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Coastal Conservation Association
Like This Page · June 23, 2015 ·


Indian River, Florida trout a possible world record! Luke Ledbetter caught and RELEASED this monster taping out at 34.25 inches (87 cm). The IGFA's record for length currently stands at 79 cm. Pending approval, Ledbetter's fish will be recognized by the IGFA's new All-Tackle Length record program, which awards catches based on length rather than weight and requires that fish be released alive and in good health.
They did not weigh it, but Deeks estimates the trout weighed about 14lbs. "The largest trout I've ever weighed was a 33" trout that was 13.9lbs, but this one was even fatter," Deeks said. "But I hate weighing them, hate hanging them by the jaw. They're really sensitive fish."
(Photo: For FLORIDA TODAY)

That is a genuine true gator trout. Saw one near Stuart a couple years ago while wading that was every bit of 36 inches long. They grow big over there, but the poor water quality is really hurting the fishing overall.

If I caught a trout that big, I would not be in the picture, because I would have died of a heart attack.

Correction: My heart is pretty healthy. I would have sh@t myself to death.

Wow - what a fish! It could eat a 15" trout and want another one.

MAN, WHAT A TROUT, BEEN A LONG WHILE SINCE I SAW ONE THAT SIZE, IT WAS OVER IN BANANA RIVER, CAUGHT THE FISH ON THE FIRST CAST, SHE WAS 36 INCHES AND WEIGHED IN AT 18 POUNDS. THIS WAS BACK IN THE EARLY 40'S, CAUGHT MINE ON A DALTON SPECIAL SILVER FLASH, WISH I COULD FIND SOME MORE OF THOSE GREAT OLD PLUGS, I LOST MY LAST ONE ON A BLACK BASS OVER IN SEMINOLE A FEW YEARS BACK. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RELEASE.
PA
SEMPER FI

I thought my 5 pound one I caught was big! That is truly a monster trout!

Wow!

That's a fish of a lifetime.

Looks like a Penn Battle 2 reel, can't make out the rod.
I would love to have a bucket full of her babies released here in Apalachee Bay.

I'm glad to see that there still lurks some real gator trout there. Ten pounders were not uncommon when I fished over there in the 70's and 80's. Sure is a suweet catch!

FUTCHCAIRO wrote:MAN, WHAT A TROUT, BEEN A LONG WHILE SINCE I SAW ONE THAT SIZE, IT WAS OVER IN BANANA RIVER, CAUGHT THE FISH ON THE FIRST CAST, SHE WAS 36 INCHES AND WEIGHED IN AT 18 POUNDS. THIS WAS BACK IN THE EARLY 40'S, CAUGHT MINE ON A DALTON SPECIAL SILVER FLASH, WISH I COULD FIND SOME MORE OF THOSE GREAT OLD PLUGS, I LOST MY LAST ONE ON A BLACK BASS OVER IN SEMINOLE A FEW YEARS BACK. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RELEASE.
PA
SEMPER FI

Thanks as always Pa for mentioning some of the lures like Dalton Special. I grew up fishing with the ones that had Tampa stamped on the belly after Mr. Dalton sold the rights to Florida Lure Company in the mid50s. In my lure collection are a few original Dalton Specials passed down from my Dad that were made in the 40s. I also have a couple of the Shakespeare Specials that were sold by Shakespeare after Mr. Dalton fell out on the original agreement and Shakespeare had to market the slightly altered Dalton Specials under another name after a lawsuit by Mr. Dalton. The main difference I can see is a small throat cut on the later editions marketed by Shakespeare. When Florida Lure marketed the product they added several colors and some additional sizes.
My Dad and I caught lots of early Lake Seminole bass as the Special was one of our favorite late afternoon topwater plugs.