Record 15 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces largemouth bass caught in Nickajack

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has confirmed that a new state record for a Largemouth Bass has been established, breaking the previous mark, which was set more than 11 years ago.

Darren Nunley caught the record fish in Nickajack Reservoir on Feb. 28 that weighed 15 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces, and was 27 7/8 inches in length.

The new mark surpasses the previous record of Gabe Keen, who caught a largemouth weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces on Friday the 13th in February 2015, which at the time had broken a record which stood for more than 60 years, according to the TWRA.

A resident of Whitwell, Nunley made his record haul at 8 a.m. on a jackhammer chatterbait lure. They say he was using a 17-pound fluorocarbon test line and a Shimano reel.

The fish was weighed on a certified scale at a grocery store in Whitwell.

TWRA sent a fin clip for genetic testing, with official results finalized on May 9.