BRISTOL, Fla. — A new state record spotted bass has been certified in Florida after a 40-year-old record was broken by an angler fishing the Apalachicola River.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Joe Durden, of Blountstown, caught a 3.93-pound spotted bass measuring 18.25 inches during the Fifth Annual Liberty County Bulldog Booster Bass Tournament out of Bristol Landing.
FWC Law Enforcement Officer Wil Raker certified the record after confirming the fish’s weight on a certified scale at Jerkins Angus Farm in Bristol.
“I knew right away this was potentially a state record,” said Mr Durden. “This was the biggest spotted bass I had ever seen on the river.”
Durden, an avid tournament fisherman, said he landed the fish using a crankbait and LiveScope technology. A freshwater fisheries biologist with the FWC also met with Mr Durden to verify the species.
“Catching a state record fish is a tremendous accomplishment for any angler,” said Andy Strickland, fisheries biologist with FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
“Particularly a record that’s held the test of time for 40 years.”
The previous state record for spotted bass was 3.75 pounds, caught by Dow Gilmore on June 24, 1985, also on the Apalachicola River.
The Apalachicola River is home to multiple black bass species, including the Florida bass and the shoal bass. It is known as a productive and diverse waterway that also supports healthy populations of bream and catfish.
Bristol is located about six miles east of Blountstown via State Road 20. Blountstown is located in Calhoun County, while Bristol is situated in Liberty County.
Anglers can view state record fish listings here. Anyone who believes they’ve caught a record fish is encouraged to contact the nearest FWC regional office. Contact details are available at MyFWC.com/Contact.
