through the translucent ice layer, Lin Yu'an made eye contact with the enormous fish eye underwater, a connection that transcended species.
In that instant, Lin Yu'an felt a chill run down his spine. It wasn't just because of its size, but also because of the aura emanating from the fish—a sense of vicissitudes filled with the weight of time.
The barnacles on its back and the old scars that have healed at the corners of its mouth—this is definitely not an ordinary Greenland halibut.
This could very well be a living fossil that has survived in this sea area for half a century!
The fervor in Lin Yu'an's eyes had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented seriousness and anxiety.
He yelled at the referee team not far away, "Ennis! Ennis!! Come here!!"
Referee Ennis was startled and stumbled over, asking, "What happened? What's wrong?"
"Notify the logistics team! Send over the largest tent available immediately! It needs to be heated! Also, prepare the largest soft-net stretcher!"
Ennis was stunned: "What's wrong? What are you going to do?"
"Ennis, look at it." Lin Yu'an's voice was low and urgent.
Ennis instinctively knelt on the ice and leaned closer to the hole. At just one glance, the seasoned referee gasped in shock.
Beneath the dark water, a large, weathered, murky fish eye coldly gazes upward through the ice.
"See that? It's huge—"
"Based on its size, it has lived for at least half a century. It has survived the killer whales and the trawling nets; it is a true survivor in this area."
"Ennis, this is just a sporting event. We're not in this for survival, and we don't need this to eat."
"Put it back. Maybe the next time it meets humans, it will have gained weight, and then it will be an even greater legend."
"So, I'm going to release it! It could be a living Guinness World Record!"
"But its eyes can't withstand the intense light and the sub-zero wind! If you pull it up without protection, its cornea will freeze instantly and it will go blind! That would be equivalent to killing it!"
Ennis took a deep breath, stood up, and looked at Lin Yu'an with eyes full of respect.
"You're right." Ennis immediately pulled out a walkie-talkie. "This is referee Ennis! Logistics team, listen up! Send the largest emergency relief tent to Sector A-1 immediately!"
Upon hearing Lin Yu'an's thoughts, the onlookers were instantly ignited by this grand vision that transcended victory or defeat. It was a reverence for life, a resonance among top hunters.
Ennis yelled, "Quick! Don't just stand there! Help!"
Immediately afterwards, the Northeastern guy, German champion Hans, and several strong Inuit guides rushed to the edge of the ice cave.
"Lin! Give us the line! You can rest!" Hans shouted. "We're your brakes!"
Seven or eight large hands, wearing thick gloves, reached out at the same time and grabbed the lead wire, which was as taut as a steel bar.
"Hold on tight! Don't let go!"
"Don't worry, bro! Even if it's a submarine, we guys can catch it!" the Northeastern man said with a laugh.
Lin Yu'an felt the tension in his hands suddenly loosen.
At that moment, the nerves that had been taut for hours finally snapped, and he gasped for breath.
Noah brought him hot water and massaged his cramping arm muscles. He was no longer a lone fighter; he was a hero protected by everyone.
Meanwhile, more volunteers picked up ice picks and shovels.
"Enlarge the hole! Avoid the fish's head! Be quick!"
"Clang clang"
"Sizzle sizzle"
Ice shards flew everywhere! With the frantic efforts of more than a dozen men, the hard ice layer was quickly sliced open like tofu.
Just ten minutes later.
Accompanied by the roar of logistics snowmobiles, a huge orange emergency rescue tent was transported to the scene.
With everyone's concerted efforts, it stood like a fortress, directly covering the A-1 fishing spot and completely blocking out the wind, snow, and strong light.
Inside the tent, a high-powered fuel-fired heater was turned up to its maximum, and amidst the roar, the biting cold that was originally minus twenty degrees Celsius was forcibly raised to around zero degrees Celsius.
Soft emergency lights illuminated, simulating the dim environment of the deep sea.
"Stretcher! Get off the stretcher!"
Ennis directed four strong men to push the specially made soft net stretcher, originally used to rescue stranded dolphins, down into the widened ice hole.
Ennis's eyes were fixed on the water: "Slow down—support its belly—its internal organs can't withstand gravity—one, two, three, lift!"
"rise!!!"
Accompanied by the shouts of the crowd, the giant deep-sea flying carpet was gently and steadily lifted out of the water.
When it was fully laid on the stretcher, exposed to the soft light of the tent, everyone held their breath and even forgot to blink.
Shocked.
I was simply shocked.
This is a terrifying creature that is definitely over 2.5 meters long and even wider than a double mattress!
It lay there quietly, its entire body a deep, stone-brown color, as if it were the embodiment of a seabed rock.
That broad, despair-inducing back was covered with the scars of time and white parasitic barnacles.
Every scar tells a story of a battle in the deep sea, and every mottled mark tells a story of half a century of loneliness.
Its upward-facing eye was larger than an adult's fist.
Because it received timely protection, its eyes remained clear, radiating a cold light—the majesty of a top predator, as if scrutinizing these insignificant humans.
The most shocking thing was that huge mouth that could swallow a child whole.
That gleaming 16/0 BKK giant hook was like an insignificant pin, firmly embedded in the hardest bone of its upper jaw!
Noah's phone camera faithfully captured this moment.
The live stream seemed to freeze at that moment. Then, a barrage of comments exploded like a tsunami, even obscuring the prehistoric behemoth that occupied half the screen!
Holy crap!! My trypophobia is acting up! But this is fucking awesome!!
[This is a flounder? You're telling me this is a flounder? This is clearly a deep-sea monster!!]
[A megalophobia sufferer died on the spot — my legs were shaking just watching!]
[That mouth—forget about kids, it feels like my 180 pounds of weight would be nothing more than a tiny snack for it!]
[Where are those who criticized the streamer for putting on a show? Haters, speak up! Stop playing dead! Look at this fish, look at this tent, this is real class!]
[Lin Shen is awesome! The number one angler in China! I ask you, who else can compare?!]
Inside the tent, the crowd also fell into a brief silence.
"My God—"
"Is this... is this still a flounder?"
"This is a living fossil—this must be a sea monster—"
After a brief moment of shock, thunderous applause erupted like a volcanic eruption!
"Awesome!!!" The guy from Northeast China was the first to jump up, shouting out the loudest Chinese curse in the entire venue.
Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar of cheers and whistles erupted, even penetrating the thick tents and echoing throughout the entire Ilulissat Fjord!
Lin Yu'an, forgetting his cheers, anxiously shouted, "Quick! Weigh it! Don't let it stay out of the water for too long! Its skin is drying out!"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the display screen on the scale.
The red numbers began to jump wildly: 0 — 0 — 200 —
Finally, the numbers slowly came to a stop.
Ennis took a deep breath, raised the megaphone, and his voice cracked with excitement: "Finally—final weighing results—"
"Two hundred and five point five kilograms!!!"
"Ladies and gentlemen! This not only breaks the competition's historical record of 170 kg!"
"This is also—a new Guinness World Record!!!"
The crowd went completely wild, with countless cheers echoing inside and outside the tent.
"Lin, come take a picture! You only have ten seconds! Hurry!" Ennis said to Lin Yu'an from the side.
Instead of striking a victorious pose and stepping on the fish, Lin Yu'an pulled out a huge, powerful lure pliers from his waist.
The size 16/0 BKK giant hook is now deeply embedded in the fish's upper jawbone. If it's not removed, the barb may remain for the rest of its life and could even lead to infection.
Lin Yu'an gripped the pliers handles with both hands and twisted them sharply! "Click!"
The giant hook that had rendered such a glorious service was completely removed. Although it left a small bloody hole, it would soon heal under the soaking of seawater.
Then, after squatting down next to the fish head and taking a picture, he said to everyone, "Put it back! Quick! Its lactic acid is piling up!"
"A rope! A soft rope!"
Ennis took a thick cotton rope, tied a slipknot with great skill, and looped it around the base of the halibut's thick tail.
This is a professional method for reviving large fish – "tail rope tethering".
Hanging the fish upside down in the water allows the water flow to naturally wash its gills, helping it exchange oxygen and expel lactic acid. At the same time, the rope prevents it from sinking, giving it enough time to recover.
Without Ennis saying anything more, the group quickly lifted the stretcher and, as if escorting a seriously wounded comrade, slid it back into the ice cave.
"Splash—"
'
The giant creature entered the water, but just as everyone feared, it flipped over belly up.
The prolonged and fierce battle caused it to accumulate deadly lactic acid.
At this moment, it was in a state of severe acidosis and shock. Its muscles were stiff, and it didn't even have the strength to move its cheeks to breathe.
If left unattended, it will sink to the bottom of the sea like a stone.
For fish, once they stop swimming and there is no fresh water to wash their gills, they will suffocate and die in the seawater!
The group gripped the rope tightly, suspending the fish upside down in the water. The artificial water flow forced a cleanse of the fish's gills, helping it to exchange oxygen and expel lactic acid from its body.
Ten minutes — Twenty minutes —
No one left the tent; apart from the hum of the heater, only the tense breathing of the people could be heard. Everyone remained silent, watching the water.
Sudden.
The rope suddenly tightened!
A tremendous force traveled up the rope—the signal that the king was awakening!
Underwater, its once murky eyes regained their clarity and coldness. Its broad pectoral fins began to paddle powerfully, and its massive tail lashed out, attempting to break free of its restraints and return to the abyss.
"She's awake!" Lin Yu'an was overjoyed.
Without further hesitation, he flicked his wrist, and the specially made slipknot instantly untied.
"boom!!!"
A muffled sound came from underwater; it was the sound of the giant tail slapping against the water.
Without any hesitation, the enormous black shadow transformed into a black lightning bolt and vanished instantly into the deep blue sea.
It took away the memories of the battle, but left the fishhook of honor to humanity.
Lin Yu'an, clutching the cold, giant hook in his hand, slumped in the tent, looking at the empty ice cave, a bright smile spreading across his face.
"It's alive."
"It went home."
In the corner of the tent, Nanuk looked at the young man from the East, slowly took off his sealskin hat, and placed it on his chest.
This time, it's not just a tribute to the hunters.
It is also a tribute to a guardian worthy of respect.
Ennis didn't dwell on his grief for long. The moment the deep-sea lord disappeared into the azure abyss, he quickly switched back to his meticulous chief referee mode.
He straightened his collar, strode up to Lin Yu'an, and his eyes gleamed with barely concealed excitement.
"Lin, I'll say it again: although I really want you to lie down and rest now, your work isn't finished yet."
Ennis took a deep breath, his tone unusually serious: "Do you know what you just did?"
Lin Yu'an shook the water droplets off his hands and gave a wry smile: "Did you catch a really big fish? Or—win today's match?"
No, it's much more than that.
Ennis shook his head, raising his voice a few decibels so everyone present could hear: "You've broken the IGFA (International Fishing Federation) world record for fully equipped Atlantic halibut!!!"
"This means that regardless of the grade of fishing line used, as long as the fishing method is legal, this is the heaviest Atlantic halibut ever caught and successfully certified by humankind using a fishhook!"
"The previous record was around 190 kilograms, which stood for eight years. And you've raised it to 205.5 kilograms!"
At this point, Ennis very carefully took out a tool kit with a blue IGFA logo and a pair of medical scissors from the waterproof briefcase that Jack had just handed him.
He crouched down and looked directly into Lin Yu'an's eyes: "I am the chief referee of this ice fishing competition, and I am also an officially authorized certifier of IGFA."
"I have the right and the obligation to report this miracle to headquarters. So that the number I just saw becomes a confirmed piece of history, and not just a fisherman's story told by others."
"Therefore, we need to complete the final and most crucial evidence collection procedure."
He pointed to the dripping nylon fishing line in Lin Yu'an's hand, his expression serious: "According to the rules, I need to cut the last ten meters of your fishing line, as well as that fishhook."
"Why?" Noah couldn't help but ask, "The fish have already been released and weighed, what's the point of having a line?"
Ennis patiently explained, "Because in top-tier commercial and honorary certifications, weight is just a result; the legitimacy of the equipment is the prerequisite."
"If we don't send these samples to the headquarters lab in Florida for physical tensile testing, those old academics sitting in their offices will start to question it."
Ennis pointed to the thick line: "They'll suspect you used a crane cable to haul the fish up, or that the line's actual tensile strength is excessive."
"IGFA will only issue a certificate if the laboratory proves that your string assembly meets the standards for competitive sports."
"And once the IGFA stamps your certificate, you can apply for a Guinness World Record!"
Lin Yu'an understood.
This is what sports do as a "urine test," except it checks equipment.
He glanced down at the 16/0 BKK giant hook in his hand. "Do you really have to take it? I was thinking of keeping it as a souvenir."
"Don't worry, this is just routine. Once headquarters has finished testing and confirmed that your wiring harness hasn't been damaged," I'll request that they send it back to you.
Hearing this, Lin Yu'an felt relieved.
"Go ahead and cut it."
"Click".
Ennis cut off the most crucial section of the lead wire and the main wire connection knot, placed the tangled nylon thread and the bloodstained giant hook into an evidence bag, and affixed a numbered seal.
After doing all this, he took out a thick, all-English document.
Ennis looked around: "And, everyone—"
"I need you to sign this official application document as the first eyewitnesses. This is to prove that you personally witnessed the weighing numbers and that there were no irregularities in the entire process."
The man from Northeast China was standing to the side rubbing his frozen hands when he heard this. "Holy crap? I sign it too? This thing is going to Guinness World Records in the end?"
"Yes," Ennis nodded.
"Oh my god, of course we have to sign! Sign! We absolutely have to sign!"
He took the pen and signed his Chinese name on the form, which was entirely in English, with a flourish. He exuded such pride that it was as if he were the one who had broken the record.
Hans also came over; the former German champion had taken off his goggles, revealing a pair of deep blue eyes.
Although he lost the chance to defend his title, there was no jealousy on his face, only complete admiration.
He took off his heavy gloves, solemnly took the pen, and signed his name in the witness column.
Then, speaking to Lin Yu'an in English, he said, "This is the greatest fight I've ever seen, and an admirable release. You are the true King of the Ice."
Lin Yu-an smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "Thank you."
Ennis took all the documents and evidence with him, thus completing all the official procedures.
Before leaving, Ennis said to Lin Yu'an, "Lin, although there's still one day left in the competition, I think you can start preparing your acceptance speech in advance."