JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) congratulates Rich Porter of Omaha, Nebraska for becoming the new state record holder under alternative methods for shortnose gar.

Officials say Porter was bow-fishing at Lake of the Ozarks on May 16 when he shot the 14-pound, 6-ounce fish.

The previous state record under alternative methods was a 13-pound, 1-ounce fish taken from Mark Twain Lake in 2006.

“I generally come two-to-three times each year to fish in Missouri,” said Porter. “I have a friend I fish with at the Lake of the Ozarks. We were out on his boat that day bow-fishing and he was playing guide for me.”

During their day fishing, Porter says he hooked the gar on their last stop before heading in.

“Shortnose gar usually only weigh three-to-four pounds,” noted Porter. “So, to catch one that big, we thought it was a longnose.”

After contacting MDC, genetic tests were completed to confirm the fish was a pure shortnose gar and not a hybrid with the larger longnose gar. Not only does the fish qualify as a Missouri state record, but it also beats the current shortnose gar bow-fishing world record.

Click here to read more about fishing records in Missouri.

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