World Record Redear Sunfish

[Tim Overbaugh]

The International Game Fish Association has declared Hector's 5 pound 12 ounce Redear Sunfish, caught Feb. 16th 2014 in Lake Havasu, Arizona, a World Record.

I was chosen to do the mount of the fish and am honored to present to you the completed custom cast replica of the new World Record Sunfish.  The artificial nightcrawler and drop shot rig depicts how the fish was caught

 

 Hector's record beats Bob's old record, caught in 2011, by 4 ounces. The IGFA rules state a new world record has to beat the old record by at least 2 ounces.

Bob Lawler's catch of a lifetime!

 

This is the replica made from a mold of the fish.  Bob caught it on a rocky point on the second cast with a Texas rigged 7-inch Berkley Power Worm.

 

 

The two photos above are a skin mount of the fish.  I was requested to mold Bob's fish as a replica and a skin mount. 

It was an honor and a challenge to do such a magnificent specimen!

 

 

[arthur cole]

Very nice job sorry I did not see this post and I posted it to .Well just a bump.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

GREAT LOOKING FISH AND CONGRATS TO YOU. It gives all the rest of us hope that MONSTER GILLS AND REDEARS ARE STILL OUT THERE WAITING!
TOOTY

[Steve Crowder]

Pictures ARE worth a thousand words. Fine job.

[Leo Nguyen]

Just plain jaw dropping..WOW! Just out of curiosity though, what is the mounting process for these beauties?

[steve kooyers]

Wow! Awesome fish, fantastic mount. You both should be proud.

[Tim Overbaugh]

Thanks for all your great comments.  

Here's what a world record certificate looks like. This is the one Robert received for his sunfish.........

 

Long story short, I ended up making three different molds of this fish. One of which was a mold of the skin mount and two of the actual fish.  The fins and eyes were also molded from the fish to give it realism.  

The skin mount is a hybrid mount, meaning the head and fins are casts from the original fish. The rest is the skin mounted on a mannikin molded from one of the other molds. Ya, I know, don't ask.  But know this, It's as accurate as I can possibly get a skin mount. This mount can be seen at John Galbraith's Bass Tackle Master sport shop in Havasu Arz.

Robert has the replica reproduction.

The Qaugga Mussels were sculpted then molded.  Hope I got that right as I only had pictures and descriptions to go by.

The 7" power worm was also molded, cast and painted.  Hook and sinker are the same size as the original.  Here is a picture of it (the one in the middle is the real one) one cast is unfinished and two are finished.

 

[Nick Holt]

Congratulations to Bob on his record catch, and great work by you Tim.  Nick Holt

[John Sheehan]

Excellent work Tim !You are a dedicated artist for sure!

[dink dailey]

this is super great stuff!!!!

[Jim Gronaw]

This work sets the standard...period!