Potential new world record sunfish

[Shawn Kellett]

by John Geiger

This panfish might be too big for a pan!

Robert Lawler, of Lake Havasu, Arizona, landed a huge 5-pound, 8.8-ounce, 16.75-inch redear sunfish on Lake Havasu. Lawler used a Texas-rigged 7-inch Power Worm to land the Texas-sized fish that featured a 19-inch girth.

Right now, it’s the semi-official new Arizona state record for the Colorado River, according to the Arizona Game & Fish Department. The previous state-record redear was caught in February of 2010 at Lake Havasu by a California angler. That fish was more than a pound lighter than Lawler’s catch, weighing 4 pounds, 2.24 ounces, and stretching 15.5 inches long.

There’s no doubt Lawler’s fish is a contender for a world record. The current all-tackle world record is 5 pounds, 7 ounces, according to the International Game Fish Association. Amos Gay caught the current record fish in a South Carolina diversion canal in 1998.

Heck, the bass barely get this big up here!

[TonyKay]

good lord that thing is a beast

[whitebassman]

Here's the pic.

[reinhard1]

you would think that guy could smile. he may still be in shock. what a beast!! good luck.

[itchmesir]

What a beast!

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Almost looks like a Crappie!!

[Avid Angler]

What a toad!!

[dfv87]

Monster!

[RumRiverRat]

Never to swim again.............a shame.

[porterhouse]

Man, That would be fun!

Brian

[David Bloom]

A Shame? I do not think that the new potential World Record is a shame. That my friend is an honor, and the only way to prove it is with the real fish, thats just the price you pay.

[TravP]

Never to swim again.............a shame.

Serious? I'm all about CPR, but that tank would be on my wall, no questions asked!

[srfishin15]

so you catch a world record fish, you say oh wow cool, (picture), put it back.? ARE YOU KIDDING?! I bet you 99.99% of hardcore catch and release anglers would keep a world record fish.

[nate larson]

Settle down...I think RRR is doing a little "trolling."

[smeese]

That sunfish was a "Tyrant" in that lake anyways Fertilize the "liberty tree" with it.

[Dirt_McGirt]

his eyes look so sad.

[MN BassFisher]

Is that redear sunfish crying, I think I see a small tear coming from it's left eye. Ha. What a HOG!! I feel like I have seen this picture surfacing a year or two ago....is there dates on this unreal catch?