Local Angler Reels in Monster Walleye off Chicago Shore
In a stunning display of fishing prowess, Leo Garza landed an impressive 14.3-pound walleye off the shores of Lake Michigan near Chicago on Sunday. The catch, certified by Park Bait, has shattered the unofficial record for the largest walleye weighed on a certified scale in the city's waters.
According to his brother and fishing guide Capt. Ernesto Amparan, Garza initially thought he was hooked on a rock while jigging lake trout near Chicago Light on Sunday morning. However, after lifting his rod, he realized he had a fish on, setting him up for an epic battle.
The fight lasted for what Amparan described as several minutes, with Garza ultimately landing the giant walleye using a spinning rod and 17-pound monofilament line. The catch was confirmed to be a behemoth of a fish by Park Bait officials, who verified its weight on their certified scale.
While Garza's record-breaking walleye falls short of the Illinois state record held by Jim Zimmerman (15.08 pounds), it solidifies his place as one of the top anglers in Chicago. The catch has reignited interest among local fishing enthusiasts, with many speculating about the mysterious origins of such massive fish.
According to Lake Michigan program manager Vic Santucci of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Garza's giant walleye could be a resident fish from one of the lake's southern tributaries or an escaped stocked fish from inland lakes like Wolf Lake or Skokie Lagoons. Santucci acknowledged that managing and studying walleyes in Lake Michigan waters is not a priority for the state, leaving room for speculation about other potentially larger catches.
For Garza, this remarkable catch was the icing on the cake of his birthday celebration with friends David Vasquez and Ryan Whitacre, who have joined him on numerous fishing excursions. As news of the giant walleye spreads, locals are once again reminded that Chicago's waters can hold some truly astonishing secrets – and anglers will likely continue to be drawn in by the allure of these mysterious fish.
In a stunning display of fishing prowess, Leo Garza landed an impressive 14.3-pound walleye off the shores of Lake Michigan near Chicago on Sunday. The catch, certified by Park Bait, has shattered the unofficial record for the largest walleye weighed on a certified scale in the city's waters.
According to his brother and fishing guide Capt. Ernesto Amparan, Garza initially thought he was hooked on a rock while jigging lake trout near Chicago Light on Sunday morning. However, after lifting his rod, he realized he had a fish on, setting him up for an epic battle.
The fight lasted for what Amparan described as several minutes, with Garza ultimately landing the giant walleye using a spinning rod and 17-pound monofilament line. The catch was confirmed to be a behemoth of a fish by Park Bait officials, who verified its weight on their certified scale.
While Garza's record-breaking walleye falls short of the Illinois state record held by Jim Zimmerman (15.08 pounds), it solidifies his place as one of the top anglers in Chicago. The catch has reignited interest among local fishing enthusiasts, with many speculating about the mysterious origins of such massive fish.
According to Lake Michigan program manager Vic Santucci of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Garza's giant walleye could be a resident fish from one of the lake's southern tributaries or an escaped stocked fish from inland lakes like Wolf Lake or Skokie Lagoons. Santucci acknowledged that managing and studying walleyes in Lake Michigan waters is not a priority for the state, leaving room for speculation about other potentially larger catches.
For Garza, this remarkable catch was the icing on the cake of his birthday celebration with friends David Vasquez and Ryan Whitacre, who have joined him on numerous fishing excursions. As news of the giant walleye spreads, locals are once again reminded that Chicago's waters can hold some truly astonishing secrets – and anglers will likely continue to be drawn in by the allure of these mysterious fish.
lol i no how sum1 gets a 14.3 pound walleye off chicago shore thats crazy!!! 
i guess leo garza must've been like a pro or wut 
he was all set up for an epic battle and still managed to reel in the beast 
idk bout da origins of dat fish tho but maybe its from one of lake michigans southern tributaries or somethin 
or maybe its just a legend now lol.
. The thing is though, how do they explain these massive fish? Are they from somewhere else in the lake or did someone even stock them 
.
OMG, 14.3 pounds is HUGE! I mean, I've seen my uncle lift a whole pizza alone, but this guy must have some serious fish-fu 
!
I remember when the old guy Billy Bob was trying to catch a largemouth bass off Lake Erie back in 2018 it was like a tiny little thing compared to that monster walleye 
the fact that it could've been a resident or escaped stocked fish is still kinda mysterious tho 
leo garza's 14.3 pounder is insane! i was just thinkin how rare it is to catch a fish that big on certified scale, and then this happens? like, what r the chances 
& leo for puttin up w/ that fight 
i'm lowkey tempted to try fishing there rn, anyone got any recs? 
& it's still 15.08 lbs shy of the illinois state record 
according to stats from park bait, 70% of walleyes caught on certified scale r under 7lbs 
is this a normal catch weight or what? 
#WalleyeWonder #LakeMichiganMonster #FishingGoals - gotta respect his patience and skills on the water 
.
that nobody knows about...
and yeah, this just shows how amazing the fishing in Chicago is, can't wait to see what other catches come out of there!
. You know what would take it to the next level? Adding some visuals, maybe a pic of Leo Garza holding that bad boy or a map showing where he caught it 
. Anyway, 14.3 pounds is insane! I'm no expert but I'm sure there are plenty of theories about how that fish ended up so massive 
.