Anybody here ever come close to a state-record fish?

[Henry]

I was seven years old, fishing from the dock with my brother. We had caught several small sunfish, and a few medium bass, but nothing spectacular. While watching my worm wiggle on the hook, I saw a shadow dart under the dock. I dropped my bobber into the water, gave it a twitch, and waited. Within a minute, I saw the snout of a fish approaching my hook. I lifted the bait an inch or so, and before my eyes, a gaping maw consumed my hook. I yanked the rod, and the fish rolled, but didn’t fight. With great effort (not really), I lipped him underwater, and pulled him out for the world to see. What a sight. This thing was so old it was gray, and had wrinkles! It wasn’t heavy (4lbs) but it was 23.5” long. By far my biggest bass. And in the picture, it dwarfs my 7yo self.

As for records? Nope, none yet, but I have lots of memorable "big" fish. They are mostly memorable due to the circumstances surrounding their catch, though, not the fish itself. I remember one time... Just kidding, maybe another day-it's time for me to get some shut-eye.

Wow! He looks to be more than four pounds, but I may not be the best judge.

[MattM37]

I was seven years old, fishing from the dock with my brother. We had caught several small sunfish, and a few medium bass, but nothing spectacular. While watching my worm wiggle on the hook, I saw a shadow dart under the dock. I dropped my bobber into the water, gave it a twitch, and waited. Within a minute, I saw the snout of a fish approaching my hook. I lifted the bait an inch or so, and before my eyes, a gaping maw consumed my hook. I yanked the rod, and the fish rolled, but didn’t fight. With great effort (not really), I lipped him underwater, and pulled him out for the world to see. What a sight. This thing was so old it was gray, and had wrinkles! It wasn’t heavy (4lbs) but it was 23.5” long. By far my biggest bass. And in the picture, it dwarfs my 7yo self.

As for records? Nope, none yet, but I have lots of memorable "big" fish. They are mostly memorable due to the circumstances surrounding their catch, though, not the fish itself. I remember one time... Just kidding, maybe another day-it's time for me to get some shut-eye.

Great photo, thanks for including it.

[Henry]

Not yet, but maybe someday.

Just think of it as a state record in the making.

[country road]

Back in 1979, a few of us charter captains had been reading about the new ways of catching broadbill swordfish on the east coast and we decided to try it in the Gulf of Mexico off Orange Beach, AL. Four of us went out on the fastest sportsfisherman (45') to 2,000' depth and put down big squid with light stick at varying depths. To make a long story short, we caught three that night, with mine the biggest at 133#. It held the state record for a few months before being knocked off. State record because it was the first one brought in to an AL port caught on sporting tackle.

[WA Mtnhunter]

I caught what would have been an Alabama state record Chinook Salmon had it not been caught in British Columbia.

http://blackgoldlodge.com/trophy/2017/trophy_24.html

[Longnosegar]

Yes, Yes I have! On July 25th 1999 I set a new record in New York for the Longnose Gar. 13#3, a little over 4 feet. I been working on a second state record ever since. Not much luck on another record but I do so enjoy trying. I really want a record catfish. I understand two records will give me the right to brag until your ears bleed.