Taney County angler catches state-record sunfish

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports Dominik Penner of Merriam Woods Village became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he caught a redear sunfish on Table Rock Lake. The new “alternative method” record fish caught by Penner on May 14 weighed 1 pound, 5 ounces.

Penner’s recent catch broke the previous state record of 1-pound, 1-ounce, caught earlier this year. Penner caught the fish on a trotline. A trotline is a heavy fishing line with baited hooks attached at intervals by means of branch lines called snoods. A snood is a short length of line which is attached to the main line using a clip or swivel with the hook at the end.

MDC weighed the redear sunfish on a certified scale at Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson.

“This is the sixth state-record fish this year. 2017 is shaping up to be a year for state-record fish,” said MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. “The mild weather we have had this year means more anglers are fishing, and catching big fish.”

Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl. For more information on state-record fish, visit the MDC website at http://on.mo.gov/2efq1vl.