TYLER, Texas (KETK)- An East Texas father, Austin Taylor, broke a 16-year lake record with his daughter by his side, then made it back in town to attend the daddy-daughter dance together.

Taylor has been fishing lakes in Texas his entire life and is teaching his daughters to follow in his footsteps. Austin and his youngest daughter, Lily Mae, were fishing in a tournament in early February. Together, bringing home more than just memories of a good catch. Austin reeled in a whopping 2-pound 84-ounce white crappie.

“It was pretty awesome to be able to get her hooked,” Taylor said. “When I hooked her, I knew I didn’t hooker very well, and she came up to the surface.”

Lily Mae was already ready for action and had the net out. When the fish fell off the hook, it fell right into her net, but once the fish was in their boat, a hard choice had to be made. Either get the fish registered officially or make it back in time for their daddy-daughter dance. Austin said he offered to throw the fish back so they would have time to get dressed for the dance, but Lily Mae didn’t agree.

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“No, we need to go get it registered,” Lily Mae said.

The pair found out the large panfish broke a lake record held for 16-years and then reeled in the night in style on the dance floor. Showing off their matching fishing jerseys instead of their original outfits. The pair also decided to donate their catch to Bass Pro Shops in Tyler and got to see it released into its new home on Wednesday evening.

“What a core memory, what a solid opportunity to be able to have something to look back on and to donate with friends,” Austin said. “Today was, oh my gosh, unbelievable. To be able to do something like this with people who love us and who would support me if we were doing anything here. So that’s pretty neat.”

A night not just for the record books, but for the memory bank and for Austin, one fishing tale he hopes they pass on to the next generation.

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