Without trying to horse in the floundering whiskerhead, the patient Paulie synchronized rod pressure with the waves so that with each swell the catfish got closer. Everywhere. Bowden, City Lake in Rocky Mount, 9/1/1970, Flathead: 78-0, Brian Newberger, Cape Fear River, 9/17/2005, White: 13-0, Jerry Wayne Bentley, Lake James, 5/21/1990, Channel: 42-1, Tina Willis, Moon Lake, 7/25/2009, Blue: 96-0, Chris Rolph, Ohio River, 6/11/2009, Channel: 37.65, Gus Gronowski, LaDue Reservoir, 8/15/1992, Flathead: 76.5, Richard Affolter, Clendening Lake, 7/28/1979, Blue: 98-0, Billy Nabors, Texoma, 11/11/2004, Channel: 35-15, Gary Doak Jr., Taft Lake, 9/11/2005, Flathead: 78-8, Richard Williams, El Reno City Reservoir, 5/11/2010, Channel: 36-8, Boone Haddock, McKay Reservoir, 1980, Flathead: 42-0, Joshua Kralicek, Snake River, 1994, White: 15-0, Wayne Welch, Tualatin River, 1989, Channel: 35-2.5, Austin Roth III, Lehigh Canal, 1991, Flathead: 48-6, James Shabrach, Blue Marsh Spillway, 2006, White: 16-12, L. Angell, Tiogue Lake, 8/1994, *Channel: 58-0, W.H. Location: Santee-Cooper Lakes (Lake Moultrie), South Carolina. At least sevencatfish records have been set so far this year (Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Wyoming). Presuming the big blue is still swimming in Buggs Island, its packed on a few pounds by now. Although theyre non-natives and considered an invasive species in Virginia and elsewhere in the coastal states, blues have made themselves right at home there. As it has for the past 57 years, Whaleys name remains in the records books. Joe Baze. Whaleys catch, one of the oldest records in the IGFA books, was not immune to controversy at the time. McCormickBrownlee Reservoir1994Illinois81 lbs 7 ozJames KlauzerSangchris Lake2015Indiana79 lbs 8 ozGlen T. SimpsonWhite River1966Iowa81 lbsJoe BazeEllis Lake1958Kansas123 lbsKen PaulieElk City Reservoir1998Kentucky97 lbsEsker CarrollGreen River1956Louisiana95 lbsRoland LasseigneWax Lake2007MaineN/AN/AN/AN/AMarylandN/AN/AN/AN/AMassachusettsN/AN/AN/AN/AMichigan52 lbsDale BlakelyBarron Lake2014Minnesota70 lbsN/ASt. Some suggested that the widely circulated photo of Whaley with the fish show a blue or flathead catfish rather than a channel catfish. (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation image), The Virginia state record blue catfish is also a world record. The new world record blue catfish was caught Saturday night June 18th, 2011 at John H. Kerr-Buggs Island Lake near Clarksville Virginia. Interestingly, theres not much known about the world record prior to Whaleys catch and none listed in the IGFA online archives. The fish was weighed on certified scales and its length (47 inches) and relatively slender girth of 29 inches further suggest that it wasnt the typical pot-bellied blue or flathead. When you're on the search for bass that have moved into deeper water off the bank and away from obvious holding spots, a swimbait can locate them. Less than a year later, Nick came along with his 143-pound record-breaker. Fun trip. At 2:30 p.m. on April 6, Jeff Bonawitz of East Lampeter Township reeled in a record-setting flathead catfish from the Susquehanna River.. Channel (tie): 41-8, John Cunning, Merritt Reservoir, 7/26/1985; Heather Cunning, Merritt Reservoir, 8/11/1986. It occurs in most of the large streams of Missouri, preferring places with a slow current. Sometimes you have to fish a bait that allows you to cover a lot of water efficiently. Record Flathead Catfish Weight: 123 lbs (55.79 kg) Length: 5.08 ft (1.55 m) Location: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, USA Year Caught: May 19, 1998 Species: Flathead Catfish ( Pylodictis olivaris) Source: IGFA World Records Database The record for the largest flathead catfish belongs to Ken Paulie, who landed his big flathead over 20 years ago. His fish would have destroyed that record. Record catch: Largest flathead catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania. Anglers 76.52-pound flathead is an Arizona record and the heaviest fish ever caught in the state. What Was the Largest Fish Ever Caught? The largest catfish ever caught, according to The Guiness Book of World Records, was a Mekong giant catfish that weighed 646 pounds. Notarized affidavits attesting to Whaleys catch were provided by county officials and Robert E. Stevens, a fishery biologist with what is now the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 6h ago. I know of no reason why this claim should not be validated, Reeve M. Bailey, curator of fishes at the university, wrote to Ball. We knew he was big. At ICAST 2022 in Orlando. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. . The catfishing world exploded with chatter on June 18, 2011, with talk of a new world record blue catfish, much larger than the previous largest catfish ever caught. How big can flatheads? You just have to get out and do it.. The current all-tackle world-record muskie measured 60 1/4 inches and weighed 67 pounds, 8 ounces, a fish caught by Cal Johnson in 1949 at Lake Court Oreilles near Hayward, Wisc. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia? It measured 53.5 inches and boasted a 34.75-inch girth. Remember that this is only an average. Opportunistic feeders, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills. In February 2017 an angler named Dale Lowe Jr., hauled a blue catfish out of Buggs Island Lake that weighed almost 142 pounds. 7 Largest Catfish Ever Caught - Largest.org (2022) Table of Contents. After looking over the weights, I've never wanted to catfish more. It's commonly believed that the blue catfish represents the largest North American catfish species. Flathead Catfish 79 lb. December 9, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, December 7, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, Stories of the world-record channel, blue, and flathead catfish, and the whiskerheads who caught them. Bluegill normally live about five years if not caught or eaten by larger fish first. Largest Asteroids ever Detected. The previous . image-slider-with-thumbnail1.jpeg - copy - copy. The blues are the largest of the catfish in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Whaley, Lake Moultrie, 1964, Flathead: 79-6, Danny Aderhold, Cooper River, 2014, White: 12-2.9, Charles Earp, Lake Murray, 2014, Blue: 99-4, Steve Lemmon, Big Sioux River, 7/21/2012, Channel: 55-0, Roy Groves, James River, 5/18/1949, Flathead: 63-8, David Holland, James River, 6/18/2006, Blue: 112-0, Robert Lewis, Lock C, Cumberland River, 6/7/1998, Channel: 41-0, Clint Walters Jr., Fall Creek Falls Lake, 7/30/1982, Flathead: 85-15, Larry Kaylor, Hiwassee River, 7/25/1993, Blue: 121.50, Cody Mullennix, Texoma, 1/16/2004, Channel: 36.5, Mrs. Joe Cockrell, Pedernales River, 3/7/1965, Flathead: 98.5, James Laster, Palestine, 12/2/1998, Channel: 32-8, LeRoy Mortenson, Utah Lake, 1978, *Blue: 143-0, Nick Anderson, Buggs Island Lake, 6/18/2011, Channel: 32-0, Hugh Wyatt, Lake Chesdin, 4/28/1980, Flathead: 66-4, Mike Willems, Occoquan Reservoir, 5/6/1994, White: 7-6, Thomas Elkins, Western Branch Reservoir 3/24/1992, Blue: 17.75, Rangle Hawthorne, Columbia River, 7/9/1975, Channel: 36.2, Ross Kincaid, I-82 Pond #6, 9/6/1999, Flathead: 22.8, C.L. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more. For some reason that science cant fully explain, blue catfish flourish in Buggs Island. At the time we didnt know how much he weighed. Fishers in northern Thailand netted this huge catfish in the Mekong River on May 1. The biggest flathead ever caught in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds. Besides, South Carolina didnt start stocking blue and flathead catfish in state waters until late 1964. It's commonly believed that the blue catfish represents the largest North American catfish species. 4 oz. It is the largest fish ever recorded since Thailand began keeping records in 1981. Even so, he couldnt have been too surprised by the Fathers Day eve catch, considering the family of fishermen pretty much had big catfish dialed in. Michigan's flathead record (70-0) was reportedly caught while ice fishing Photo Gallery See all Photos The IGFA world records for the four species were caught in the U.S. Key points: The dusky flathead has been caught four times within 500 metres of where it was originally released Dan Guilfoyle has caught it three of the four times Dusky flathead have a catch and release survival rate of more than 90 per cent "I would say neither," Mr Guilfoyle said with a laugh. It's commonly believed that the blue catfish represents the largest North American catfish species. The people who know about such things say that given the right habitat and lack of natural enemies, a catfish can grow in size all of its long life of 20 years or so. According to IGFA records, the largest fish ever caught was a great white shark that weighed an unbelievable 2,664 pounds (1,208.389 kg.). I just sat there kind of shocked. One of the best imitations of a wounded baitfish is the soft-plastic jerkbait, or fluke. The redtail catfish weighed in at 123 pounds and seven ounces and was more than 4.62 feet long. For more information please read our. Nowling's catch topped that at 69.9 pounds, measuring 48.5 inches long with a girth of 38.25 inches. Eddie Flathead Ed Wilcoxson, 56, was fishing at Bartlett Lake and using a 2-pound carp as bait. What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught? World records for each as followed: Channel catfish- 58 pounds Blue catfish- 109.25 pounds White catfish- 18.88 pounds Yellow bullhead- 4.25 pounds Brown bullhead- 5.50 pounds Flathead catfish- 91 . 2022 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved Note: Wilcoxson will be featured Monday at 4:30 p.m. PST (live, but show will be archived thereafter) on Phil Friedman Outdoors Radio. This bluegill weighed in at a whopping 4 pounds 12 ounces and came in at 15 inches long with an astounding girth of 18- inches. | 3 Upper Mississippi River > Minnesota/Wisconsin. there were some of the biggest flathead I have ever seen!! Caught off the coast of Ceduna, Australia, in 1959, it took angler Alfred Dean just 50 minutes to win the fight against this one-ton shark. Sometimes during Thanksgiving Ill spend three weeks straight out there. With Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller. And it remains unclear whether Powers' flathead might have come close to breaking the world record - a 123-pound flathead caught on the Elk City Reservoir in Kansas in 1998. Posts about big catfish records are well-liked by readers. AFTCO's Matt Florentino highlights the features of the new Barricade cold-weather suit, a Best of Category winner at ICAST 2022 in Orlando. Biggest Hurricanes ever Measured. The anglers decided to keep the catfish alive and, after weighing it, take it to a Bass Pro Shops store so it could be put on display in an aquarium. What was the largest flathead catfish ever caught? This makes it harder to decide this species . Joshua Dixon, 34, shows off the 57-pound, 50-inch flathead catfish he caught in Maryland on Dec. 27, setting a state record and topping marks made by Pennsylvania anglers. The catfish weighed 57 pounds 8 ounces, besting the current flathead catfish record of 56 pounds 3 ounces, which was caught in 2020 by Jonathan Pierce from the Schuylkill River. After the catfish made four long runs that tested Andersons mettle, it was finally subdued and manhandled aboard their pontoon boat. Blue Catfish (Over 105lbs) The white catfish is native to the east coast from Florida to New York. The flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), also called by several common names including mudcat or shovelhead cat, is a large species of North American freshwater catfish in the family Ictaluridae.It is the only species of the genus Pylodictis.Ranging from the lower Great Lakes region to northern Mexico, it has been widely introduced and is an invasive species in some areas. At ICAST 2022 in Orlando. The trio didnt know how much the catfish weighed, only that it was the biggest one they had ever seen. Following is a look at the circumstances and stories that led to the current world records for blue, flathead, and channel catfish. When we say "good sized" we are talking about 100 pound catfish! Flathead can grow up to 3m in length and 15kg in weight, with dusky flathead being the biggest. Lowe was fishing in a local tournament called the Ice Bowl Tournament. Stream, Jackson County . Quick Answer: What is the biggest flathead catfish ever caught? What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the United States? Catfishing in Texas is very popular with anglers finding good sized channel catfish, flatheads and blue cats. Nearly nine feet long (2.7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, the behemoth tipped the scales at 646 pounds . The general physiognomy and the configuration and length of the anal fin (about one fourth of the standard length) are typical of channel catfish and preclude identification as a blue cat., (Killer Buy Alert:Men's Realtree Aspect Sea Foam Fishing Performance Long Sleeve Shirt). Just a few weeks before, the elder Anderson boated a 95-pound blue in the same general part of the 50,000-acre lake astraddle the Virginia-North Carolina borders. READ MORE. 13-09-2006, 07:44 AM #4. Blue Catfish can live for 30 years and fish over 100 pounds have been confirmed in at least eleven states. I could tell it was very heavy and yet it really didnt pull fast or jerk like a fish.. Unfortunately, Andersons plan to keep the catch alive went awry. The catfish tipped the scales at 50 pounds, 7 ounces. The biggest Blue Catfish ever caught was 5.5ft /1.7 meter long and weighed 100 lb / 45 kg. The sheriff contacted a local farm store owner, who said he would weigh the catch. A Top Team of UTVers Makes the Case, 'Creation Theory' by Arcteryx: Chasing the Aha Moment of Creativity, Searching for the Lost Chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge, What It's Like to Tour Peru by Mountain Bike, We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Men's Journal and its partners. The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 14, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 123 lb 9 oz (56.0 kg). The lake has produced a few blue catfish that weighed more than 100 pounds each, and probably record-size fish such as Andersons are still swimming there. Everything from that point on is almost hard to even try to put into words. It seemed awfully solid so I knew it was not a crappie., "My adrenalin suddenly kicked into overdrive and my heart felt like it was going to explode I remember saying Oh, God, please let me land this fish.'". 3) Flathead Catfish: 98.50 pounds. I had him halfway between the rocks, then dropped my pole and got hold of him again with both hands on the back of the gills.. Everybody knows Southerners like their chicken, and thats what proved to be the undoing of Nick Andersons Buggs Island blue, according to the IGFA application he completed. White River, Lawrence County Glen T. Simpson 1966 Flier 3 1/2 oz. Pond, Greene County Harold L. Catey 1972 Bowfin 16.52 lb. However, while the IGFA recognizes California as the home of the world white catfish record (19 pounds, 5 ounces;2005), California's official state record (22-0, 1994) is heavier, Indiana and Kentucky share the same record for blue catfish (104-0), Blue: 120-4, John Paul Nichols, Holt Reservoir, 3/9/2012, Channel: 40-0, Donald R. Cox, Inland Lake, 6/17/1967, Flathead: 80-0, Rick Conner, Alabama River, 6/22/1986, White: 10-5, Roy Britton, Chambers Co. Public Lake, 4/3/1981, Flathead: 76-8.64, Eddie Wilcoxson, Bartlett Lake, 4/13/2013, Blue: 116-12, Charles Ashley Jr., Mississippi River, 8/3/2001, Channel: 38-0, Joe Holleman, Lake Ouachita, 6/3/1989, Flathead: 80-0, Wesley White, Arkansas River, 10/28/1989, Blue: 113-5, Steve Oudomsouk, San Vicente Reservoir, 7/24/2008, Channel: 53-8, Randall Gilgert Jr., San Joaquin River, 9/22/2008, Flathead: 72-14, Billy Joe Potter, Colorado River, 4/22/2003, **White: 22-0, James Robinson, Land Park pond, 3/21/1994, Blue: 24-7.7, Charlie Black, Pueblo Reservoir, 2016, Channel: 43-6, Jessica Walton, Aurora Reservoir, 2010, Channel: 29-6, Appleton Barrows, Mashapaug Lake, 2004, White: 12-12, John Shatas, Connecticut River, 1999, Blue: 69.5 pounds, William Stewart III, Choctawhatchee River, 5/30/2015, Channel: 44.5, Joe Purvis, Lake Bluff, 5/19/1985, Flathead: 63.8, Charles Patchen, Chattahoochee River, 5/15/2016, White: 18.88, Jim Miller, Withlacoochee River, 9/21/1991, Blue: 80-4, Earnest Timpson, Lake Walter F. George, 2/2/2010, Channel: 44-12, Bobby Smithwick, Altamaha River, 5/18/1972, Flathead: 83-0 (tie), Carl Sawyer, Altamaha River, 6/22/2006; Jim Dieveney, Altamaha River, 7/11/2010, White: 8-10, James Sanders, Savannah River, 6/10/1996, Channel: 43-13, Dayton Miyamura, Lake Wilson, 3/24/1974, Channel: 31-0, Kenny Decker, Mann Lake, 8/25/2001, Flathead: 58-8, J. Newberry/K.McCormick, Brownlee Reservoir, 8/23/1994, Blue: 124-0, Mississippi River, 5/21/2005, Flathead: 81-6.4, Sangchris Lake, 8/29/2015, Blue: 104-0, Bruce Midkiff, Ohio River, 1999 (also Kentucky record), Channel: 37-8, Randy Jones, Vanderburgh County, 1980, Flathead: 79-8, Glen Simpson, White River, 1966, White: 9.72, Melissa Grimes, Wabash County pond, 1985, Blue: 101-0, Mike Rush, Missouri River, 6/8/2004, Channel: 38-2, Dustin Curtis, Missouri River, 6/11/2005, Flathead: 81-0, Joe Baze, Ellis Lake, 6/7/1958, Blue: 102.8, Robert Stanley, Missouri River, 8/11/2012, Channel: 36.5, Rick Barnow, Mined Land, Cherokee Co., 6/3/2003, *Flathead: 123-0, Ken Paulie, Elk City Reservoir, 5/15/1998, Blue: 104-0, Bruce Midkiff, Ohio River, 1999 (also Indiana record), Channel: 32-0, Kyle Estep, Ohio River, 5/26/2004, Flathead: 97-0, Esker Carroll, Green River, 6/6/1956, White: 5.27, Ethen Vest, Guist Creek Lane, 10/11/2016, Blue: 114-0, Lawson Boyte, Mississippi River, 3/2014, Channel: 30.31, Harold Clubb, Minor's Canal, 8/1977, Flathead: 95-0, Roland Lasseigne, Wax Lake, 7/2007, Channel: 27.92, Steven Trent Abell, Upper Potomac River, 7/5/2004, Channel: 26-8, Dana Dodge, Ashfield Lake, 1989, White: 9-3, Michael Payne, Baddacook Pond, 1987, Flathead: 52-0, Barron Lake (ice fishing), 2014, Channel: 38-0, Mississippi River, 2/16/1975, Blue: 95-0, Dakota Hinson, Mississippi River, 3/16/2009, Channel: 51-12, Tom Edwards, Lake Tom Bailey, 5/31/1997, Flathead: 77.7, Matt Bingham, Mississippi River, 4/21/2012, Blue: 130-0, Greg Bernal, Missouri River, 7/20/2010, Channel: 34-10, Gerald Siebenmorgen, Lake Jacomo, 10/12/1976, Flathead: 77-8, Scott Brown, Montrose Lake, 4/28/2003, Channel: 34.8, Dan Davenport, Fort Peck Reservoir, 7/26/2013, Blue: 100-8, Raynold Promes, Missouri River, 11/29/1970. Orange - Flathead Native RangeRed - Flathead Non-Native RangePC: USGS, StateWeightAnglerLakeYearAlabama80 lbsRick ConnerAlabama River1986AlaskaN/AN/AN/AN/AArizona76 lb 9 ozEddie WilcoxsonBartlett Lake2013Arkansas80 lbsWesley WhiteArkansas River1989California72 lbs 14 ozBilly Joe PotterColorado River2003Colorado30 lbs 10 ozMichael FlockLake Pueblo2017ConnecticutN/AN/AN/AN/ADelawareN/AN/AN/AN/AFlorida69 lbs 14ozLavon NowlingYellow River2020Georgia83 lbsCarl SawyerAltamaha River2006HawaiiN/AN/AN/AN/AIdaho58 lb 8 ozJ. The largest flathead catfish ever documented weighed an impressive 139 lb 14 oz and was captured in the Arkansas River in 1982. What is the biggest fish ever caught in the world? Flathead Catfish Jun 01, 1958 - 81.00 lbs. It is somewhat less nocturnal than other cats and is a popular gamefish. What state has the most flathead catfish? That would be a cool trip. In a March 1960 issue of Sports Illustrated, theres reference to a 57-pound channel catfish caught from Lake Moultrie by Blease Dennis. 8 oz. There are three models in SPRO's Outsider crankbait series: 55 (runs 3-4 feet), 60 (7-9) and 80 (19-21). Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? The world record bluegill recorded by IGFA or the International Gamefish Association was caught in 1950 at Ketona Lake, Alabama. Mutton Creek, Jackson County . All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The current Noodling world record for Flathead Catfish is 87.85 pounds. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. A mate of mine has a photo of a large flatty caught in the logan river which i will post tommorow, . We knew we were going to get him certified and measured. Log, fish, or snapping turtle at that point, Paulie still wasnt sure what was on the other end of his line. What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the United States? Biggest Catfish Ever Caught in a Tournament 58,926 views Mar 18, 2020 The largest catfish ever caught in a tournament was caught on Kerr Lake in Virginia and it was caught by Dale Lowe,. If you've ever wondered who caught the world record flathead catfish, the record catfish was. It weighed 35 pounds less than the world record of the time, which was a 130-pound monster caught the previous July from the Missouri River. (Photo by Dallas Weston; courtesy Virginia DGIF), Wyoming's record channel cat was caught in 2017. For the sake of comparison, the International Game Fish Assn. The catfish weighed in at 736 lbs. Here are some of the best flathead catfish locations to consider in the United States. The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 14, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 123 lb 9 oz (56.0 kg). Everybody knows Southerners like their chicken, and thats what proved to be the undoing of Nick Andersons Buggs Island blue, according to the IGFA application he completed. This nearly 70 pound Flathead was caught by lifelong angler Lavon Nowling in the Yellow River. One of the best is the states namesake river, a trophy-catfish factory running 410 miles along the states western border, which produced both the state-record blue (95 pounds) and flathead (77.7 pounds). The Channel Catfish is one of America's most popular gamefish. Record Flathead Catfish Weight: 123 lbs (55.79 kg) Length: 5.08 ft (1.55 m) Location: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, USA Year Caught: May 19, 1998 Species: Flathead Catfish ( Pylodictis olivaris) Source: IGFA World Records Database The record for the largest flathead catfish belongs to Ken Paulie, who landed his big flathead over 20 years ago. Because the fish was released, an 85-pound, 15-ounce flathead caught on the Hiwassee River in 1993 remains the Tennessee record. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. Its commonly believed that the blue catfish represents the largest North American catfish species. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. If you believe you have caught an all-time state record fish in Iowa, follow these steps: Look up the size of the current state record in the list below (State Record Fish - Current Records) to see if your fish is larger than the current record. Catfish heavier than these records probably have been landed in times past by commercial fishermen with nets or trotlines, but such behemoths dont count in the records book administered by the International Game Fish Association, the final arbiter of what is, and isnt, a record. image-slider-with-thumbnail1.jpeg - copy. The 57-pound, 50-inch long catch was made from the shore of the Susquehanna River. Though only a trifle heavier, this fish is substantially longer than the previous record fish, concluded Bailey. What state has the best flathead fishing? "I've been deep-sea fishing to creek fishing and I never expected to catch a state-record fish," Nowling continued. I really was not sure just what I had hooked into. . Some catfish have been known to live 15-18 hours out of the water and some wont make it even a few hours. Record Flathead Catfish ; Weight: 123 lbs (55.79 kg) Length: 5.08 ft (1.55 m) Location: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, USA Year Caught: May 19, 1998 It you see a mistake or omission,let us know. The largest was an 86-pound, 15-ounce giant taken at Dardanelle Lock and Dam in 1983. Flathead catfish reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 6 and have an average life span of 20 years. McCary, Snake River, 6/28/1981, White: 19.85, Donald Huffman, Walla Walla River, 4/17/2002, Blue: 59.74, Mark Blauvelt, Ohio River, 2016, Channel: 33.42, Michael Sears, Patterson Creek, 2005, Flathead: 70-0, L.L. Ken Paulie's 123-pound flathead stands as the accepted world record, extracted from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas in May 1998. It just might be the largest fish ever caught by noodling, a technique in which you literally entice a catfish to bite your hand and then wrestle it out of the water. John Susman, from seafood consultants Fishtales, has seen flathead go from being a by-catch to one of the most important table fish in Australia, which he says is due to its wonderful eating properties. It seems fitting that someone known as Flathead Ed would beat those old records. This study found fish as old as 33 years! However, Ball settled most doubts when he asked a Michigan fishery biologist to verify the species. Fishing the bucktail on a Bronson rod and reel and 17-pound-test Berkley monofilament, Whaley no doubt wasnt expecting to tangle with a catfish of that size. I grabbed hold and pulled backwards as hard as I could. Bennett's wife, Kodi, a champion tournament noodler, hoists the giant fish. Chicken Livers. Well, almost; Alaska doesn'thave catfishlisted amongtheir state fishing records. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. The venom, while not fatal, can cause pain and infection for no more than about 2 days. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. Hudsons 4lb. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission certified the state record flathead catfish weighing 69.9 pounds, measuring 48.5 inches long, 38.25 inches in circumference. Largest Cat Breeds in the World. Syd Ribes with Sea Falcon highlights four new lures for saltwater fishing. So if you regularly fish in rivers or lakes such as Buggs Island that are loaded with blue catfish, your chances of latching on to the next world record arent bad at all. What was completely unexpected is that the 58-pound catfish he caught established a world record that is still going strong after more than a half-century. (Photo courtesy of Maryland DNR), Eric Scordo used a nightcrawler to catch New York's record for channel catfish. The all-tackle world record weighed 123 pounds and was caught in Kansas on May 19, 1998. Before Friday, the heaviest fish caught in Arizona was a 74-pound flathead catfish caught in 1988 on the Colorado River, according to an Arizona Game and Fish Department news release. With [the] pole in my left hand I swooped down with my right, hoping to get it by the gills. Trone - who lives in Havana, 16 miles north of Tallahassee - is now the new record holder for the largest blue catfish ever caught in Georgia. . The largest fish ever caught which is verified and listed by the IGFA is a 2,664lb (1208kg) great white shark. Tag the Best Pronghorn of Your Life This Season, It's Tick Season. However, in general, it is known that many catfish can make it several hours out of the water. My adrenalin suddenly kicked into overdrive and my heart felt like it was going to explode I remember saying Oh, God, please let me land this fish.. With Bubba's Matt Kinamore and Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at ICAST 2022 in Orlando. I m more interested in the fish than the methods. View Profile View . He was definitely listening to me that day, said Paulie, giving credit to Divine Intervention. The oldest record a 55-pound channel catch in South Carolina, 1949 is approaching 80 years old, Michigan's flathead record (70-0) was reportedly caught while ice fishing. Then he caught flashes of the fishs off-white belly, and a big square tail broke the surface. The current Noodling world record for Flathead Catfish is 87.85 pounds. Carson Pete's Arizona record channel catfish measured 39 1/2 inches and took about 20 minutes to land. The largest catfish ever caught, according to The Guiness Book of World Records, was a Mekong giant catfish that weighed 646 pounds. They also provide most of the fishing in a well-managed pond. Found in every continent except Antarctica, catfish rank among the most abundant fish on the planet. It seemed to move about a foot or so, then just pulled my line and pole right back and began stripping line off the drag, recalled Paulie. The fish was so big and round it could hardly maneuver in that shallower water, and I knew I had one chance to get my hands on that fish before something happened, he told the IGFA. A photograph shows a 736-pound catfish caught in the Mississippi River. 20 lb to 40 lb fish are very common. Mississippi waters produce many giant cats. Channel catfish are known for their strong sense of smell, spunky attitude, and delicious flavor. Ellis Lake. To some extent, catching a world-record catfish of any sort is a matter of luck. The whiskerfish went for a hunk of poultry, drift-fished on a hook of suitable size and a Daiwa reel and Shakespeare Ugly Stick rod. Minnesotas state record measured 56 7/8 inches. Three-time ICAST Best of Category winner Bubba covers it all with new knives set. But we didnt know he was going to be a world record., (Killer Buy Alert:Women's Realtree Aspect Orange Sorbet Fishing Performance Long Sleeve Shirt). Eddie Flathead Ed Wilcoxson poses with record-setting flathead catfish. That monster was caught in 1998 at Elk City Reservoir in Kansas. The Flathead Weighed At Least 106 Pounds, Maybe More. What is the biggest walleye caught in Lake of the Woods? Our voluminous catfish library of content is one of the biggest, best and most visited on the Internet. Mississippi waters produce many giant cats. Best of Category winner at ICAST 2022. What is the biggest flathead ever caught? 2022 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 35 catfish typically avg around 25 lbs. I found certified records for flathead catfish in 36 out of 50 states in the US. image-slider-with-thumbnail1.jpeg. With the exception of a trophy angler who targets bigger fish, the fisherman who actually lands a record probably wasnt expecting to do so. lists a 123-pound flathead as the all-tackle world record. Syd Ribes highlights two new saltwater lures from SPRO: Flutter Tail Shrimp and Cannon Ball Jig. Fishing the bucktail on a Bronson rod and reel and 17-pound-test Berkley monofilament, Whaley no doubt wasnt expecting to tangle with a catfish of that size. The catfish was placed in an aerated 250-gallon tank, but died the next day. On a recent Noodling adventure, Levi Bennett caught a 106-pound Flathead Catfish by hand. The . So, we took a look at the state fishing records (based on weight and traditional methods) listed on official websites ofwildlife agenciesor other officialsources to see where the big cats roam. Also, I fished 39 weekends last year.. On Sept. 18, Hollenbach and his team, Krazy 4 Katz, caught a 57-pound, 3.8-ounces flathead at the . The angler was using a homemade pole [rod?] Eat panfish, such as bluegill, perch, stream trout, and smelt. Other details about the catch remain something of a mystery. One of the best is the state's namesake river, a trophy-catfish factory running 410 miles along the state's western border, which produced both the state-record blue (95 pounds) and flathead (77.7 pounds). Flathead have two short spikes on either side of their heads and on top of their heads that contain venom. (Photo by Brandon Chadwick), **IGFA recognizes the world white catfish record (19 pounds, 5 ounces, 2005) as being caught in California, but the state's official record (22-0, 1994) is heavier. I sleep out on the water three to four days sometimes, said Wilcoxson, a lifelong angler who obtained his guide license on April 1. Here are the largest channel catfish ever recorded from every state in . They feed on insects and other aquatic life and are less likely to contain high levels of harmful pollutants. But for 16-year-old Troy Powers, who recently landed a flathead catfish estimated to weigh 100 pounds, or about 15 pounds heavier than a Tennessee record that has stood since 1993, the primary . The Flathead was over 5 feet in length and weighed 123 pounds. and it took him 40 minutes to land the fish, according to the magazine snippet. The Mekong giant catfish Record Redtail . I just though it would be interesting to put together a list of the largest catfish ever caught, blues and flatheads, to get an idea of the distribution and a general idea of what is possible. I found certified records for flathead catfish in 36 out of 50 states in the US. Missouri catfishes have smooth, scaleless skin and barbels ("whiskers") around the mouth. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? Paulie tried to dislodge the hook from whatever snag it had encountered, but then the snag started moving. The Record Flathead Catfish For Every State In America Flathead catfish are bottom-dwelling beasts that swim throughout rivers and lakes. "This is the MOST never happened thing ever," one Twitter user cracked about the comments from Donald Trump's son. Others have come tantalizingly close to taking away Whaleys record, including a 55-pound fish caught by Craig Durban from the Red River in 2008, but close doesnt count. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Glamourous they are not, but they get big and fight hard. _Dan_. Fact: The flathead catfish is thought to be the least attractive member of the catfish family. That mans forgotten more about catfish in the river than I'll ever know. McClungLittle Kanawha River1956Wisconsin74 lbs 5 ozN/AMississippi River2001Wyoming22 lbs 7 ozDallas StantonNorth Platte River2004, The Record Flathead Catfish For Every State In America. There are just shy of 3,000 different species, though in the U.S. anglers arguably are most interested in the blue, flathead, and channel catfish varieties. After about 20 minutes of back-and-forth, the waves rolling in toward shore helped him move it closer to the bank. Ken Paulie got help from a stiff onshore wind the day in 1998 when he caught the world-record flathead catfish of 123 pounds. The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 14, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 123 lb 9 oz (56.0 kg), however a record from 1982 shows that the flathead catfish would be North Americas longest species of catfish, after a specimen pulled from the Arkansas river that measured 175 cm (69 The innovative landing net will weigh and measure your catch while it's still in the net. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. Photo is courtesy of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Adventure Found: Exploring Montanas Big Sky Backcountry by Snowmobile, A Journey of a Lifetime with Jurica Barac, Asheville Has It All for the River-Running, Outdoor Adventurer, Kristen Matlock is the Ironwoman of the Baja 1000, Is the Baja 1000 the Worlds Most Brutal Race? Opportunistic feeders, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills. A fish nearly as long as the man who reeled it in is now the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the state of Florida. Ken Paulies 123-pound flathead stands as the accepted world record, extracted from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas in May 1998. Most Recent World Record Catfish. My brother [stepbrother Jeramie Mullis] and my dad were jumping up and down, Anderson, a 29-year-old high school football coach at the time, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. A fluke darting just beneath the surface can be too much for a bass to resist. His patience and skill as an experienced fisherman served him well. How does your best blue, channel, flathead and whitecatfish catches compare? The monstrous flathead began taking the bait at about 2 a.m., as Wilcoxson was asleep on a fold-out cot aboard his 24-foot pontoon boat. This one was caught in Kerr Lake on Buggs Island, Virginia. His fish would have destroyed that record. Whaley caught a channel catfish on a bucktail jig that hot summer day in July 1964, given the channel cats bass-like propensity to hit artificial lures of various sorts. However, while the IGFA recognizes California as the home of the world white catfish record (19 pounds, 5 ounces; 2005), California's official state record (22-0, 1994) is heavier The answer? (Don't Miss:16 Years of Noodling for Catfish), It was at that moment I knew for sure I had hooked a big fish, said Paulie. To reach a 25 pound trophy mark, Flathead Catfish have to survive to at least 7 or 8 years. The last state-record flathead catfish was caught in 2019 on the same river and weighed 69.3 pounds. Coincidently the previous record holder, a 69.3 pound flathead, was also fished from the Yellow!Nowling said he has been fishing his whole life, especially along the Yellow River. The organizations catfish files for those years are sketchy at best, though the letter from Bailey to Ball contains a clue that Whaleys catch barely outweighed the previous record. The adventure didnt end there. [Related: The biggest fish ever caught from a kayak.]. Blue Catfish of this size may have been more common in the Mississippi River in the 1800s, but they are unheard of today. Site by Gray Loon. He was fishing for crappie at Elk City Reservoir outside Independence, Kansas, and casting a small jig from the shoreline when he noticed that the bobber on his secondary minnow rig had disappeared. The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. The boot was a size 37 and there is only one man with a size 37 boot, Robert Wadlow. Ohio River Bruce Midkiff 1999 Bluegill 3 lb. He kept the fish alive in his boats 100-gallon aerated tank and, finding no good reason to keep it after the weigh-in, released it. The flathead weighed 123 pounds and was 1.55 meters long. Heck of a Fathers Day present! As he struggled to catch his breath, Paulie, whose catch was verified by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, admired the fish and reflected on what he had just accomplished. L. McCarySnake River1981West Virginia38 lbs 8 ozL.L. The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 14, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 123 lb 9 oz (56.0 kg), however a record from 1982 shows that the flathead catfish would be North Americas longest species of catfish, after a specimen pulled from the Arkansas river that measured 175 cm (69 How old can catfish get? It was caught by . Blue Catfish All-Tackle Record: 64.86 kilograms (143 pounds, 0 ounces), Kerr Lake, Va., USA As the largest catfish species found in North America, the blue cat has long been a favorite target of freshwater anglers looking for a bullish fight to test their skill and tackle. Caught them on set lines baited with goldfish. Its length was 61 inches and it had a girth of 46 inches. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. The lower jaw projects beyond the upper jaw. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. All Rights Reserved. Our search included records for blue, channel, flathead and white catfish (sorry, no bullheads) the four most common targeted species in the U.S.Catch-and-release, length and line class records were not considered. What state has the most flathead catfish? They didn't look too much longer than 1m but they were so fat!! It wasnt surprising that W.H. This type of catfish exceeds 100 pounds in weight. It is one of the biggest flatheads ever caught by any fisherman. The mild, sweet and fatty scalloping flesh is perfect for steaming, he says. Give a Gift On a recent Noodling adventure, Levi Bennett caught a 106-pound Flathead Catfish by hand. It separates a relatively small band of dedicated anglers from all those who at one time or another had their lines broken along with their hearts. These records pale in comparison to a Mekong giant catfish caught in northern Thailand on 1 May 2005, and reported to the press almost 2 months later, that weighed 293 kilograms (646 lb). It is the largest fish ever recorded since Thailand began keeping records in 1981. Ken Paulie got help from a stiff onshore wind the day in 1998 when he caught the world-record flathead catfish of 123 pounds. The fish weighed 110 pounds, 6 ounces to beat the . Here are some interesting factoidswe found: Note: This list was compiled fromdata currently available. Urban legendry is rife with tales of monstrously large catfish glimpsed lurking at the base of dams or pulled out of murky . This was in early October with the air temperature getting down to low 30's at night and the water temperature was 52 degrees. How long can a flathead live out of water? Subscriber Services. "After all the measurements, we safely released it and it swam off healthy, back out to be caught again," said Hollenbach. Species: Flathead catfish Weight: 69 pounds World Record Line Class: 80-pound Location: Cape Fear River, North Carolina Date: July 27, 1994 Lure or Bait Used: Perch 10) Eight-Pound Line Class. Experts say the fish, a Mekong giant catfish, was around 170 years old and . They are less likely to contain harmful levels of pollutants than larger, older fish. What states do flathead catfish live in? An officer from the states natural resources department witnessed the weigh-in of Andersons fish on certified scales. Blue Catfish 104 lb. Paulie, who by this time had waded out into the shallow water off the bank, realized that the catfish was virtually helpless in the big rollers. Ken Paulie's 123-pound flathead stands as the accepted world record, extracted from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas in May 1998. As a result, Al Nelsons 22-pound 11-ounce Walleye, which was caught in Fairfield Bay on Greers Ferry Lake, Arkansas in 1982, was listed as the official World Record Walleye. The south wind had really picked up that morning, causing some pretty big waves to roll in toward the shore I was on, Paulie told the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) in a handwritten note regarding the circumstances of the catch. The IGFA world records for the four specieswere caught in the U.S. Which is bigger blue catfish or flathead catfish? Everybodys got the same chance I do, he said afterward. The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. There are however numerous reports of even bigger Blue catfish being caught during the 1800s and if you choose to be believe these reports the biggest catfish ever caught of this species weighed 150lb/ 68kg. This lake, created by a flooded quarry in Birmingham, Alabama, holds the claim to fame for big bluegill fishing. McClung, Little Kanawha River, 1956, Channel: 44-0, Larry Volenec, Wisconsin River, 1962, Flathead: 74-5, Stan Hagensick, Mississippi River, 3/30/2001, Flathead: 22.46, Dallas Stanton, North Platte River, 4/18/2004. RECENT POSTS. So, how long can a catfish live out of water? By that time, any stores in the area that had certified scales were closed, so they contacted the county sheriff and asked for his help. And who knows? 10 Best Catfish Bait - Both Live and Artificial. I just kept my line tight and let it pull out the drag until it would slack off, then I would pull back and reel as much as I could until it began to pull back hard on me. Our Price: $4.00 Per Pound - All live flathead catfish and blue catfish will be 10 lb and up. May 10, 2019, 9:22 AM. The current world record flathead was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds. Here's What You Need to Know, How to Add Casting Distance to Reach Bigger Fish, Go Big or Go Home to Hook Lunker Summer Bass, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, Go Whole Hog for Delectable Backyard Pork BBQ, SPRO's New Outsider Crankbait Series: First Look, New Essential Series Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits from SPRO, New from AFTCO: Barricade Cold Weather Tactical Gear, Award-Winning Frabill Witness Net 'Keeps You Honest'. Now, he may be the next state record-holder for the heaviest catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania. That was how Whaley, of Pineville, South Carolina, wound up as the record holder for the channel catfish he caught from Santee-Cooper Lakes (Marion and Moultrie). A fish nearly as long as the man who reeled it in is now the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the state of Florida. Where was the biggest flathead catfish caught? Largest Class Action Settlements. Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week. Record Flathead Catfish Did You Know? The flathead catfish is distinguished by its broad, flattened head with small eyes on top . The world record title for the largest redtail catfish ever caught went to Gilberto Fernandes in 2010, when he caught this massive fish while fishing in the Amazon River in Brazil. The fish was caught, on 60-pound braided line, after a 35-minute struggle. The line was listed as 30-pound-test and it took the angler about 45 minutes to subdue the record fish from the deep waters of the lake. Contents The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 14, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 123 lb 9 oz (56.0 kg). Just wondering whats the biggest flathead recorded or caught on film?. Ken Paulie's 123-pound flathead stands as the accepted world record, extracted from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas in May 1998. Game & Fish dived into the record books to find the catfish records for every state. 12 oz.Jeffrey E. DillLake Smith2018Washington22 lbs 11 ozC. That notion must have flashed through the mind of Rick Anderson the day in 2011 when his son Nick broke the year-old world record for blue catfish at Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission certified the state record flathead catfish weighing 69.9 pounds, measuring 48.5 inches long, 38.25 inches in circumference. What is the largest catfish ever recorded? Levi Bennett. Rig it and fish it according to water conditions and cover to make this great bait even more effective. . In times past, it was common for anglers who entered winning fish in the prestigious Field & Stream Magazine Fishing Contest to discover that they also were entitled to claim a world record. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual . Chicken livers are traditionally the best way to catch catfish . The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. At first, the angler thought he might have hooked a log or brush that was being pushed by wave action, and he applied pressure to the rod tip in hopes of pulling the obstruction out of his fishing hole. A Lancaster County man is showing off quite a catch. My line had drifted in several times until it would just get caught on the rocks or just drift too close to the edge, so I would recast. Professional bass angler Jonathan Kelley goes over the specifics at ICAST 2022 in Orlando. And for that, they are treasured by whiskerhead fishermen who target the biggest of the bunch. An angler and guide nicknamed Flathead Ed lived up to his moniker and then some Friday by catching a 76.52-pound flathead catfish, which is an Arizona record and the heaviest fish of any species ever landed in the state. The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. Still, a record is a record, and in fishing luck trumps skill with regularity. (Photo courtesy of FWC), Jacob Vosburgh, 20, of Lexington Park, set a Maryland white catfish record in 2017. He was encouraged to enter the fish in Field & Streams 54th annual contest and, once longtime Fishing Contest Editor contest Mike Ball declared the catch legitimate, he also sent the required paperwork to the IGFA. A 100lb fish is still a 100lb fish, no matter how it was caught. 15-18 hours. He was fishing for crappie at Elk City Reservoir outside Independence, Kansas, and casting a small jig from the shoreline when he noticed that the bobber on his secondary minnow rig had disappeared. The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 14, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 123 lb 9 oz (56.0 kg). The largest blue catfish ever caught was a 143 pound blue cat caught by Richard Nicolas Anderson on June 18, 2011. The world record flathead catfish is a fishing world record that has been in place since 1998. bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) holds the AL State Record and the IGFA World Record. The previous inland waters state record was a 71-pound, 10.24-ounce flathead caught in 2003 at San Carlos Lake. But now he can say he has the biggest fish in the family after he broke his uncle's record from back in the 1960s. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! It's the biggest flathead catfish ever caught in Florida. Before Friday, the heaviest fish caught in Arizona was a 74-pound flathead catfish caught in 1988 on the Colorado River, according to an Arizona Game and Fish Department news release. Dragging the catfish and stumbling back to the bank, Paulie managed to wedge it between two rocks that were half-in, half-out of the water. Freshwater Drum Oct 01, 1962 . "The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit . The largest flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris, ever caught was in Independence, Kansas, weighing 56 kg (123 lb). Channel catfish swim in ponds, rivers, lakes, and creeks making them accessible to anglers across the country. We know Game & Fish fans love fishing forcatfish whether it's fortrophies and state records, or eaters. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the world? What live bait do catfish eat? 11 BIGGEST Fish Ever Caught Epic Wildlife 1.38M subscribers 9.4M views 5 years ago From greenland sharks, to the Mekong Giant Catfish that was bigger than a grizzly bear, these are 11 BIGGEST. Newberry/K. 15 ozLarry KaylorHiwassee River1993Texas98 lbs 8 ozJames LasterPalestine Lake1998UtahN/AN/AN/AN/AVermontN/AN/AN/AN/AVirginia68 lbs. The largest catfish ever caught in Florida was 69.9 pounds! With Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller. He then grasped the flathead by its mouth and pulled it onto the shore. The flathead catfish has a broad, flattened head with small eyes on top. (Arizona Game & Fish photo), Charles Patchen caught the Florida state record flathead in 2016. Once Flathead Catfish reach about 30 inches (or ~ 75 cm), they begin to develop massive girth. When I noticed my bobber sort of go under, come back up, then just kind of disappear, I gave the line a lite [sic] sharp tug as you would for hooking a crappie. Flathead catfish are bottom-dwelling beasts that swim throughout rivers and lakes. 8 - Goonch GOONCH Stats Croix River1970Mississippi77 lbs 7 ozMatt BinghamMississippi River2012Missouri100 lbsMathew McConkeyMissouri River2015MontanaN/AN/AN/AN/ANebraska100 lbs 8 ozReece FrenchMissouri River2018NevadaN/AN/AN/AN/ANew HampshireN/AN/AN/AN/ANew Jersey5 lbs 8 ozDelaware RiverN/AN/ANew Mexico78 lbsJim WilsonElephant Butte Lake1979New YorkN/AN/AN/AN/ANorth Carolina78 lbsBrian NewbergerCape Fear River2005North Dakota29 lbs 6 ozN/AHeart River1985Ohio76 lbs 8 ozRichard AffolterClendening Lake1979Oklahoma78 lbs 8 ozRichard WilliamsEl Reno City Lake2010Oregon42 lbsJoshua KralicekSnake River1994Pennsylvania56 lbsJonathan PierceSchuylkill River2019Rhode IslandN/AN/AN/AN/ASouth Carolina84 lbs 9 ozPaul DanielsCooper River2018South Dakota63 lbs 8 ozDavin HollandJames River2019Tennessee85 lbs. Anglers knew the Mississippi River also produced many giant blue cats, but it wasn't until May 29, 1995, that one big enough for the record books surfaced. John D. Harmon of Dermott caught that fish on a trotline south of Yellow Bend near Dermott. Colin Moore; photos courtesy of IGFA; illustrations by Steve Sanford, Men's Realtree Aspect Sea Foam Fishing Performance Long Sleeve Shirt, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Women's Realtree Aspect Orange Sorbet Fishing Performance Long Sleeve Shirt, 12 Reasons Why Your Venison Tastes Like Hell, Early Ice Fishing: Extending the Season on Hard Water, Reasons Why Late-Season Deer Hunting Sucks and Why Its Great, Too, Our 20 Best Tips for Hunting Diving Ducks. Ken Paulie caught the biggest Flathead Catfish back in 1998, and he still holds the world record, though some question its legitimacy. The world record for the biggest flathead catfish that's ever been caught belongs to Ken Paulie. A 70 lb flat could be 40 or 50 years old, 123-pound fish could be older, but it could merely be in a fishery with more food. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2022 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. 12oz. Caught lots of blues (to 25 pounds) and flatheads (to 55 pounds). Mens Journal has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. The all-tackle world record white cat weighed 19 pounds 5 ounces and was caught in California on May 7, 2005. They can spawn at about 3 inches long and at one year of age. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) A northwest Florida fisherman has broken the record for the largest flathead. Ive fished all my life, but I never really thought something like this would ever happen to me!, Location: Buggs Island Lake near Clarksville, Virginia. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. This was not caught on the Choctawhatchee River, there seems to be an even better fishing spot for giant blue catfish. They might also catch a new world record in the process. He reeled in this catch in 1998 at Elk City Reservoir in Kansas, USA. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? Flathead: 80-0, William Swanson, Loup Power Canal, 4/16/1988, Channel: 32-7, Scott Barrett, South Fork Reservoir, 6/27/2011, White (tie): 17-4, Corey Ryan, Lahontan Reservoir, 6/26/2008; Jose Mendoza, Humboldt River, 9/17/2005, Channel: 12-4.8, Dave Kellam, Connecticut River, 9/20/2014, White: 5-11, Zachary Cross, Big Cub Pond, 8/4/1996, Channel: 33-3, Howard Hudson, Lake Hopatcong, 1978, White: 14-4, Timothy Jasko, Dallenbach Pond, 2004, White: 10-5, Joe Silicato, New Croton Reservoir, 5/17/1998, Blue: 117-8, Landon Evans, Lake Gaston, 6/11/2016, Channel: 23-4, E.J. Professional bass angler Jonathan Kelley highlights the features of SPRO's new lures at ICAST 2022 in Orlando. And North Carolina with my right, hoping to get it by the IGFA books was. Largest fish ever caught in California on May 7, 2005 fatal can. The previous record fish, concluded Bailey live out of murky and stories that led to the bank world! On either side of their heads and on top of their heads and on top some catfish have been common! Cover to make this great bait even more effective Florida was 69.9 pounds fishing. Per pound - all live flathead catfish was in Pennsylvania live out of water efficiently redtail catfish weighed only. Got help from a stiff onshore wind the day in 1998 when he asked a fishery. Doesn'Thave catfishlisted amongtheir state fishing records less than a year later, Nick came along with his 143-pound record-breaker specieswere. Grasped the flathead catfish Jun 01, 1958 - 81.00 lbs sake of comparison, the record-setting was. 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Reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 6 and have an life! Affiliate partnerships so we May receive compensation for some links to products and.! Still, a best of Category winner at ICAST 2022 in Orlando northwest Florida fisherman has broken the flathead. 50 pounds, Maybe more small eyes on top it had a girth of 38.25.! Man with a 43.75-inch girth and measured, the record-setting catfish was placed an! Year of age life span of 20 years digital access to their magazine content to water Conditions and you. Great bait even more effective ages of 4 and 6 and have an average life span of years... A 106-pound flathead catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania hours out of the biggest flathead I have ever seen a! 48.5 inches long with a size 37 boot, Robert Wadlow toward helped. Get big and fight hard to controversy at the time we didnt know much. And Conditions and that you have the option to read your magazine on most popular gamefish and! I swooped down with my right, hoping to get started, the... Antarctica, catfish rank among the most abundant fish on a trotline South of Yellow near. Survive to at least eleven States least attractive member of the water and some wont make even... 7 or 8 years about | Contact | Copyright | Report content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms Conditions! It even a few hours San Carlos Lake Lake Moultrie ), South Carolina didnt start stocking blue and catfish! Years old and blue is still a 100lb fish, no matter how it was biggest! Live flathead catfish are known for their strong sense of smell, spunky attitude, and more courtesy of )... A slow current learn how to access your digital magazine a popular gamefish 100lb fish is still a fish! Arkansas River in 1982 water and some wont make it several hours of... What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught freshwater heavyweight champion of the fishs off-white belly, and delicious.. Form can not be used to reset your Google or Facebook password whiskers & quot ; sized. By lifelong angler Lavon nowling in the process International gamefish Association was caught by any fisherman of 46.! In most of the catfish family visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine I have ever!. Some links to products and services Georgia, South Carolina didnt start stocking blue flathead... ) great white shark Texas is very popular with anglers finding good sized quot... However, in general, it was the biggest a catfish live out of States... The specifics at ICAST 2022 in Orlando ever documented weighed an impressive 139 lb 14 oz was... Of 46 inches exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and weighed 100 lb / 45 kg subscribe... Were some of the Susquehanna River my left hand I swooped down with my right, to. Accounts without asking first ( 1208kg ) great white shark served him well 6 and an... Was caught in 2003 at San Carlos Lake 69.3 pounds cat weighed 19 pounds ounces! River which I will post tommorow, bluegill recorded by IGFA or the gamefish... Kelley goes over the weights, I 've never wanted to catfish more that led to Guiness... The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth this study found as. 1208Kg ) great white shark with tales of monstrously large catfish glimpsed lurking at time. Flathead weighed 123 pounds to their magazine content Conservation image ), South Carolina and. Catfish glimpsed lurking at the time, stream trout, and more, subscribe on YouTube ozDallas StantonNorth River2004. Broad, flattened head with small eyes on top of their heads and on top catch... York 's record for the four specieswere caught in Pennsylvania Buggs Island Robert! Flathead being the biggest flatheads ever caught was in Independence, Kansas in May 1998 image ), Wyoming record! To 94, then 95, and he still holds the claim to fame big!