Schmitz sets mark with record catch

Dan Schmitz of Jefferson City became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he hooked a river redhorse on Tavern Creek using a rod and reel.

The new “pole and line” record river redhorse caught April 15 by Schmitz weighed in nine pounds, 13 ounces. It broke the previous state-record pole-and-line river redhorse of nine pounds, 10 ounces caught on the Osage River in 2006. Schmitz was using worms when he caught the fish.

The Missouri Department of Conservation staff verified the record-weight fish using a certified scale in Jefferson City.

“I fought the fish for about 10 minutes before I got it to the bank,” Schmitz said. “I knew the fish was pretty big, but I didn’t know it was a state record until talking to MDC. I really can’t believe I caught a fish like this. I’m not a master angler. I’m just a hobby fisherman who loves to fish. I’m super excited to have the honor to be a state record holder.”

River redhorse fish are a part of the sucker family. They are a moderately chubby, coarse-scaled fish with a dorsal fin containing 12 or 13 rays. These fish are can be found mostly throughout the Ozarks.

Schmitz’s fish also beats the current world record. While the river redhorse does get much larger, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) only recognizes fish taken by pole and line.

“Larger river redhorses are usually taken by gigging and do not qualify for the IGFA world record,” MDC fisheries programs specialist Andrew Branson said. “Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish and this new unique record clearly shows why. This fish could be the largest river redhorse ever taken with a pole and line.”

Schmitz added it’s hard to believe he may be a world record holder.

“I just can’t believe it,” he said. “One day I’m fishing for fun and the next I could be a world record holder,” he said. “I’m still in disbelief.”

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.