On June 11, a 15-year-old angler landed a 117-pound, 8-ounce blue catfish from Lake Gaston, breaking the North Carolina state record for the third time in six months. Landon Evans caught the fish, which measured 55 inches in length and 40½ inches in girth, using cut shad as bait.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission confirmed the new state record after the fish was weighed on certified scales at Ace Hardware in Littleton and examined and identified by District 3 Assistant Fisheries Biologist Evan Cartabiano.
To qualify for a N.C. Freshwater Fish State Record, anglers must have caught the fish by rod and reel or cane pole, have the fish weighed on a scale certified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture, witnessed by one observer, have the fish identified by a fisheries biologist from the Commission, and submit an application with a full, side-view photo of the fish.
Evans’ blue catfish toppled the previous state record, held by Zakk Royce since Dec. 21. Royce, of Murfreesboro, caught two state record blue catfish within a 24-hour period last December. He set his first state record on Dec. 20 with a fish that weighed 91 pounds and measured 53 inches in length. He followed up that impressive feat with a second state record that weighed 105 pounds and measure 55.75 inches in length.
For a list of all freshwater fish state records in North Carolina or more information on the State Record Fish Program, click here. For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, www.ncwildlife.org/fishing or call the Inland Fisheries Division, (919) 707-0220.
source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission