LANSING — The Department of Natural Resources confirmed two new state-record fish last week for brown bullhead and black buffalo.

The state record for brown bullhead was beat by a fish caught by Jared Gusler of Fairview in Alcona Pond in Alcona County on Sunday, May 25, at 2 a.m. Gusler was bowfishing.

The fish weighed 3.77 pounds and measured 17.5 inches.

The record was verified by Kyle Krueger, a DNR fisheries biologist in Mio.
The previous state-record brown bullhead was caught by Michael Kemp of Lansing on Coldbrook Lake in Kalamazoo County on Sept. 2, 1989. That fish weighed 3.10 pounds and measured 17.5 inches.

The state record for black buffalo was beat by a fish caught by Joshua Teunis of Grand Haven in Bear Lake in Muskegon County on Sunday, June 15, at 1:45 a.m. Teunis was also bowfishing. The fish weighed 41.25 pounds and measured 38.25 inches.

The record was verified by Rich O’Neal, a DNR fisheries biologist in Muskegon.

The previous state-record black buffalo was caught by Bryan Degoede of Kalamazoo on the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County on Sept. 5, 2012. That fish weighed 37.06 pounds and measured 39.25 inches.

State records are recognized by weight only. To qualify for a state record, fish must exceed the current listed state record weight and identification must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.

“We’ve had 12 of Michigan’s 56 state-record fish beat in the past 10 years, which just goes to show you how outstanding the state’s fishing is right now,” said DNR Fisheries Division Chief Jim Dexter. “Start planning your next fishing trip to your favorite body of water – you just might catch the next state record.”
For more information on fishing in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/fishing.