SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (AP)- A 17-pound, 6-ounce northern snakehead snagged by a Spotsylvania County plumber has been certified a world record catch of the invasive species some call "Frankenfish."
The monster was hauled in by 27-year-old Caleb Newton in Aquia Creek on June 1.
The International Game Fish Association has confirmed the record catch. It beat a 17-pound, 4-ounce snakehead caught in Japan in 2004.
Jack Vitek is world record coordinator for the International Gas Fish Association, which is based in Florida. He says a certificate is on its way to Newton confirming his catch as a record.
The snakehead can breathe air, survive on land and adapt and thrive in foreign environments. Some have dubbed it "Frankenfish" for its fearsome appearance and adaptability.
