Holy snikes!!! HUGE CATFISH!!

Seaman

Seaman

Shrimp gumbo, shrimp salad etc...
May 22, 2004
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Im like air im everywhere (Dallas, TX)
I think this is a catfish...it alsmost looks like a big knife fish!!!!

20040630_vis2.jpg
 
I've seen this picture several times, and it's an awesome fish. I have also seen it listed as being taken everywhere from buckeye lake Ohio to somewhere in the ukraine. The most reliable info I could find placed it as originating in France, but I haven't tracked down the species yet. It definately isn't an american fish, it would be well over the world record for any american Freshwater cat. The fact that it was "noodled" (pulled out from under the bank by hand) is also impressive but brings up a huge sanity question for those involved.
 
I found this picture of a 116 lb catfish caught in the Mississippi.

catfish_big.jpg

http://www.agfc.com/fishing/fishrecords_details.html

And here's a short article about a 121.5 lb catfish caught in Lake Texoma in Texas.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/newsrel/bigbluecat2.htm

Hmmm....I found this about the big catfish up top saying it is a Wels Catfish that was caught in PO, Italy and weighed 187.4 lbs. You think that might be the truth, Dave?

http://xvella.free.fr/photos-eng.php?size=1&sub=21&idx=713&cntp=6

Hey Dave,
Definetely check out that last link above. In the replies on that page they have several more catfish even larger than that one. Most caught at the same location. Apparently the Po river in Italy is famous in Europe for the huge Wels Catfish in it.
 
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wow.

I think i have seen that picture before and as I recall, the picture was taken in Russia. Correct me if im wrong though. Try finding a big enough aquarium for that sucker!. Maybe in marineland with the killer whales or something?lol
 
Italy rings a bell, maybe that was it not France. Untill this year, the largest (properly documented ) catfish in the U.S. was a 112 lb Blue, the 121.5 in texas beat that out. There are unverifiable records of Blues up to 220 or so in the US and pictures that will make a believer out of you, but none that large since proper record keeping. Flatheads (yellow cats for the southerners reading) are close to as large, and despite many claims of 100 pound flatheads, Bass pro offered a very substantial sum of money for a 100 pound Flathead, and to my knowledge has yet to pay out. I don't know what the world record is for sure but I believe it is rright around 97 pounds. The crux of the matter is that it's nearly impossible to land a 100 pound fish that charges under logs when it gets scared. Blues and Flatheads both take to the bottom and swim under any structure they can when you hook them. even with the best of tackle, and a lot of skill the chance of landing anything over about 65 pounds is pretty slim. When it comes to noodleing, it takes a pretty gutsy individual to even attempt a wrestling match with a fish that big in it's home territory, I have noodled a few fish and a lot of turtles, and a 40 pound flathead or a 20 pound turtle is about as much as I care to grab in muddy water. Kudo's to whoever thoose two lunatics are in the picture!!!!!!!!

I just checked your link and the 116 must have gotten past me. That had to be the same year that the record jumped up to 112, I know the 112 was caught in the spring, so it must not have stood for long.
 
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Now that i really look at it i think it is a kind of knife fish....it has no apparent fins on its back...and the one main fin on its belly...and a teeny tail if even that!!
 
WOW!!! Tha is one large fish!I hope they didn't plan on keeping it.
 
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