Oklahoma angler reels in record-breaking fish — but it was Friday so it doesn’t count

An angler in Oklahoma caught a huge fish that would’ve shattered a world record, officials say.

But he reeled in the “behemoth” on the wrong day of the week.

Justin Hamlin landed an estimated 157-pound paddlefish during a guided trip Friday on Keystone Lake in northeastern Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Not only would the catch have shattered the state record of 132 pounds, it also would have eclipsed the world record by 10 pounds, officials said.

However, state regulations require all paddlefish caught on Monday and Friday to be released “to help protect these unique fish from overharvest,” officials said.

“But the good news is that Justin released the fish and it is still out there for someone to catch again,” officials said.

This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Oklahoma angler reels in record-breaking fish — but it was Friday so it doesn’t count."