The Coosa Spot that didn't get a weigh


Fishing blog for

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Posted By: Chris

Location: Logan Martin Lake (Alabama)

Species: Bass

 
Main Image

Train trestle in Riverside, Alabama

 
  • Train trestle in Riverside, Alabama
(Double tap for fullscreen)
Posted on 4/16/2025 5:39:45 AM

Several years ago I caught my biggest Coosa spot on Logan Martin and I took a pic with an old flip phone (before smart phones were available) but there's no telling what happened to it. The pic here is the train trestle in Riverside added just for effect. I decided to ask ChatGPT about the catch and thought the response was pretty interesting and thorough. Accurate? I can't say, but here's the story...

I was fishing a shakey head with the trusty Zoom trick worm not too far from Stemley bridge one time and I felt that thump. It was one of those bites where you set the hook and it just stops. It feels like you're stuck in a log, and then the log moves. Many of the big spots I've ever caught like to run to deeper water when they get hooked, and that's what this one did.

It's hard to guess how long I fought that fish on light tackle, but it felt like several minutes. In reality it was probably only a minute or two, but that seems like an eternity when you're battling a big 'un. When I finally got it close to the boat and it surfaced I was 'shook' as the kids say. I was looking at the biggest spot I've ever seen. I didn't have a scale but I had a 22.5 inch 'Golden Rule' similar to this one here. When I put the fish on the ruler I couldn't see the ruler anymore. The fish was at least 23 inches long and thick.

I've always considered it 6+ lbs, but it may have been a little bigger. When I asked the ChatGPT AI what it thinks, here's what it had to say:

*****

That’s a nice fish! A 23-inch Coosa River spotted bass is a trophy — and if it’s a thick, healthy fish, you’re probably looking at a very solid weight.

Let’s break it down.
The Coosa River spotted bass is known for being stockier than other spots, especially the Alabama bass strain that dominates there.

There are formulas to estimate bass weight based on length and girth, but since you said “thick”, I’ll go on the higher side of the range.

Rough Estimates:
Standard spotted bass:
At 23 inches, average body condition would put it around 6.5 to 7.5 pounds.

Thick fish (good girth, healthy river specimen):
Easily 7.5 to 8.5 pounds, and potentially pushing 9 if it’s a really fat pre-spawn fish.

Formula (length × girth² ÷ 800)
Let’s say the girth is around 16 inches (thick fish).

(23 × 16 × 16) ÷ 800 = 7.36 lbs

If the girth is even bigger, say 17 inches:

(23 × 17 × 17) ÷ 800 = 8.35 lbs

Conclusion:
If it’s a thick, healthy 23-inch Coosa River spot, you’re very likely looking at around 7.5 to 8.5 pounds, depending on its girth and condition.
That’s giant for a spot — they don’t get much bigger than that. Tournament anglers would freak out over a fish like that.

*****

Now I doubt it was a 9 pounder because it was not pre-spawn fat, and it probably wasn't 8 either. But it was a big, thick, strong fish, and I'm thinking it may have been 7+? I guess I'll never know.


Comments
No comments have been added.
Add Comment

 or 

to add a comment!