Missouri Man Shoots A Fish In A Ditch.. Its Size Breaks A World Record!

Written by: Pete Danylewycz
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Bowfishing is a sport that requires skill, patience, and a bit of luck. And for Mitchell Dering, luck was definitely on his side when he shot a world record-sized fish during a recent outing in Missouri.

Dering, a Fairdealing resident, had been bowfishing in one of the ditches in Duck Creek when he came across what he initially thought was a bullhead. However, he soon realized that it was a brown bullhead, and a large one at that.

"I knew it was large for its size," he said in a news release from the Missouri Department of Conservation. "I got lucky honestly."

Brown_Bullhead_3-14-2023_Dering

After requesting that his fish be weighed on a certified scale, it was confirmed that Dering had shot a 4-pound brown bullhead, qualifying him for state and world records.

In Missouri, Dering's catch beat the previous state record of a 2-pound, 7-ounce fish caught in May 1994. The bowfishing world record for a brown bullhead fish weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces.

Dering, who has been bowfishing for quite some time and has won several tournaments in Kentucky and Tennessee, was thrilled with his record-breaking catch. He plans to mount the fish and has his sights set on breaking even more records.

"I'm working on getting me a collection of state records," he said. "I guess potentially world records now!"

The Duck Creek Conservation Area and nearby Mingo National Wildlife Refuge are the only confirmed locations with a self-sustaining natural population of brown bullheads, making Dering's catch even more impressive.

Bowfishing is a unique and challenging sport that requires both skill and a bit of luck. And for Dering, his successful shot was a combination of both. His world record-sized catch serves as a testament to the thrill and excitement of bowfishing and the rewards that come with the sport.

About The Author
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Pete grew up fishing on the Great Lakes. Whether he's casting a line in a quiet freshwater stream or battling a monster bass, fishing is his true passion.
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