Every fisherman's dream must be to catch the biggest fish in the water. Whether it be ocean, sound, river, lake or pond, we all share that desire each time we go to catch a fish that is really worth showing off.

Sometimes the trips are ambitious, and well planned. Other times a fishing trip may be organized on the spur of the moment, lasting only for an hour or two, at a place very close to home.

About two weeks ago, 13 year old Travis Jackson wanted to go fishing. He got some worms from his family's flower garden and headed to an Edgecombe County farm pond with his mother and sister.

At that time, it was impossible to tell that this family outing was about to make history. So far the grandest fishing story of the year is the fish young Travis Jackson hooked and landed in this farm pond.

Using an earth worm, a Shimano open-faced reel, and a Berkley rod, the fisherman caught a shellcracker larger than anyone else has ever taken in the state of North Carolina.

Along with every state record comes many stories and interesting side notes.

Young Travis' story was that the day was very windy. But his father shared some very interesting facts about the big catch.

While the tackle his son used was considered modern, and the bait homegrown, the hook used to take the state record shellcracker came from his grandfather's tackle box, and was about 50 years old.

After catching the huge fish, Travis held it up by the monofilament line for everyone to admire. While he was holding the fish, the line finally broke and the fish fell to the ground, but not back into the water.

It took some real effort to get this fish identified and into the record books. For several days it was unclear whether the fish was a bluegill bream or a shellcracker.

Tackle shop owner E.L. Joyner saw the fish, and called Bill Collart, a biologist with The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Bill Collart took the fish to Raleigh, where he met with Wayne Starnes, an ichthyologist, and curator of fish at The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

After careful study, it was determined that the huge sunfish was indeed a shellcracker and not a bluegill bream. The fish weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces, making it the official new record. The only other larger shellcracker was taken in 1998 in South Carolina, and weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces.

Since talking with the Jacksons on Memorial Day afternoon, they have decided to donate the fish to be mounted and put on display at The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

This was young Travis Jackson's wish and decision.

Congratulations on the catch of a lifetime goes to this fine young fisherman. His unselfish attitude about donating his record catch to the museum is a testament to his belief that he can catch more big fish in the future.