Virginia man breaks record after catching 23-pound Longnose Gar

PROVIDENCE FORGE, Va. (WJLA) — A fisherman in Virginia recently broke a record that had stood for two years.

Shawn Kennedy, from Providence Forge, caught a 23-pound longnose gar from the Pamunkey River.

The fishmeasured at 4 feet 6 inches and had a girth of 17 1/2 inches, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

SEE ALSO | College students from Fairfax County catch the official state fish in 50 states

After review by the State Record Committee, Kennedy’s catch was recognized as record-breaking. They say the previous record was held by Blake Deal with a 21 pound, 13-ounce long nose gar captured from Lake Gaston in 2019.