A 17-year-old teenager from Alabama, Gardner Love, went solo fishing to relax after his final exams and ended up catching a pending state record for snook, which is a species new to the area. The 27-inch, 7-pound snook caught by Love is now awaiting official certification by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which could take up to 15 days. Love, who has been fishing since he was a child and works as a deckhand on a sport fishing boat, was not expecting to catch a record fish that day, as he was just fishing for whatever was biting in the nice weather.
While fishing in a spot that he doesn’t typically fish in, Love’s lure got snagged in a tree, leading him to catch the snook. He initially thought the fish was a tarpon, and due to murky waters from recent rain, identifying the fish was challenging. Love had to grab the fish with his hands as he didn’t have a net on the boat. His father was waiting for him at the dock when he returned with the fish and was thrilled to hear that Love had caught a potential state record. The snook weighed 7.04 pounds, surpassing the current official record of 5 pounds, 2.6 ounces set in 2023.
The catch is especially interesting because snook are not native to Alabama, and Love’s fish is only the second record-setting snook in the state. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has seen a few snook show up in the area over the past few years, mostly juveniles. Due to environmental changes such as water level fluctuations and slight temperature increases, snook are becoming more at home in Alabama waters. The department is considering putting regulations in place for snook fishing, such as a minimum size limit and possession limit, as the species becomes more prevalent in the area.
The introduction of snook to Alabama waters provides more opportunities for fishermen in the state and adds excitement to fishing. Scott Bannon, the director of the Marine Resources division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, believes that the presence of record-setting fishermen, particularly kids, is a result of the popularity of fishing as a family sport in Alabama. Love, who loves fishing and hopes to catch more record fish in the future, sees the potential for more record fish catches as snook become more established in Alabama. The diversity of fishing opportunities in the state signifies healthy fish stocks and good management practices to provide access to the public.
