"It's a great, prestigious thing — a once-in-a-lifetime achievement," 

Wilson sports fisherman Billy Ray Lucas was recently informed by the International Game Fish Association that his cobia catch of 116 pounds, eight ounces on June 11 has been proclaimed an angling world record. Earlier, the prize was declared a North Carolina record by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

"It's a great, prestigious thing — a once-in-a-lifetime achievement," Lucas gratefully said. "I surely wasn't looking for it; it just happened.

"In the whole wide world, I'm the individual who caught the biggest cobia (in the 80-pound test line category)."

The accomplishment has motivated Lucas, the owner of Billy Ray's Auto Service, to pursue a rockfish world record. The standard is 78 pounds and Lucas' largest catch has been 36 pounds.

On the second Sunday in June, Lucas, aboard Captain Troy Crane's Marauder vessel along with partners Randy Glenn, Joe Smith; retired captain Vernon Barrington and mate Jeff Floyd, headed out of Oregon Inlet.

Lucas, while fishing on his boat, Rockfish Crazy, the previous day was almost 100-percent convinced he spotted the record cobia.

In the same area near Salvo, he landed the state- and world-record fish on 50-pound test line after a fight of nearly 45 minutes.

However, the cobia was recognized as a world record for 80-pound test line instead of 50 because it overtested.

"Specifications allow 52.76 and mine came back at 53.51," Lucas explained. "They overtest 90 percent of the time. I had no control over that."

However, the magnitude of the accomplishment was anything but diminished.

Lucas shattered a record (106-plus pounds) that had existed since Sept. 30, 1980. The 50-pound test world mark of 112-plus pounds was recorded in 1986.

"They bumped it one line class," Lucas noted, "and it blew the 80-pound record out of the water."

The accomplishment has resulted in Lucas receiving more than notoriety.

"I've got some tackle endorsements," he said, "and some potential sponsorships for my fishing. It's nothing extravagant, but you get noticed."

Lucas plans to mount the record cobia, although he's not certain where it will be displayed. He expects a mold to be available within the next few days.

And he iterates the carcass will not be thrown away. The N.C. Musuem of Science of Raleigh has expressed an interest in obtaining it and Lucas also mentions donating it to a special wing of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

Lucas turned to sportfishing upon terminating a successful Late Model Stock auto racing career in 2001.

His largest cobia catch since that record-setting Sunday has been 57 pounds. Now, rockfishing holds more appeal and Lucas plans to head to Mann's Harbor or Oregon Inlet 8-10 times per month.

"I'm more serious than I was (about fishing)," Lucas admitted. "And rockfishing is my passion. I enjoy catching this fish. I have read a lot about them and I fish for them entirely different from most folks."

Lucas doesn't deny he will be ever mindful of another world record.

"It would be cool to break the world record," he excitedly said. "And if it's meant to be, it will happen. If not, I will fish to have fun."

However, Lucas does note that the next rockfish world record-holder will become an instant millionaire.

Don't forget your friends, Billy Ray!
