G’day mate

Carl Jocumsen had a day he says he'll never forget and after you see the giant bass he boated, you'll understand why.

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After a damp morning on Lake Guntersville, we found Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Carl Jocumsen fishing near one of the many Guntersville bridges.
After a damp morning on Lake Guntersville, we found Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Carl Jocumsen fishing near one of the many Guntersville bridges.
Fishing with a swimbait, Carl made many casts toward the bridge supports.
Fishing with a swimbait, Carl made many casts toward the bridge supports.
Cast after cast, he had a focused look on his face as if he could sense it was about to happen.
Cast after cast, he had a focused look on his face as if he could sense it was about to happen.
Carl set the hook, flipped it into the boat and holds it high.
Carl set the hook, flipped it into the boat and holds it high.
With a smile on his face, Jocumsen pauses to take in the moment.
With a smile on his face, Jocumsen pauses to take in the moment.
A quick second to unhook the fish …
A quick second to unhook the fish …
... and into the livewell it goes.
… and into the livewell it goes.
Now it's time to catch another Guntersville giant.
Now it’s time to catch another Guntersville giant.
One cast later another fish is hooked up and fighting.
One cast later another fish is hooked up and fighting.
As the fish approaches the boat, it jumps in an attempt to free itself.
As the fish approaches the boat, it jumps in an attempt to free itself.
Carl keeps his cool and brings the fish down the length of the boat.
Carl keeps his cool and brings the fish down the length of the boat.
Almost time to grab this one ...
Almost time to grab this one …
... come here big girl ...
… come here big girl …
Got her!
Got her!
Jocumsen lets out a yell of celebration.
Jocumsen lets out a yell of celebration.
Blown away by this one, he admires this chunk.
Blown away by this one, he admires this chunk.
It's all smiles for the rookie!
It’s all smiles for the rookie!
The Marshal grabs a quick photo for the Live Blog.
The Marshal grabs a quick photo for the Live Blog.
The
The “bridge boss” returns to work.
Boom! Fish on!
Boom! Fish on!
This fish must have given up out of fear ... too many of her friends had already joined the party in Carl's livewell.
This fish must have given up out of fear … too many of her friends had already joined the party in Carl’s livewell.
Jocumsen goes for the grab ...
Jocumsen goes for the grab …
... this one has a little belly!
… this one has a little belly!
Carl looks at the camera and says
Carl looks at the camera and says “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Time to cull one of these.
Time to cull one of these.
The smaller of the two heads back to lake to be caught another day.
The smaller of the two heads back to lake to be caught another day.
A gentle release!
A gentle release!
Followed by a celebratory handshake.
Followed by a celebratory handshake.
Back to throwing the swimbait down the bridge gaps.
Back to throwing the swimbait down the bridge gaps.
Over and over and over.
Over and over and over.
With sun out Carl can see how much bait is in the water.
With sun out Carl can see how much bait is in the water.
Working his way back and forth between bridges, Jocumsen looks for another hawg.
Working his way back and forth between bridges, Jocumsen looks for another hawg.
Slowing turning the crank on his reel...
Slowing turning the crank on his reel…
... another cast and another cast.
… another cast and another cast.
Jocumsen moves toward one end of the bridge.
Jocumsen moves toward one end of the bridge.
Ducking to avoid the metal beams.
Ducking to avoid the metal beams.
“This place is something special, that’s for sure!”
With the bow of the boat now sticking out from the bridge, Carl throws his bait toward where he had caught several other fish.
With the bow of the boat now sticking out from the bridge, Carl throws his bait toward where he had caught several other fish.
A quick adjustment.
A quick adjustment.
And another cast ...
And another cast …
... hookset!
… hookset!
This G-ville largemouth is angry!
This G-ville largemouth is angry!
He brings the fish closer to the boat ...
He brings the fish closer to the boat …
... and goes to grab his catch.
… and goes to grab his catch.
There's another one!
There’s another one!
Carl turns and says
Carl turns and says “Can you even believe this, guys?”
“Boy do I loooove Alabama!”
This one is going in the livewell.
This one is going in the livewell.
Now to decide who gets kicked off the boat.
Now to decide who gets kicked off the boat.
It's pretty close ...
It’s pretty close …
“I can’t believe I’m culling a fish this big … “
Another gentle release back into the lake.
Another gentle release back into the lake.
Off she goes.
Off she goes.
Back at the dock after a long, amazing day Carl bags his catch.
Back at the dock after a long, amazing day Carl bags his catch.
Look at this pair!
Look at this pair!
All smiles, of course.
All smiles, of course.
Riding in style to the weigh-in stage.
Riding in style to the weigh-in stage.
A victory fist pump.
A victory fist pump.
“This is a day I’ll never forget.”