A Georgia angler has landed a longnose gar that shattered a local fishing record, earning recognition from state wildlife officials. Caleb McClure's impressive catch, weighing in at 27 pounds and four ounces, was pulled from Lake Allatoona on June 24th. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) confirmed the record in their weekly "Georgia Fishing Report," noting that the massive fish measured nearly 60 inches long and surpassed the previous Lake Allatoona record by a staggering 15 pounds.

The GDNR believes McClure’s catch could be the largest longnose gar ever officially documented, exceeding a 24-pound specimen captured by the agency during sampling in 2021. Lake Allatoona, a 12,010-acre reservoir situated north of Atlanta in Bartow and Cherokee Counties, is known for its diverse fish population. However, McClure's catch represents a significant find for the lake.

While McClure holds the Lake Allatoona record, the overall state record for longnose gar remains with Rachel Harrison. She landed a 31-pound, two-ounce gar from the Coosa River in March 2022. Longnose gar, a ray-finned freshwater species, are found in various regions across the United States, including the Great Lakes, Mississippi River basin, Gulf Coast and several rivers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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  The length of Caleb McClure's record-breaking longnose gar measured nearly five feet, according to the Georgia DNR.

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  Rachel Harrison broke Georgia longnose gar record in March 2022 with her 31-pound catch, according to the Georgia DNR.