At the Lake Wilson Road Trip on the very first day,(Wednesday 4-30) I was fishing in the tailraces with an Alabama Bass Guide (Ryan Salzman).  We were deep cranking (16-20ft) cranks and catching plenty of fish.  Combo of white bass, drum, and gar all while looking for the elusive smallmouth.  On one cast, I set the hook and my line took off.  And when I say it took off, it was flying.  Trolling motor on high and the current to our backs we weren't even making headway.  When the spool was about empty, we jumped on the big motor to run it down.  3/4 of a mile down the river we still haven't seen it.  I am thinking big stripe.  Maybe flathead, but there wasn't a roll to be seen.  Finally we see it, and it's HUGE.  But not a flathead.  And not a stripe.  But a GIANT Paddlefish.  Also known as Spoonbill.  After a lengthy battle, we get its bill in the net, and then attempt to tail rope it.  Then came getting it in the boat.  We do so quickly, take a few pics, get it back in the water and start Googling Alabama DNR and state record.  Turns out the state record is 52lbs 12oz.  This one was WAY over that.  Then we get the DNR guy on the phone and he tells us it is a protected species, to snap a pic and get a measurement and get her release back quickly.   So that we did. 

 

She was longer than I am tall.  And from lifting her, Gene, the guide and myself know she was WAY over 53lbs.  Official measurement is 67 3/4''.  Which is almost 5' 8'' long.

 

***Shameless Plugs***

 

Caught on a Supertuned Curado 200e5 with carbontex drags by DVT

St. Croix AVC70mhm

Bomber BD8F citrus shad

Seaguar Tatsu 10lb

Fishing with Ryan Salzman- Alabama Bass Guide

 

Well all I can say is in the second picture the fish on the right is the most pretty.

 

Congrats on a paddle fish of your lifetime. Pretty cool accomplishment. 

shattered indeed!!!!

 

 

I couldn't even imagine!

WOW! That is something else alright!

BIG fish......TINY guy    

Congrats! Must be a awesome feeling.

Brian

fat fish with a little guy.......

 

(sung in your best chris Farley voice)

Nice Job Jeff ~

 

Neat fish & Cool Picture.

 

A-Jay

Nice!!! Was the bait actually in its mouth, or did you snag it?

Bravo

Nice work! 

Nice!

Nice!!! Was the bait actually in its mouth, or did you snag it?

Hooked in side. They are plankton eaters. Would have to be 1 in a trillion chance to hook em in the mouth.

Jeff

 

Hooked in side. They are plankton eaters. Would have to be 1 in a trillion chance to hook em in the mouth.

Jeff

 

so you are saying THERE'S A CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOO HOOOOO

Great catch!!!

Wow, you pulled that thing in on 10lb Tatsu??  

 

 

 

Mind = blown!  

Wow, you pulled that thing in on 10lb Tatsu??  

 

 

 

Mind = blown!  

 

I know!! That is pretty impressive. It speaks to the strength of the line too.

Congrats Jeff! What an accomplishment!

I am still amazed, nothing better than watching good friends catch something HUGE

 

and true Tatsu = awesomeness.

someone must have tied a pretty good blood knot to the backing...

I am still amazed, nothing better than watching good friends catch something HUGE

 

and true Tatsu = awesomeness.

someone must have tied a pretty good blood knot to the backing...

 

X2 ~

 

And I have to mention - any time someone mentions using a Tail Rope while bass fishing, it gets my attention . . . .

 

A-Jay

X2 ~

 

And I have to mention - any time someone mentions using a Tail Rope while bass fishing, it gets my attention . . . .

 

A-Jay

Was probably like watching an episode of Wicked Tuna

Congrats!! I cant imagine how much adrenaline was pumping as you got the first glimpse of that monster!!

Whats the world record for a paddlefish??

nice catch, so are you actually trying to get credit for a state record? or just happy with your catch and knowing it could be the state record?

I know!! That is pretty impressive. It speaks to the strength of the line too.

It speaks to how good he is at landing fish and understanding the principal of drag, he could have landed the fish with any brand line.