Caught this guy at the end of a long cast with a spook Jr that is now missing paint. Measured around 33-36 inches and is the biggest fish I've caught. Can anyone tell me what it is?

He smashed my spook just in front of the stick up right in front of the shoreline, then an epic battle began.

In case anyone was wondering, caught him on a brand new Fenwick smallmouth 6'10 m/f, curado 51 with 40lb power pro and 10lb cxx leader.

Geez, idk.. I've seen those before, but the name eludes me, I wonder if it has a giant lung.. Looks like something from the Amazon. Nice Pics though!

Bowfin?

 

There are some pics in this thread http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/146225-new-pb-bowfin-woo/

 

Tom

That was my first thought by the tail fin doesn't match?

https://www.google.com/search?q=bowfin&client=ms-android-hms-tmobile-us&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Q1BeVM-JMJS0yATP54K4BA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=360&bih=567

I don't think it's a bowfin at all, the top and bottom fin are matching in your pic, plus it's mouth is quite different too..

The scales on mine are large too. I've seen him before hanging around this storm drain and figured it was a carp? Until now.

Another pic.

It isn't a bowfin, this is what a bowfin looks like.

Edit: Whoops just noticed someone posted my threads link In here... Guess I'm always looking for excuses to post pictures of my catches haha

Maybe a silver arowana, they are an amazon fish but it looks like your catch. 

That is a silver arowana.  Probably an aquarium pet released because it was getting too big.  And they are topwater feeders and visual predators.  Use their good eyesight to launch out of the water and eat insects and small animals that live in the branches above the water in the Amazon.....cool catch.

That is very very COOL! Crazy an aquarium pet could survive in the wild and thrive after being released from captivity!

Yup.

https://www.google.com/search?q=silver+arowana&client=ms-android-samsung&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=g3peVKDVOYugyQTvOg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=360&bih=567

It had to have been a pet that was released. Curious how long it's been in this lake. This one was full grown according to Wikipedia.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_arowana

The fight this fish put up was fantastic and he did jump a few times before I got him close enough to see what it was. Definitely surprising.

Did you weight it? Pretty cool to catch an exotic of that size. 

No scale but measured against the rod it was 33-36 inches.

Very cool catch!

Jeff

Amazing catch. Arowana is on my bucket list.

Amazing catch. Arowana is on my bucket list.

Now that I know what they are, they should be on everyone's bucket list! Right along side the peacocks which are from the same waters in the Amazon.

If you had caught it's cousin from Asia, the Golden Arowana, they are pretty pricey and highly valued in the far east culture and are considered to be good luck and bring prosperity. 

Now that I know what they are, they should be on everyone's bucket list! Right along side the peacocks which are from the same waters in the Amazon.

Now that you've caught your arowana you need to step it up to the arapaima

Now that you've caught your arowana you need to step it up to the arapaima

Or a tigerfish...

https://www.google.com/search?redir_esc=&redir_esc=&hl=en-US&client=ms-android-verizon&source=android-browser-type&v=210020210&qsubts=1415539067828&q=tiger%20fish

Or a tigerfish...

https://www.google.com/search?redir_esc=&redir_esc=&hl=en-US&client=ms-android-verizon&source=android-browser-type&v=210020210&qsubts=1415539067828&q=tiger%20fish

They've always looked like a striped bass with big teeth and orange fins to me.

Now that you've caught your arowana you need to step it up to the arapaima

I know, right! Hey, I might luck out and have one of those monsters in this lake as well, lol.

So the question is... did you release it?

 

And is that a sunken boat in the background?

 

Josh

Your catch looks considerably cooler in color than the photos in the google link you posted. A serious bruiser!

So the question is... did you release it?

And is that a sunken boat in the background?

Josh

Yeah, it was released safely.

And that is a boat. It's been there for sometime. This guy had a thing with trying to get behind it and break off but I managed to keep him turned.