Seventeen-year-old Riley Isaacs of Bradleyville, Missouri, secured a place in the record books by arrowing a redear sunfish that officially became the first Missouri state-record fish of 2025. The panfish, caught while bowfishing Lake Taneycomo on April 18, weighed in at 2 pounds 3 ounces, narrowly surpassing the previous alternative methods record by a single ounce.
The bowfishing outing wasn’t initially aimed at breaking records. Isaacs had taken a group out on the water with plans to target carp. However, an approaching storm put the trip on hold for about 30 minutes. Once the weather cleared, the group launched the boat again for a short evening session.
“The first flat we pulled up on, she was waiting there,” Isaacs told the Missouri Department of Conservation. His shot landed true, and as the fish hit the deck, it was clear that it was something remarkable.
Isaacs, who has made several attempts in the past to beat the state record for redear sunfish, expressed excitement after landing this fish. “Three others have come close — within an ounce or two of the record — and now the record is finally in the books. It feels awesome,” he said.
The fish Isaacs landed surpasses the previous alternative methods record from June 2022, also from Lake Taneycomo. That fish weighed 2 pounds 2 ounces. However, the overall Missouri record for redear sunfish caught by traditional rod and reel — or “pole-and-line” — remains with Glenda Gollaher, who landed a 2-pound 7-ounce shellcracker in 1988 from the Whetstone Creek Conservation Area.
Missouri’s state-record fish are categorized under two primary methods: pole-and-line and alternative methods. The latter includes a wide range of legal fishing techniques other than rod and reel — such as trotlines, throw lines, bank lines, spearfishing, bowfishing, atlatls, gigging, snagging, and grabbing. Only non-game species, like bluegill, green sunfish, gar, and carp, may be harvested using these methods. Redear sunfish fall into this group, making them a valid target for bowfishermen like Isaacs.
While sunfish may not be the first species to come to mind when thinking of record-breaking fish, redears—also known as “shellcrackers”—are known for their aggressive feeding behavior and relatively large size within the sunfish family. They feed on hard-shelled prey such as snails, a diet that contributes to their muscular build and strong fighting ability.
Despite rarely exceeding 9 inches in length, redear sunfish can deliver a surprisingly hard pull for their size, especially when hooked or arrowed in shallow flats during spawning season. Their distinctive strength and tenacity make them a popular target not just for conventional anglers but for bowfishermen as well.
Isaacs’ recent success highlights the growing popularity and potential of alternative fishing methods in Missouri. With state records recognized separately from traditional rod-and-reel catches, bowfishermen and other unconventional anglers have an opportunity to claim titles and showcase their skills.
This latest record is a reminder that even smaller species like sunfish can earn a spot in the limelight when conditions, skill, and timing align just right.
Image/Source: OL
