AUSTIN, Texas — Check out this record-setter that was pulled out of Lady Bird Lake in Austin!
It’s a 71-pound Smallmouth Buffalo and it’s a state record, according to a post from Texas Parks and Wildlife on Friday. Austin Anderson caught and released it earlier this summer using a rod and reel.
With the catch, which was made on June 10, Anderson earned a Big Fish award, Water Body record, Water Body Catch-and-Release record and a Texas Catch-and-Release record.
And because it was released, it’s just going to get bigger!
If you’re not familiar with smallmouth buffalo, Texas Parks and Wildlife has a page on them. Unlike the bigmouth buffalo, the smallmouth versions have a distinctive sucker-type mouth that TPWD said goes downward.
The smallmouth buffalo are typically bottom feeders, living on algae, sand and other items are found at the bottom of bodies of freshwater.
In Texas, they’re found in large streams, rivers and reservoirs. You can read more about smallmouth buffalo here.
Want to see more record catches? TPWD has a database you can search by bodies of water and across the state. You can also read up on elite anglers and see guidelines for record submissions.