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Goad shares the honor of his record longear sunfish with a yearling cow who needed a drink. John Goad, via MDC<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Jefferson City resident John Goad was having a slow day of throwline fishing on Frieda Lake in Crawford County, Missouri. Then Goad, who is in his 70s, ended up tying the state\u2019s alternative-method longear sunfish record<\/a> on May 8, shortly after moving to a new stretch of shoreline. The reason for his relocation? Livestock blowing up his spot.<\/p>\n Goad estimated<\/a> he was only catching one fish for every 10 tosses of his throwline. He had fished this lake for a decade and usually had good luck with crappie, bluegill, and bass, but this day was different. That is, until a yearling heifer came strolling down to the water.<\/p>\n The cow waded in to her belly and began drinking. Goad moved down the\u00a0shore to give the cow space, and his consideration was rewarded: he started catching fish on every throw. One of those fish was a 5-ounce longear sunfish. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been fishing this lake for around 10 years and I\u2019ve caught crappie, bass, bluegill\u2014all pretty good sizes,\u201d Goad told MDC.<\/a> \u201cBut I\u2019ve known there are good-sized sunfish for about seven or eight years and I\u2019ve been trying to catch a record ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n The sunfish tied the alternative method state record set in July 2021 by Robert Audrain IV on a private pond in Franklin County. Brian Longo caught the pole-and-line record longear sunfish, weighing 11 ounces, in June 2007 on a private pond.<\/p>\n