Finnan Murphy, 12, from Pittsford, New York, caught a 26-pound, 10-ounce Chinook salmon on Sunday, making him the Grand Prize winner of the Spring LOC (Lake Ontario Counties) Derby. In a Facebook post, thes 12-year-old fisherman reeled in more than just a biaught a $15,000 prize. The derby announced Murphy as the winner on Sunday night in a Facebook post. “It’s official! 12-year-old Finnan Murphy is the 2021 Spring LOC $15,000 Grand Prize winner!” the post said. “Finnan was aboard rochestersportfishing.com when he landed this 26 lb 10 oz king. The winner was caught on a Trilene/Warrior combination and weighed in at Wilson Boatyard.”
SNORKELER FINDS WEDDING RING STUCK ON FISH
Murphy, his dad, two neighborhood friends, and their dads go out for the derby every year aboard the Rochester Sport Fishing’s boat, according to the post and NewYorkUpstate.com. According to another Facebook post by Rochester Sport Fishing, which runs the ship Murphy was aboard, it took the young angler almost 30 minutes to reel in his catch. However, young Murphy didn’t get a chance to reel in a fish last year. So this year, the Rochester Sport Fishing Facebook post said he was at the front of the line.
AUSTRALIAN FISHERMAN SHOWS OFF GIANT ROCK LOBSTER IN TIKTOK VIDEO
“When the rigger popped and screamed out over 500ft, Finn was up to bat,” Rochester Sport Fishing wrote on Facebook. “He battled this fish for over 25 minutes, which took him out an additional 400ft on two more occasions. When the fish touched down inside the boat, Kip said, ‘I think you just landed a $15,000 fish.’ Quickly brought in rods and ran to the weigh station, where Kip’s thoughts were confirmed, 26lbs 10oz was over a pound greater than the previous Grand prize fish. And now young Finnan holds a check for $15,000 and memories to last a lifetime.”
Murphy told NewYorkUpstate.com that he was worried that he had lost the fish several times. “I thought I’d lost the fish two times when it stopped fighting. And then it would take off again,” Murphy told the website. “I’d reel, and it just kept pulling line out. When I got it close to the boat, it dove and wpulledeven more.” “When it was netted on the boat, the captain said it might be a $15,000 fish. My jaw just dropped,” Murphy added.
