Species diversity is one of the big benefits of fishing in Texas, along with a great fishing records program by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The big fish award is one of the awards they give out. If you get 5 different species of a required length, you become a freshwater or saltwater elite angler. I have received both the saltwater and freshwater elite angler certifications, but I have continued to work at catching different fish species that qualify as a big fish award. This spadefish was my 15th saltwater big fish species.



Here is a list of the saltwater big fish species I have caught.

Jack crevalle
Spanish Mackerel
Little Tunny
Ladyfish
Red Snapper
King Mackerel
Dolphin
Red Drum
Sand Seatrout
Greater Amberjack
Gafftopsail Catfish
Sheepshead
Black Drum
Cobia
Atlantic Spadefish

You can see a complete list of potential big fish by searching “Elite” on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Webpage. Go get yourself a big fish award, or go catch 5 and become a Texas Elite Angler.

Here is the link to the big fish species and size qualifications.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/programs/fishrecords/rules/other_awards.phtml#elite

Fish On Osborn, I enjoy your photos...

Thank you for the nice comment.

That is by far the biggest spadefish that I have ever seen. Well done for sure. Most that I have caught were around a pound. That had to be a heckuva fight when it turned sideways on you. Built somewhat along the lines of a tripletail.

Nice fish. Good job.

No hardhead ?


Just kidding ,
Great job.

Mo

I can always come up with a hardhead.

I used to catch a lot of spadefish in VA when I was stationed there. Hard fighting fish and great on the table. Well done

That's awesome Osbornfishing

I caught a Spadefish in Southbay (Texas Coast) once but yours could have eaten mine. Still fun on a flyrod though.

Cool looking fish