An Oklahoma man unofficially broke world and state records when he reeled in a 157-pound paddlefish. Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Wildlife officials in Oklahoma said a man unofficially broke state and world records when he reeled in a paddlefish estimated at 157 pounds.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation said Justin Hamlin was on a guided fishing trip on Keystone Lake on Valentine's Day when he reeled in a paddlefish estimated at 157 pounds.
The department said Hamlin was required to release the fish due to a state regulation requiring paddlefish caught on Mondays and Fridays to be released.
The release meant Hamlin's fish wasn't eligible to be recorded as a state or world record, but he unofficially broke both the state record of 132 pounds and the world record of 144 pounds.