Keith Lusher 07.18.25
The fish that almost got away turned into the catch of a lifetime for Fort Lauderdale angler Ryan Alvarez. His 17-pound, 1-ounce bullseye snakehead has just been certified as the new IGFA all-tackle world record, proving that sometimes the best fish come to those who refuse to give up.
Alvarez had been chasing big snakeheads in South Florida canals all spring, targeting spots where these invasive giants love to hide. The bullseye snakehead, known scientifically as Channa marulius, originally comes from South Asia but has made itself at home in the freshwater canals of northern Broward County.
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Alvarez was working a canal in Pompano Beach when his day nearly went sideways. He’d already lost several big fish at this same spot, including what he figured was at least a 10-pounder that broke him off on some dock structure.
“I lost another snakehead of at least 10 pounds that frayed me on a broken dock,” Alvarez posted on Facebook. “I almost went home but kept fishing for five more minutes and caught this absolute slob.”
That decision to stick it out for just a few more casts paid off big time. His Z-Man chatterbait got hammered by what would become the new world record fish. After a short but intense fight, Alvarez had his trophy.
The massive snakehead stretched 37.5 inches and weighed in at 17 pounds, 1 ounce. But here’s where Alvarez got smart about his record attempt. Instead of rushing to the nearest grocery store scale, he made the 16-mile drive south to IGFA headquarters in Dania Beach to get his fish officially weighed and certified.
New Record
This new record breaks the previous mark held by Corey Nowakowski, who had actually held seven different snakehead world records at one point. Other big bullseye snakeheads in the 14- to 15-pound range have been caught in South Florida over the past decade, but nothing had topped 17 pounds until now.
Snakeheads have become a favorite target for many anglers, especially those who love topwater action. These fish are known for crushing surface baits and putting up a serious fight. The fact that they’re an invasive species means there’s no guilt in keeping them, and Florida regulations allow anglers to harvest every snakehead they catch.
The timing of this record couldn’t be better for Alvarez, who has a history with the IGFA. He’s actually a former camper at their fishing summer camp, a program that teaches kids ages 7 to 14 about fishing techniques and conservation.
While the bullseye snakehead is the largest of its specific species ever recorded, it’s worth noting that other types of snakeheads have grown even bigger. The largest snakehead ever caught was a 30-pound giant snakehead from Malaysia, and the biggest one caught in the US was a 21-pound northern snakehead from Maryland.
For now though, Alvarez can claim bragging rights as the angler who caught the biggest bullseye snakehead ever recorded. His persistence paid off in a big way, proving that sometimes the fish you’re meant to catch is just five more minutes away.
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