While fishing on Texas’ Sam Rayburn Reservoir in 1987, Joe Richardson lost an engraved, blue-stone class ring. When he didn’t find the $200 band, the Buna, Texas, resident figured he’d never see it again. But 21 years later, the ring was returned to Richardson after turning up in a most unusual place: inside an 8-pound largemouth bass.

An angler who asked to remain anonymous caught the lunker at Sam Rayburn on Nov. 28, 2008. When he landed the fish, the ring popped out of the bass’ mouth. Richardson’s name was etched inside the band, allowing the angler to track him down using the Internet.

“My first reaction was, you gotta be kidding,” Richardson said. Because the ring had been missing more than two decades, longer than most bass live, he’s been wondering “how many fish it’s been in,” he told The Associated Press.