Finnegan Arnold of Fort Lauderdale, Florida has many talents and passions. He loves skateboarding, surfing, and composing music. He plays piano and guitar and also likes to draw. Fin, as he’s called, also loves to fish, something he’s been doing with his father, renowned fishing and marine photographer and videographer, Jason Arnold, for most of his young life.

Lately though, fishing has gotten even more exciting for Fin.

“I found out about line-class fishing records for different fish and that the IGFA (International Game Fish Association) keeps track of them,” Fin says. “It sounded really cool so I started looking at them. Some of them are crazy… like someone actually caught a 66-pound black drum on 2-pound line… but there are Junior Line Class Records and a lot of them are doable. Some are even open because people haven’t tried to get them yet.”

With his interests sparked, Fin and his dad made a list. A short one at first.

The pair had recently been out for sailfish but had been catching king mackerel – the kind of kingfish that held potential to set several different Junior IGFA Line Class Records.

So, one day last April, Fin and his dad set out of Fort Lauderdale with their minds on king mackerel and Fin’s first Junior Line Class World Record. “It was weird because when you go fishing for sailfish you usually hook a lot of kingfish,” Fin recalls. “So, we were actually trying to catch kingfish and we just kept hooking sailfish and the line kept breaking. But eventually we hooked some and got a record after the line broke about five more times. I think it was like a 7-pound king on 6-pound test.”

Fin and his dad went home and had the fish weighed on a certified scale before completing the IGFA application/certification process, something they would do a remarkable 25 times more over the next four months.

Today, Fin holds 26 recognized or pending IGFA Junior Line Class world records across diverse freshwater and saltwater categories.“Fishing has always been fun, but now there’s like a reward to it,” Fin says. “ It makes it really exciting. I have records now for king mackerel, red drum, mahi mahi, snook, snakehead, clown knifefish, largemouth bass, catfish, and some others.”

Arnold has five fly-fishing world records, too. “We went to Illinois and I got a chance to fish for hybrid striped bass, which fight really hard for a freshwater fish,” Fin says. “It’s probably the record I’m most proud of. After breaking off like ten flies, I finally caught one on a fly rod with 2-pound tippet. That’s crazy thin… like a hair… so I had the drag really loose and the fish ran a lot and the handle kept hitting my knuckles. My hand hurt a lot after that but it was fine. I got the record, and that trip to Illinois was amazing.”

All parents know the pride and delight that comes from watching their kids grab ahold of something and succeed.

“Fishing always came naturally to Fin,” his father Jason Arnold says. “He’s been blessed with a lot of angling opportunities because of where my own work and interests take me, so he learned a lot and developed a lot of skills early. This world-record business, though, has been really good for both of us. I’d say if you want your kid to be really good at fighting fish, put them on super light line and it gives them an entirely new perspective, because you aren’t just reeling the fish in. Finesse fighting makes anyone a better angler, and I know it’s helped us both immensely. We’re both learning how to fight fish correctly and growing into a different level where you are always aware of what your gear can and can’t do.”

Fin agrees. “To catch a line-class record you have to know where the right fish are and be able to get to them. The hardest thing is starting. Once you get the hang of it and you want to get a record, you just have to know people to take you fishing… like on a boat in the right spots or fishing off the right dock.

It’s worth noting that all of Fin’s records have come on St. Croix Rods.“It’s been exciting to watch, and it’s a testament to how much confidence we’ve continued to have in the St. Croix brand and its products. You’re maximizing your ability as an angler in these situations, so you need the best gear possible,” Jason says. “ I’ve mostly used lighter AVID Inshore rods,” Fin confirms. “They feel really light and work really good with light line and are sensitive. It’s like I can feel what the fish is doing so I don’t break the line. It’s cool.”

So, what’s next for Finnegan Arnold?

“The IGFA noticed my interest and they offered me an internship so I could learn more about everything they do,” Fin says. “It’s cool and exciting. Besides their records, they have educational programs that teach people about fishing in different ways. They also have a lot of conservation programs to support fish and fishing around the world.“For my fishing, I’m trying to go for the two-pound-line mahi mahi record,” Fin continues. “That’s the one I’m really going for right now. I’m also looking at the bonefish records… the fly-fishing ones. They’d be super cool, too.”

But for Fin and Jason, the real appeal isn’t just more records. It’s also spending time together and making memories.

“I mean, we’re traveling around everywhere to some really cool places together just to get some records,” Fin says. “A lot of people don’t get to do that kind of stuff. It’s really cool for me because it’s things I’ve never experienced and it’s amazing. I love it and I’m grateful I get to do it with my dad. It’s really fun and makes fishing a lot more exciting. It’s almost like it gives fishing, not a purpose, but more of like something besides just fun or entertainment. You get an actual reward from it and each one is a memory I’ll never forget.”For more information on the IGFA and its process for certifying a world-record catch, visit igfa.org.

Learn more about Jason Arnold’s work at jasonarnoldphoto.com.

Follow Finnegan Arnold’s world-record quest on Instagram @jason_arnold_creative.