A 15-year-old Arkansas angler was fishing for crappie earlier this month when his line became stuck on what he initially thought was a log. But the log began to move….
A 15-year-old Arkansas angler was casting for crappie earlier this month when his line became stuck on what he initially thought was a log.
But the log began to move and that’s when Logan Cernosek “realized it was huge fish,” he told the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
The largemouth bass, caught April 2 at an undisclosed location in Randolph County, tipped a portable scale at 12 pounds, 4 ounces. It placed Logan among an elite few in the state who have caught bass topping 10 pounds.
The AGFC Fisheries Division stated on Facebook: “The fish was weighed on a portable scale and then released to grow even bigger and hopefully be caught again someday. Logan said he never thought he would catch a bass this big in his lifetime.”
The Arkansas record for largemouth bass is the 1976 catch of a 16-pound, 8-ounce largemouth at Mallard Lake.
The world record is a tie at 22 pounds, 4 ounces, for catches in Japan (2009) and Georgia, USA (1932).
A Kansas angler was recognized Tuesday for his recent catch of a massive white crappie that broke a 59-year-old state record.
A Kansas angler was recognized Tuesday for his recent catch of a massive white crappie that broke a 59-year-old state record.
Bobby Parkhurst of Topeka reeled the 4.07-pound, 18-inch crappie from Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake No. 2 on March 5 after enticing the fish onto his hook with a live minnow.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, in a news release issued Wednesday, stated that the astonishing weight of the fish “was the equivalent of six cans of soup.”
Assistant Director of Fisheries John Reinke, who measured the crappie, observed: “As fisheries biologists, we get the chance to see a lot of big fish but this one is certainly for the books. This crappie measured in at 18 inches long and 14 inches in girth, so it truly deserves a spot on the state record list.”
The previous state record was the 1964 catch of a 4.02-pound, 17.5-inch white crappie by Frank Miller.
The world record for white crappie stands at 5 pounds, 3 ounces, for a 1957 catch at Mississippi’s Enid Dam.
An angler landed a prehistoric fish that has survived in the nasty waters of the Trinity River near Dallas, unlike other fish species.
Fisherman Alberto Flores stated he was “chasing river monsters” and managed to hook one Sunday near Dallas in the West Fork of the Trinity River, also referred to as the River of Death.
Flores landed a 5-foot-plus alligator gar, a prehistoric fish that has survived in the nasty waters of the Trinity, unlike other fish species.
The Trinity River is so polluted it earned the “River of Death” nickname because more than 1 million fish have died in its waters over a 15-year period, as reported by Chron.
“Decades of pollution and mass death of other species have yet to vanquish this uniquely ancient and resilient fish,” Chron stated.
Flores posted video of his catch on TikTok. (Note: The video doesn’t appear on some media platforms, in which case you’ll need to go to the link to view it.)
“This girl put up a beautiful fight, beautiful fish,” Flores said in the video. “I think she’s ready to go back, so we’re going to get her back into the water.”
He carried the alligator gar to the edge of the dirty river, put it down on the bank and the fish slithered its way back home.
One commenter on TikTok asked Flores, “That’s good eating, why did you put it back in?”
His reply: “We don’t eat fish out of the Trinity River.”
— Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) (@TheSFC_official) March 22, 2023
On April 15th, several NFL players will trade their cleats and gloves for a fishing rod. One will be the Denver Broncos’ very own Pat Surtain II.
Surtain will join the likes of Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins, Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings and A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles and several others as they compete in a fishing competition in an event called “The Catch.”
The NFL stars will help raise awareness for the Sports Fishing Championship’s community champions. While we don’t expect Surtain and others to be as good as professional fishermen, bringing attention to a cause is always a plus.
Lastly, the NFL stars will partner with the best professional anglers. According to Mark Neifeld, CEO & Commissioner of Sport Fishing Championship, this event is a win-win.
“It’s a massive moment for our sport,” Neifeld said. “Competitive saltwater fishing live on CBS on consecutive Saturdays following the NCAA Final Four and The Masters — this was unthinkable only a year ago. Our talented athletes earned this platform alongside other sporting greats.”
Check out Surtain and the other NFL stars as they compete on April 15th.
Pack up your tackle box and get your rod ready for a day full of fishing. By now, most experienced anglers know the places to avoid. Many lakes and ponds simply don’t have what it takes to be quality fishing holes. Identifying the best places to go fishing can be more difficult, though.
In the United States, there are countless places to cast a line, but few qualify as top fishing spots. If you’re planning a weekend fishing trip, don’t waste your time at lackluster lakes. Instead, explore this list of the country’s best fishing locations. These eight destinations promise peak conditions for pro anglers.
A sportfishing guide in Fiji shared footage Monday showing false killer whales attacking a hooked 300-pound marlin, leaving only the head for the anglers.
**UPDATE: The mammals in the footage were initially identified by the fishing guide (and reported here) as pilot whales, but they are false killer whales
A sportfishing guide in Fiji shared footage Monday showing false killer whales attacking a hooked 300-pound marlin, leaving only the head for the anglers.
“Can hardly believe what we witnessed today!” Jaga Crossingham, guide at Kokomo Private Island Fiji, exclaimed via Instagram. “A fired up pack of [false killer whales] took down this 140kg+ Marlin, Swipe to see what happened!”
Viewers who swipe on the post will see a false killer whale releasing its grasp on the marlin’s head just off the stern. “Wow, they ate everything,” someone on the boat observes.
The next clip shows the mammals swimming behind the boat as if hoping to continue the feast. The final clip is a still shot of a false killer whale near the marlin’s head.
Crossingham told FTW Outdoors that the marlin was on the hook for about 15 minutes “when I realized the [false killer whales] were starting to behave more like a pack of sharks. The whole attack was only a couple of minutes.”
False killer whales are found around the world in tropical and temperate waters, usually far offshore.
They’re highly social animals that typically travel in small groups associated with a larger pod. They prey largely on squid and fish and often share prey with other pod members.
They are so sociable that they’ve even been known to share prey with boaters and divers.
Said Crossingham: “It definitely was a strange experience, they almost were offering it back to us. They kept nosing the head back to the surface after they devoured the whole body.”
#Chiefs DT Chris Jones is set to compete alongside six other NFL players in a saltwater fishing tournament benefiting the Coast Guard Foundation.
Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones is set to participate in a first-of-its-kind fishing competition next month.
Jones will compete with other NFL superstars alongside Sport Fishing Championship’s leading anglers in “The Catch” saltwater fishing tournament on CBS live from the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on Saturday, April 15. Together the players will compete to raise awareness for Sport Fishing Championship’s ocean-based “community champions.” The competition will also benefit the Coast Guard Foundation.
Here’s a look at the other NFL stars set to compete in the tournament.
The coastal waters off Miami will be the arena as two teams are divided and will be captained by the SFC’s Billfish Championship top competitors, including reigning 2022 Champion Capt. Justin Drummond of Team Quantified, 2022 SFC Fan Vote Angler of The Year Jaselyn Berthelot of Rising Sons and 2022 SFC Wahoo Champion and Atlantic Division rival Capt. Taylor Sanford with Team Gypsea.
The competition will use SFC’s billfish catch-and-release scoring system and the exhibition will showcase the Coast Guard Foundation – the premier non-profit organization that supports active U.S. Coast Guard members, veterans and their families through investments that support families, bolster unit morale and honor the Coast Guard’s national mission.
Jones is set to be a team captain opposite Herbert, so there’s a bit of an AFC West rivalry going on already. “The Catch” will be broadcast live from boats, helicopters and on-site from the Fontainebleau from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 15, on CBS.
A U.K. angler has gained notoriety for his recent catch of a nearly 45-pound pike that set a record for Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, England.
A U.K. angler has gained notoriety for his Feb. 16 catch of a nearly 45-pound pike that set a record for Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, England.
“Fish like this really are the stuff of dreams,” Matt Hayes, a TV personality, exclaimed Tuesday on Facebook. “I can only imagine what Nicholas felt when this leviathan rolled into the landing net.”
Nick Gahagan released the 44-pound, 7-ounce pike after posing with his catch for photos.
He told ForTheWin Outdoors: “It was the hardest fighting fish I’ve ever encountered, so strong that my [rod] was absolutely bent double.
“I really did think she was gonna spool me on her first run as she went off like an absolute train. The fight went on for a good while before she rolled to the surface and succumbed to the net.”
Catches of 40-pound pike have become increasingly rare. For comparison, the world record for pike stands at 55 pounds, 1 ounce, set in 1986 at Germany’s Lake of Grefeern.
The British record, set in 1992, is 46 pounds, 13 ounces.
Hayes continued: “The term ‘dream fish’ is overused but in this case I don’t think that there is any doubt about it. You could fish for several lifetimes and still not catch a 40-pound pike.”
Gahagan, for the most part, let others boast on his behalf. Holy Mackerel Fish Oil Co. described his bait-scenting process via Facebook:
“Fishing from the bank, Nick set out with the plan to spod out a mixture of chopped-up fish, which he had soaked in Holy Mackerel Natural Predator Extreme Quality Bait Attractant for two weeks in advance.
“Fishing near the baited area with a sardine dead-bait that he had injected with Holy Mackerel Natural Predator, Nick would receive a take from what he described as the best-fighting fish he’s ever caught.”
Images courtesy of Nick Gahagan
Gahagan said the pike swam away in good health after the release.
Northern pike, found globally in northern, or Arctic waters, are ambush predators that prey on fish, crustaceans, birds, insects and small mammals.
They’re prized by anglers for their fighting ability but also as table fare.
A popular catching method involves trolling large lures and plugs, but still-fishing with baits also can be effective.
Gahagan said he was using an Ugly Stik rod and Fox Rage Predator Elite 40-pound braid, with his drag set for big fish.
A Georgia angler has tied a 21-year-old state record with the catch of a nearly 15-pound sheepshead near the seaport community of Sunbury.
A Georgia angler has tied a 21-year-old state record with the catch of a nearly 15-pound sheepshead near the seaport community of Sunbury.
“To be honest, I’ve been telling folks it’s been my goal to catch a state record for 10 or 12 years,” Golden, an avid fisherman from nearby Midway, told the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “I’m excited to say that I did it.”
The DNR certified the catch Feb. 2. The official weight was 14 pounds, 14.37 pounces; close enough to tie the record catch of a 14-pound, 14-ounce sheepshead by Ralph White in 2002.
Golden, 63, used an oyster for bait while fishing with Capt. Harry Robertson aboard a private boat.
Top image shows Ben Golden with his record-tying sheepshead. This image shows Ralph White with his record sheepshead caught in 2002.
Sheepshead, immensely popular among Georgia anglers, are often referred to as “convict fish” because of vertical stripes on their bodies.
The Georgia DNR stated that catches in the 7-pound range are common and that the fish “primarily live inshore, often near rocky areas, docks, bridges or artificial reefs, or other areas with barnacles.”
(The world record stands at 21 pounds, 4 ounces, for a sheepshead catch off New Orleans in 1982.)
Sunbury, on the bank of the Midway River, was founded in 1758. On the eve of the American Revolution the town boasted as many as 1,000 residents, but by the mid-1800s it was mostly abandoned.
Explore Southern History describes the Ghost Town of Sunbury as “one of Georgia’s most ‘dead’ or lost towns.”
A 13-year-old boy landed a giant walleye to win a Minnesota charity tournament that attracted participants from around the world.
A 13-year-old boy was the top angler Saturday at a Minnesota charity tournament that attracted participants from around the world.
Zac Padrnos claimed bragging rights at the 33rd annual Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza by reeling in a 9.45-pound walleye that struck his jig at a depth of 50 feet.
Padrnos, who is from Minnesota, was fishing with 3-pound-test line, so landing the hefty walleye presented a major challenge.
“He thought it was a tullibee, but in the end with adrenaline running he ended up reeling in a fish of a lifetime, a walleye,” event staff stated via Facebook.
Walleye are the most sought-after game fish in Minnesota. The state record stands at 17 pounds, 8 ounces.
The Brainerd Jaycees boasted that nearly 12,000 people from as far as Australia and France participated in the event. A record 14,300 holes were drilled into area lakes by volunteers on Friday.
Padrnos won a Ford F150 truck, which was among the donated prizes. It was to be claimed by his guardians.
The Brainerd Jaycees said that this year’s largest beneficiary of the charity competition is the Confidence Learning Center, an outdoor education facility for people experiencing cognitive and developmental disabilities.
The group has donated $4.3 million to more than 75 charities since the first event was held in 1991.
