ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. (DETROIT FREE PRESS) - Here's a tale about one that didn't get away.

A 37.4-pound black buffalo, a member of the sucker family of fish, was caught by Kalamazoo's Bryan DeGoede on Sept. 5, breaking the state record for the species.

DeGoede caught the 39.3-inch beast while bowfishing at 11:50 p.m. on the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County.

The record was verified by Jay Wesley, a DNR fisheries manager for Southwest Michigan.

The previous state-record black buffalo was caught by Brad Nietering of Nunica on the Grand River (Bruce's Bayou) in Ottawa County on May 19, 2004. That fish was 33.25 pounds and 36.5 inches.

This is the second state-record fish caught in southwest Michigan this year. On May 22, Rodney Akey of Niles caught a 49.8-pound, 45.7-inch flathead catfish in the St. Joseph River.

State records are recognized by weight only.

Detroit Free Press