West Virginia officials have confirmed that on Saturday, March 19, Lucas King, of Burnsville, West Virginia, caught and released a new Mountain State record muskie.
King was fishing from the bank of the Little Kanawha River at a public access site in the tailwater section of Burnsville Dam in Braxton County, according to the state Division of Natural Resources
Kingโs record fish was 55.0625 inches long and weighed 51 pounds, according to division fisheries biologist Aaron Yeager, who measured the catch.
The trophy muskie eclipsed the previous state length record of 54.0625 inches caught last year by Chase Gibson and surpassed the current weight record of 49.75 pounds previously held by Anna Marsh. The muskie was caught using six-inch glide bait, according to King.
Theย muskellungeย (Esox masquinongy), often shortened toย muskie orย muskyย is aย speciesย of largeย freshwaterย predatory fishย native toย North America. It is the largest member of theย pikeย family,ย Esocidae.
The name "muskellunge" originates from theย Ojibweย wordsย maashkinoozhe, meaning "great fish", maskinoลกeย orย mashkinonge, meaning "big pike" or "ugly pike"ย and the Algonquinย wordย maskinunga.
Anglers who believe they may have caught a state record fish should check the current records in the fishing regulations atย wvdnr.gov. Procedures for reporting a record catch also are included in the regulations.
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