Paddlefish snagging season is off to a hot start after a Kansas angler caught the world record paddlefish on the Lake of the Ozarks. This fish came on opening weekend and left all anglers involved in shock. The Missouri Department of Conservation announced that Chad Williams of Olathe, Kansas had caught the record fish on March 17th, 2024. This Paddlefish weighed in at a whopping 164 pounds and 13 ounces. This fish not only surpasses the previous state record of 140 pounds, but also the previous world record of 164 pounds.
Williams stated that he had never been paddlefish sagging before, in fact he didn’t even know what a paddlefish was. Williams stated he was invited on a snagging trip with friends when he hooked into something massive. The fish took forever to reel in according to Williams, and once it reached the boat they knew they had a potential record. They then took their catch to the Three Brothers Meat Company in Montreal to have it weighed by the Missouri Department of Conservation on a certified scale.
Williams decided to keep the Paddlefish with plans to taxidermy the head. He and his wife kept some of the meat and shared the rest with their fishing group and close friends. For more information on Missouri state records, check out mdc.mo.gov/fishing/trophies-certificates/state-record-fish
