World record sunfish?

[Lee Borgersen]

 Arizona Angler Lands Pending World Record Redear Sunfish  
 
February 21, 2014  
 
Hector Brito holds up a possible world record redear sunfish.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department announced on Thursday that the state may soon be home to the world’s largest angler-caught redear sunfish.

Hector Brito pulled his massive 5.78-pound catch from Lake Havasu on Sunday with a dropshot rig, No. 8 Aberdeen gold hook, and a nightcrawler.

“(Brito) said he thought it was a catfish,” said John Galbraith, who weighed the fish on a certified scale. “I don’t know what the genetic potential is for redear. But this record fish was not even a spawning fish. There’s some out there that are in the mid-six (pound range) easy.”

The previous record was a 5.55-pound fish caught by Bob Lawler in 2011. While certainly a state record, Brito must now wait for his fish to be confirmed as the world’s largest by the International Game Fish Association.

Wildlife officials say Lake Havasu is home to a population of unusually large sunfish because of the existence of invasive quagga mussels.

Redear sunfish, also known as shellcrackers for their habits of snacking on shellfish, are a favorite of many anglers because of their rich flavor. While they usually dine on snails, biologists have found that the fish is a useful ally against quagga mussels, which damage local ecosystems with their presence.

Redear sunfish meander along the bottoms of lakes searching for these tasty morsels, which the fish then crack open with powerful teeth and swallow in chunks. The mussel is forced through its hardened throat, where an additional set of teeth destroy the shells.

Because of their popularity with anglers and providing little direct competition for other fish, shellcrackers have been stocked in many lakes across the nation.

Image courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department

[mathews4ever]

You can catch monsters like that out on Robuor lake just north of Stark, MN. Horseshoe just down the road is pretty good too.

[wile e coyote]

Hey there now mathews, those are my home lakes you're talikng about there. I don't need all those city folk coming out this way and fishing out my hole. There are enough already coming out here, I swear some guys have have no idea there are other lakes to fish in the area. But honestly, i watch where they fish and they aint catching nothing! BTW, that is one hell of a fish that guy has there, must be because of "global warming" those fish are so big! 

[snow1]

Mathew~ .... We would be lucky to see a 13" gill here in Mn let alone a 17"er.

Havasu is well known for having wall hangers,folks from over the country show up and pound this resevoir,sure would be fun to give it a whirl.

[glenn57]

  comparing that fish to a Minnesota bluegill, well that's like comparing an apple to an  orange or ........well i'll be nice!!!!!!!!!!

[mathews4ever]

Oh snow, the only reason you believe that to be true is because the Aluminati keeps all the monster sunfish spots secret. As a lifelong member I know this to be true.

I feel that I might have said to much.

[ray634]

This is the same lake that got another record sunfish a year or 2 ago. That guy was just trying a  reel when the monster bit. again in the 5# class. Those sunfish would put most MN bass to shame.