Orlando, Fla. — A Northwest Florida man is celebrating what is being called a once in a lifetime achievement for a fisherman.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) says Lavon Nowling now holds the title after catching a nearly 70-pound flathead catfish in the Yellow River in Santa Rosa County.
“I’ve been deep sea fishing to creek fishing and I never expected to catch a state record fish,” Nowling told FWC. “That day I was fishing for channel catfish and can’t believe I caught a huge flathead. I was in the right place at the right time.”
The catch was 48.5 inches long.
The fish beat the previous state record by more than a half-pound.
That fish was caught last year on the same river.
“A state record catch is a once in a lifetime achievement for an angler,” said Jon Fury, FWC’s Director for the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. “We are pleased to award this state record to Mr. Nowling.”