While fishing at Lady Bird Lake for the Toys for Tots Tourney / Santa Claus Classic (kayak fishing) I landed this awesome fish. C&R record is 12", capture record is 11.5". This gorgeous fish was 13.5" (13" to the fork) and was released to fight again with a ton of attitude. A buddy got the release on video which should be available next week. I'll be filling out the paper work here in a bit to submit for a C&R record. I caught it on a Hag's Tornado, F4 size in Purple Haze. Someone asked about getting an official weight on her but that would mean killing the fish. No thanks. C&R records are fine by me.

Super Fish! Congratulations on your pending STATE RECORD!





Side Note: Lady Bird Lake has some Monster Sunfish. Good job Sir!

Looks like it won't be a record. After looking at the other pictures, people more in the know than I have deemed this a redear. The opercle flap has coloring around the border (green) which is not present on a bluegill.

I could not get a good look at the fish in your picture. A 13 plus inch Bluegill would have been one of a very few. Good chance it was a Redear. Still a super fish.

Here is the better look at the identifier.

I would say a Redear. Good job!





Side Note: You may want to email Ron Smith with the Angler Recognitions Awards Program and send him a picture of your fish. He is with the Texas Parks and Wildlife and is in charge of the State records program. Never hurts to get an official ruling. His Web address in on the TPW Web site under Angler Recognition Awards in the fishing section.

That fish is giant! Thanks for sharing.

a true whopper ......
very nice fish ....
KABOOM

Kent told me about this and I almost started crying lol.
(I think he told me on purpose to see me sweat for a minute, I did turn paper white)
I really love having the bluegill C&R state record.
I noticed it was a redear and I was relieved!!
Still an awesome fish!!!
Thanks for the scare!

Hey Ash can you share that pic with us?

here is the original post I made with the fish. at the time i didnt know it was a record. it is the 5th, 6th and 7th picture. 12" bluegill.
thanks for asking me to post the pic. i enjoyed looking thru all my old posts and reliving the great memories.
my post

Chris my friend you really almost caused me a lot of heart ache LOL. Im afraid Ash is quite fond of her title and will take it out on the closest person if someone beats it...that closest person will most likely be me LOL. Great fish, and some weekend after april holler at us and we would love to do a vid of these big "PERCH" we have here.

Great Red ear!!! A true trophy. Congrats on an awesome fish!

Nice Fish!

Thanks Ash that is a super fish too!