An angler in Oklahoma caught the new record rod and reel Paddlefish Sunday while fishing at Keystone Lake.
James Lukehart landed the 146 pounds, 11 ounces monster that measured 70.5 inches with a 45-inch girth, after quite a fight he told Tulsa World.
The paddlefish was certified as Oklahoma’s newest rod-and-reel-state record by Paddlefish Research Center and Northeast Region Fisheries staff, the state wildlife department wrote. Since paddlefish are not considered “sport fish,” and must be snagged, the International Game Fish Association does not keep records on the catches, Tula World reported. Instead, they are kept by biologists and state departments.
The fish was released “under the guidance of ODWC and monitored” for survival after its measurements were taken, the department shared. Only one paddlefish can be harvested a day and two per year, according to the state regulations as part of its ongoing conservation efforts for the prehistoric fish.