During spawning, the margin of the males gill cover flap turns bright red. There are some people in this world who go after those big fish day in and day out in hopes of breaking their state records. Redear sunfish description, diet, lifespan and record sea. The fish blew away the arizona state record by more than a pound and. This is our new world record shellcrackerred ear fish replica mount. The existing worldrecord shellcracker, which weighed 4 pounds and 10 ounces, was caught in the same pond in may 1985.
They will spawn in eight to 15 feet of water depending on how clear the water is. Located just outside of prescott, this tiny, 15acre lake produced the arizona state record bluegill in 2004. In february 2014, the current igfa alltackle world record, a behemoth weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces, was caught there. The state record and onetime world record is a 5pound, 712ounce fish. Igfa world records international game fish association. While many world record fish are shrouded in controversy, the only shadow associated with britos catch is the fact that larger redears undeniably lurk in havasu. Apr 26, 2012 instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water. Freshwater world records for fish fishing guides fishermans view welcome you to the freshwater world records for fish. Believe it or not, shellcracker will associate a cork with danger. Redears also feed on nymphs and other aquatic insects. I just found out that there is now a tie for the world record. As their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet.
Mar 08, 2020 check out some record setting fish plus discover the awards twra sponsors for your first fish and the tennessee angler recognition program. The links in the below table go to photos of either the record fish or a recent past record fish. The ncwrc inland fisheries division keeps a list of the largest common freshwater fish caught by hook and line in north carolina waters. Then in 1998, amos gay caught the worldrecord 5pound 7ounce. In order to be able to post messages on the pensacola fishing forum forums, you must first register. Green day we madmen are the aristocrats of mental illness. Georgia lake seminole and world record shellcrackers caught. I guess that knocks the old record shellcracker caught just down the road from me at merritts mill pond down to third or fourth place. The international game fish association has declared hectors 5 pound 12 ounce redear sunfish, caught feb. Use the search form above to find fishing world records for freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and more. By the end of march, depending on water temperatures and water levels, redears shellcracker start migrating to the shallows in preparation for the spawn.
Obtaining a spot in the guinness book of world records is always beyond exciting and creates quite a story for the rest of us to tell. Jun 12, 2016 just ask the golden state warriors, who, in april 2016, surpassed an nba record for regularseason winsset by michael jordans 96 chicago bullsan achievement long thought impossible to top. Freshwater fish records georgia fishing regulations. The record catch for a bluegill weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces. South carolina is not without those record holders. Relationship with humans edit the igfa all tackle world record for the species stands at 2. These records are updated as soon as they are verified. I was chosen to do the mount of the fish and am honored to present to you the completed custom cast replica of the new world record sunfish. But the world class shellcracker fishing produces an overflow of anglers to the shallow sectors of both lakes.
We can claim everything from a record breaking pepper to the fastest golf cart ever to run. Andy moores black crappie may have been a record, but hes all for catch and release. Southeastern outdoors south carolina state fishing records. Our fishing world records are official world record fish caught in freshwater. They have grinding pharyngeal teeth in their throat that enable them to crush the shells of little snails and small mussels. Search for the biggest fish in the international game fish associations database of biggest fish for each species. You can search all igfa world records for freshwater and saltwater fishes in alltackleline class, alltackle length for male, female and junior anglers. New north carolina shell cracker record established by teenage fisherman. Sep 28, 2010 when i saw the shellcracker, i said, dont you dare clean that fish its a record. Record catches range from handsized spot, perch and sunfish a bit more than a pound each to massive denizens of the deep such as the 1,780pound tiger shark caught in 1964 off cherry grove myrtle beach by one w. Georgia lake seminole and worldrecord shellcrackers caught.
Redear sunfish, aka shellcrackers, in lake havasu grow to enormous. May 26, 2016 the coppernose bluegill is a subspecies of the common bluegill. You may be supervised to learn that the full moon plays a major role. New world record shellcracker red ear bream fish mount. The state record and onetime world record is a 5pound, 712ounce fish caught in the diversion canal in 1998. Apply for a north carolina state freshwater fishing record. South carolina state fishing records home outdoor activities fishing south carolina fishing records the following list of state record fish is according to the south carolina department of natural resources and includes south carolinas two world record fish. An avid fisherman, the lake havasu city, arizona, angler has landed his share. Pending worldrecord redear sunfish plucked from lake. When finding fish in new locations is slow, i know i can fall back on catching the usually overlooked panfish.
Check out some record setting fish plus discover the awards twra sponsors for your first fish and the tennessee angler recognition program. Hudson made the record setting catch on april 9, 1950, at ketona lake near tarrant, alabama. If you catch such a fish, contact the appropriate regional office. Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of march and april when their spawning activity peaks. Shellcracker redear sunfish cherry sunfish sun perch lepomis microlophus shellcrackers are also called redear sunfish due to the red tinge around the side fin.
Jul 30, 2018 shellcracker, or redear sunfish, are the biggest of the beam, with the world record a 4 pound ounce monster caught in florida in 1986. Arizona biologists acknowledge that sunfish of epic proportions have been on the upswing ever since exotic quagga mussels appeared in the reservoir in. They also eat other food like insects, worms, and crawfish, but feed on the bottom. Procedures for the certification of alabama state record freshwater fish. Its with good reason, because santee cooper is one of the top shellcracker fisheries in the world. According to the arizona game and fish department, a pending world record redear sunfish was hauled out of lake havasu, weighing in at a whopping 5. See what triggers this bully bluegill to bite and what bait to use. In the midwest, a 10inch bluegill was and still is a much coveted fish. So enjoy your visit at the freshwater world records. Heres a list of the world record holders for nearly all recorded freshwater and saltwater fish. The article reports that a 4pound, 15ounce shellcracker caught by travis jackson sets a new record for north carolina.
Arizona biologists acknowledge that sunfish of epic proportions have been on the upswing ever since exotic quagga mussels appeared in the reservoir in recent years. An absolute giant of a crappie was caught in a pond in paint rock, east tennessee by angler jam ferguson. Young angler jose reyes caught two awardwinning fish on the same day at paradise public fishing area. Shellcracker and bream fishing robert webster of hamlet, nc who has a camper at the lake tillery family campground, adjacent highway 2427, has been keeping a watch on the fishing conditions for shellcrackers and bream. To replace a record, versus tying one, the weight difference should exceed the following. In an article entitled mystery of world record solved. Mar 25, 2012 most fullgrown shellcrackers run eight to 11 inches and weigh 3. Sep 10, 2018 the term bream refers to any narrow, deepbodied freshwater panfish, and includes several different species. Usually the lures we use are bigger then most panfish, but then again, i had never caught a five pound sunfish before. New potential world record sunfish from arizonas lake. When we go for redear sunfish record analysis, we need to consider the arizona game and fish department, which tells redear sunfish world record is counted as of a catch out of lake havasu, weighing in at an astonishing 5.
In the south, shellcracker fishing is common among pan fisherman. Did you know these 10 amazing world records are held in sc. Detailed requirements are listed on the third page of the application. We catch 4pound shellcrackers every fall, and 2 to 3pound shellcrackers are fairly common, lamprecht reports.
These 10 really crazy world records are held in south carolina. John galbraith, proprietor of bass tackle master, weighed britos catch, and said he completed the necessary paperwork to apply for arizona and california state records, along with the igfa world record. This one is approx 14 inches and well over 4 lbs and was and still may be the world record size but we do many sizes in this colorful fish. Around the country, the prevalent breams may be known as brim, sunfish, panfish, or bream, but no matter what you call them, it is the first fish most of us caught and one of the bestflavored fish around they are round in many lakes and ponds, are easy to catch and provide hours of. Keep these numbers in the back of your mind the next time you hook a big one. If any questions or problems arise, call the kentucky department of fish and wildlife at 18008581549. The alltackle world record redear sunfish was caught by amos m. Teresa gardner of spring valley entered the record books on monday with the largest redear sunfish ever caught in san diego county. Brito called catching the giant fisha pending world record sunfish, no lessa wonderful experience that words cant fully describe. Mar 28, 2017 teresa gardner of spring valley entered the record books on monday with the largest redear. From this habit they get their common name, shellcracker. Hudson made the recordsetting catch on april 9, 1950, at ketona lake near tarrant, alabama.
According to the arizona game and fish department, a pending worldrecord redear sunfish was hauled out of lake havasu, weighing in at a whopping 5. This section includes those records, as well as information on how to apply for a new state fish record. Fish the ice for rainbow trout, dolly varden and lake trout. Shellcrackers look much like a bluegill on steroids, and of course, they have an opercular flap with an orangered edge ahead of a dark splotch. The arizona game and fish department cant verify that redear sunfish, also known as shellcrackers because of their pharyngeal teeth throat. The world record redear was caught in georgia and weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces. The bluegill had a girth of 18 14 inches, and was 15 inches in length. Fish must be caught in alabama waters by legal means. Thirteenyearold jackson of rocky mount, made the record on may 19, 2008 while fishing a local farm pond. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skills an d taste delicious when i eat them. Like all our detailed mounts this is cast from a real fish wboth eyes details on both sides and.
The souths best shellcracker holes hunting and fishing. We have the world records for all the types fish in fresh water. Photo of joey with his four pound, thirteen ounce world record shellcracker caught from merritts mill pond in florida. The igfa maintains the world records for all species of game fish. While its a great way to introduce a youngster to the great sport of fishing, it tends to bring out the kid in all of us once the bobber disappears time after time. The redear sunfish is the firstknown species of centrarchidae based on fossil records, as old as 16. World record sunfish redear fishing fury a fishing. Fishing floridas largest bluegill, the shellcracker. Heres a list of the world record holders for nearly all recorded freshwater and saltwater. They did install some radiation monitoring equipment a few years back in lake havasu city though the official word was they didnt have any particular reason to put the equipment there.
Nc freshwater fishing state record program the ncwrc inland fisheries division keeps a list of the largest common freshwater fish caught by hook and line in north carolina waters. These crappies are big enough to go into the records as one of the biggest crappies ever caught. Fish department, a pending worldrecord redear sunfish was hauled out of lake. See how robert lawler caught a tie for the world record sunfish while. Pound for pound, there is not another fish that out pulls these little bullies. The world record is five pounds, seven ounces, and while our recent outing on lake kissimmee, florida, didnt produce any fish close to the world record, many fish over a pound were taken. In 1998, santee cooper had a worlds record shellcracker that weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces caught in the diversion canal. Find out more about stocking coppernose bluegill or other fish in your pond today here. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skills and taste delicious when i eat them. The 5 most likely places the next world record bluegill will be.
Fishing for bluegill and shellcracker in the peak of the spawn is one of them. We both wanted to go after them with our fly rods aka buggy whoppers as acey wall, deceased use to call my fly rod. The previous world record for a shellcracker on a 6pound tippet is 1 pound, 10 ounces by shawn taylor on may 16, 2001 in lake windsor, ark. The first bluegill look like its been floating dead for a couple days. Shellcracker fishing tips and information on shellcracker fishing in florida on some of the top lakes in the country. And at least three other shellcrackers exceeding 5 pounds have been caught here in recent years. Oh, and in case you do, heres the application for international game fish association igfa world record recognition. Red ear and the world record his held here in lake havasu az at 5.
Shellcracker fishing tips and information on shellcracker fishing in florida on some of the top lakes in the. Other bluegill catches have topped the 4 poundrange since hudsons catch in 1950. Heres the new world record black crappie that was caught. For those of you who arent familiar with crappie fishing or fishing in general, this is groundbreaking. Its shellcracker fishing time on the santee cooper lakes.
The fish, which was caught on an earthworm, measured 15 116 inches. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake. Windham of ariton, in dale county, caught a 4pound, 10ounce shellcracker from merritts mill pond, which is only 16 miles from chattahoochee state park but that pond is in. But did you know the large colorado river reservoir bordering arizona and california is also home to some of the best redear sunfish aka shellcracker angling in the world. World record red ear sunfish caught at lake havasu in 2011. Floyds fish was the seventh consecutive staterecord shellcracker that was. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. New world record shellcracker pensacola fishing forum.
But the worldclass shellcracker fishing produces an overflow of anglers to the shallow sectors of both lakes. The big catch program gives recognition to anglers who catch fish that exceed the minimum qualifying weights and lengths. Robert lawler of lake havasu city, arizona, wasnt fishing for sunfishhe was barely fishing at allwhen he landed a potential world record redear may 2 on lake havasu. All 50 largemouth bass state records wide open spaces. Blue type denotes a world record fish either igfa or nffhf. Maybe the state government is hiding something down there. They are able to spit out the shell, retaining only the flesh of the shellfish. But because the fish was filleted before it could be weighed on a. So, in the realm of outdoor sports, which alltackle fishing records may never fall.
Native to florida and southeast georgia, it has a range similar to that of the florida largemouth bass. Bienvenue submitted the shellcracker, which allegedly weighed 2 pounds, 1 ounce, and was landed on a 6weight fly rod and 6pound tippet almost two weeks ago, to the international game fish association. And this possible new world record crappie is about to take the fishing world by storm. Massive dorado caught off cabo san lucas might have shattered world record this link opens in a new window. Hector brito caught this worldrecord redear sunfish at lake havasu in 2014. Body is rounded like other sunfish and has a relatively small mouth. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch is a freshwater fish in the family centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern united states. The following list of state record fish is according to the south carolina department of natural resources and includes south carolinas two world record fish, the channel catfish and redbreast sunfish. Yellowgreen or olive, with faint vertical bars and random dark spots.
See how your state stacks up against the others when it comes to record setting largemouth bass. Fine fishing no day spent teaching a child to fish is wasted. It is also known as a shellcracker due to its habit of feeding on snails and clams. Fish must be identified by a fisheries section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. New world record redear sunfish rubf fishing and hunting. By that time, havasu anglers had already seen a sharp increase in shellcracker size, but the question was why.
Far more common are adult fish in the six to ten inch range weighing less than a pound. Pending worldrecord redear sunfish plucked from lake havasu. Were at the time of year when lake havasu tacked its worldrecord pin on the fishing map. All anglers would like to have our names etched into stone for catching a record fish, especially the world record bass.
We decided to eat panfish today so we did some fishing. If an area has had alot of fishing pressure, a cork hitting the water surface can turn active fish off. There is another aspect of crappie fishing that has added so many thrills to the whole crappie fishing experience. The shellcracker is a challenge to paint well but shaun enjoys doing these fish. In this particular body of water the shell cracker have to be at least 10 to keep and limit of 10 per person. There was a solid jerk and the fish started pulling line, he recalls. A light subtle presentation and a slow fall can actually trigger strikes from fish that are spooky from heavy fishing pressure.