Although the New River has a reputation for yielding giant spotted seatrout, the state-record trout of 12 pounds, 4 ounces came from Wrightsville Beach and has held up for 55 years. John R. Kenyon caught the beast at Wrightsville Beach in 1961.
However, Rendel Kellum, the father of guide Ricky Kellum, has held second place for a long time with an 11-pound, 10-ounce New River speck he caught near the Sneads Ferry Bridge in 1973. After 43 years, that 31-inch speck is still the record for the New River.
Johnny Hauser of Davis caught the No. 3 North Carolina. speck, an 11-pound, 5-ounce monster, on Jan. 22, 2008, at the Cape Lookout Jetty.
Ricky Kellum believes the New River has the potential to produce record-breaking specks.
“I believe there are trout in the river now bigger than my dad’s,” Kellum said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see the next state-record trout come out of the New River.”
Be the first to comment