A fisherman from Parsons now has a great fishing story to tell … and this is one that DIDN'T get away.

 Michael Starr Jr was fishing at Big Hill Reservoir near Cherryvale in late July when he reeled in a huge Spotted Gar. The 34 inch long fish weighed in at just under 8 pounds, breaking the Kansas state record set at the Chetopa Dam in 1983.

The Spotted Gar gets its name from the dark, round spots on the top and sides of its head. There are 3 species of gar native to Kansas and the Spotted Gar is the smallest – most are less than 30 inches long.

How State Records are Set
Trophy catches such as these end up as a Kansas State Record if:

• The fish is a species recognized on the current list of Kansas state record fish
• The fish is caught by a licensed angler using legal means
• The fish is identified by a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks district fisheries biologist or regional fisheries supervisor
• The fish is weighed on a certified scale prior to being frozen
• The fish is photographed, in color, and a state record application is filled out
• The mandatory 30-day waiting period has passed.

To see a list of Kansas state fishing records click here