'Newspg12.indd' by The Newscaster

Bill Stewart, 66, of Weeki Wachee, caught a 69-pound, 8-ounce blue catfish on the

Choctawhatchee River, near Ebro, during the Choctawhatchee Catfish Roundup tournament on

May 30. He beat the previous state record by 5 pounds.

Stewart had landed four flatheads and a nice channel catfish before he put the head from a

skipjack herring, which he had caught earlier, on a big circle hook. Fortunately, his reel was

loaded with 100-pound line because the blue catfish that took the bait a few minutes later

was ready for a fight.

After getting a preliminary weight on tournament scales, he was informed the fish

was approximately 69 pounds and if certified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission (FWC) would be a state record (See video at bit.ly/FLBlueCat).

After trying to find a certified scale himself, he arranged to meet FWC Investigator John Brown,

who helped him get an official certified weight and measurements and to have the application

notarized. FWC fisheries biologist Paul Thomas then came to Stewart's on Monday evening

to complete the process and verify that it was a blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus). The official

measurements were 49.5 inches in total length, with a girth of 31.75 inches.

"Stewart's blue catfish is the fourth Florida Freshwater Fish Record set in 2015, fol-

lowing two shoal bass and a flier, all from the Florida Panhandle area. Just one more reason

why Florida is the Fishing Capital of 5093 S. Orwell Pt., Homosassa, Floridathe Division

the World,'" said Tom Champeau, director of 34446

 

of Freshwater Fisheries Management.

Phone: (352) 489-4588 Fax: (727) 362-4788

The previous state thenewscaster1@gmail.comIEmail, Debbie Russell, Editor: d

record blue catfish was also caught on the Choctawhatchee River,

Email, Tom Russell, Publisher:



WebsiJamesthenewscaster.com · newscasterarchives.com · history.newscasterarchives.c

by tes: Mitchell in 2008. Stewart says he is now after the flathead catfish record, which cur-



rently stands at 55.05 pounds and was caught in the Chipola River in 2011.

Beach Delegates Needed interested in serving as delegates to the Florida Demo-



Diverrescued byCoastGuardnearHernando

Citrus County Democrats

      

A 40-year-old man was rescued by the Coast Guard during a diving accident 90 cratic Party (FDP) 2015 State Convention are invited to submit a Delegate Filing Form

mileswestofBeach,Florida, 

   Hernando   Saturday.



to the Citrus County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) by June 26, 2015. The FDP

The operator of the vessel, Cave Diver, contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watch-

State Convention will be held October 30 through November 1, 2015 at Disney's Yacht Club



standers over VHF-FM channel 16 radio reporting the man resurfaced from his first dive

and Beach Club Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Delegate Filing Forms are available from

  

and likely had the bends.

any DEC member, or by e-mailing CitrusDECChair@gmail.com or by calling 352-209-

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater,

8651, Democratic Executive Committee Chair. 

Florida, arrived on scene, hoisted the man and transported him to Florida South Hospital in

Important Toll Free     

  Numbers

Orlando, Florida, in stable condition.

Citrus Cty Govt. for Springs   

 Citrus    &



Dunnellon 489-2120 Levy Cty Govt. 800-733-5389

BUDDY & FRED'S HARDWARE

Captains Outfitters 

Cove   





39 W.Hwy.Inglis, 447-5610

  40 · FL · (352) 



MoreThan Store

  A Bait 



Evenwebait

though  have a great  selection!



  

Get fishinggear 

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up to date! 

 





Captains Cove Outfitters



Serving Inglis, Yankeetown, Dunnellon, Hernando, Crystal River & Homosassa



5093 S. Orwell Pt., Homosassa, Florida 34446

Open M-Sa 5:45-6pm Sun. 5:45-5pm



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

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

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    in 11-05-2014 issue Quality rodsreelsfor beginners

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toexperts. Largeselection

     of Saltwater Tackle

  

    





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



Voters of Citrus County HARDWARE

BUDDY & FRED'S





Do you know how they voted?

44 Hwy. 19 N. · Inglis, FL · 352-447-2600

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WAERFOTnitlooe Rier!

T RN o W ache  v

h  c   

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 1.acrRBfor only

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5   es, 2B  / 2  A    

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