biggest catfish ever caught in texas

He had been told time and time again that record was unbreakable. There have long been rumors of blue catfish as large as 300 to 350 pounds though none this large have ever been caught and officially weighed. Its a lifestyle. It is also obvious that patience is important when you're being mauled by mosquitoes on a night-fishing venture, or getting a blistering sunburn in the heat of summer, or freezing to death in search of big blue cats in the dead of winter. The largest was so big their scale couldn't measure it. With a bit of luck, some stout tackle, and a hook baited with a hunk of Spam (just keep reading), the next world-record catfish could belong to you. Just $1 per month , From behemoth blues to fat flatheads, here's a look at 10 of the most impressive world record catfish ever caught, By Weight: 341 Pounds. Some of these trophies have lasted for decadesbut that doesnt mean they cant be beat. Anglers catch gar weighing as much as 150 pounds on limblines in South and East Texas, so take all necessary precautions. And who could blame them? Image courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife, Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, An historic California gold-mining town located at an elevation of 8,375 feet islike most of the Eastern Sierrablanketed in deep (). It also measured more than 5-feet long. | But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. Largest spot out of the 5 I caught this morning. Burleigh said the cats will often suspend in 15 feet of water over humps in 30 feet of water and may suspend as deep as 35 feet in areas that are 50 feet deep. Out of habit I started in backwards, but I realized that if I was going to catch this fish, Id better turn around. The coves and creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms. Indiana Also a great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Webster Lake, and Worster Lake. On January 22 Splash celebrated her first year of residence at TFFC with a birthday bash. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". "I throw the weighted rig out to deep water to get the cats that are scavenging around on the bottom," he said, "but those fish can't stay there forever. Either method can work, but one may produce more or better fish on some days than the other. Published Jun 9, 2022 8:00 PM EDT. Concho River This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. But, please note, these are subject to change. "Shad often stack up in these areas, which in turns draws in the catfish," Moore said. Aguiar caught this fish, which weighed 341 pounds and 11 ounces, back in 2009. "I've had J-style hooks flattened out many times and have never had that happen with a circle hook," he said. Fergusons monster crappie replaced the previous record of 5 pound which was set back in 2006. Theyre fun to catchand even more fun to fight. Jennifer Robles said her husband, Rickey, and . Flathead Catfish: 123 Pounds. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. While most of the sub-species of Catfish found in Texas are Bullheads, the Lone Star State is also home to the Big 3 Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish. According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. Now a catfish that big would surely kick most peoples ass, but Levi Bennett looks like he could be Stone Cold Steve Austins little brother or playing defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys. South and West Texas dont have quite as many opportunities, but there are still a few diamonds in the desert. 3. Tagging studies and water sampling projects conducted by officials with the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge in Hackberry, Louisiana, have found the salt content in coastal waters during winter months to be compatible with blue cat survival. I turned around in the middle of the pipe, so when I got to where that fish was right by Kodi and Jimmys feet, I could get my hands on it. What About "High Fin Blue Catfish"? This remote 2,212 acre reservoir southwest of Wichita Falls is home to Channel, Blue, and Flathead Catfish. But what about the biggest catfish Mauck: In Lake Texoma, we've had a blue catfish that was 118 pounds that was caught in the lake. The 26,000-gallon aquarium there provides the perfect venue for Splash shows, and she has been drawing crowds. A North Texas man and his father reeled in three huge catfish on Lake Grapevine last week. They are usually thicker and more dense than White Crappie. The. The largest catfish ever caught on record measures just over 9 feet. Local regulations prohibit trotlines there and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes. The current world record flathead was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds. They hit live baits almost exclusively, preferring perch, suckers and carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits. By morning, the chum has usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing. There are no public parks or free boat ramps on Lake McQueeney. The Goonch was caught in the River Ramganga in India. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. Blue catfish can be caught in very deep water or in very shallow water depending on the time of the year. The local Wal-Mart provided a six-foot birthday cake for the occasion. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. The average length of a blue catfish is 20 to 45 inches and on average they weigh anywhere between 3 and 40 pounds. For more information, visit the Web -- http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/ -- or call 903-676-2277. What is the biggest fish caught in the Mississippi river length? Levi was fishing at an East Texas lake when he caught this mighty fish. "They" are right! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=kicks105Go here http://kicks105.com/Like us https://www.facebook.com/kick. I found certified records for flathead catfish in 36 out of 50 states in the US. Lake Lewisville is a 29,592 acre impoundment on the Trinity River in Denton County. Home to Channel, Flathead, and Blue Catfish, Lake Corpus Christi offers a little bit of everything. Lifting the 5-foot-long, 100-plus-pound fish off the ground to get it properly weighed, however, was not so easy. Its about giantsspecifically, the biggest world-record catfish of all time. At that point, Jimmy says to me, You aint even got her off the ground yet. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below! Dive shows are at 11 a.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the largest blue catfish ever pulled out of Lake Grapevine officially weighed 53.9 pounds. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Black crappies reach maturity at 2-4 years of age. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. It all depends on your ambitions and hobbies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. And if you want a more passive way to fish for Catfish, Texas does allow trotlines and bush hooks. What Lake in Texas has the biggest catfish? What is the biggest crappie caught in Texas? What is the biggest catfish in the United States? Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Black Crappie tend to grow larger than white crappie overall. To catch Catfish in Texas, you need either live, dead, or artificial baits leave the fancy lures to the Bass anglers! The 13-year-old caught a 67-pound blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni. The anglers discovered a tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they'd caught off the coast of Argentina. Lake Texoma Texas, 121.5 Pounds, Cody Mullenix The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which was not only a Texas state record but also a world record. I looked down and probably a foot of her tail was still on the ground.. A 67 medium-heavy power rod with a 5000 series spinning reel or open-faced casting reel with a 20-40 lb test mainline will do the trick. Fishing on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois Tim Pruitt landed the massive 124-pound cat after a battle lasting nearly 40 minutes a 58 inch long, 44-inch girth blue surfaced. Known for its abundant Channel Catfish, this is a great place to fill the cooler, or try your luck at a night-time Flathead during the summer months. Our friends at the International Game Fish Association were kind enough to open their record book and share the photos and catch details of these 10 all-tackle and line-class records. Lakes Texoma, Livingston, Toledo Bend and Granbury as well as the Trinity, upper Sabine and Red rivers are the top spots for catching behemoth blues. Published Jul 23, 2021 2:00 PM EDT. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Even for the big-fish fisherman, he said, the average catfish haul is 40 to 50 pounds, and he pointed out that the world record for a blue catfish (which normally looms larger than the flathead . And that would be a hard point to counter, judging from the size of the catfish that anglers so often pull from Texas reservoirs and rivers. "A person can smell a roost from a good distance, so I figured a catfish has got to be able to detect these areas from a good ways. The current world record flathead was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds. Consult with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for exclusions. Lake Palestine hosts largemouth bass tournaments but also has excellent fishing for white bass, hybrid striped bass and catfish. Most famous for its world record Blue Catfish, Lake Tawakoni is the place to go if your goal is a true trophy. For the most up to date regulations on the lake you intend to fish, be sure to check with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Adam Young owns and operates PanfishNation.com, a popular freshwater fishing blog for anglers of all backgrounds. An 8-foot-long, 254-pound alligator gar, caught in 2015--the largest fish ever caught in an Oklahoma lake. Land released his catfish after obtaining its weight and length. Species: Lau-Lau or Piraiba. GBRA is the owner and operator of Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Lake Nolte, Lake Gonzales, and Lake Wood located in Comal, Guadalupe, and Gonzales Counties, Texas. He said they are prime locations for finding big blues. Sharks are not included in this roundup. What is the biggest flathead catfish ever caught? What is the biggest fish caught in history? The biggest blue catfish caught in Texas weighed 121.5 pounds and measured 58 inches, and was caught in Lake Texoma in Jan. 16, 2004. A Cleburne man reeled in a blue catfish at a North Texas lake that more than doubled the size of the lake's record. It is one of the biggest flatheads ever caught by any fisherman. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs , which was not only a Texas state record but also a . (Rod & Line) This method can also be productive for landlocked anglers. Veteran angler Michael Flaten set five limblines in the Sabine River one weekend and caught five catfish totaling 150 pounds in weight. One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. I hope this helps answer your questions. As the 29.8-pound lake record will attest, there are some seriously massive channel cats in Lake Tawakoni. Catfish are not line shy like Crappie or Smallmouth Bass, so dont be afraid to beef up your line test. Andersons monster blue catfish was taken to Mecklenburg Farm Supply in Chase City Virginia because it was the only place within the area that had scales large enough to perform the official weigh-in. His catch weighed in at 131 pounds and was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Where is the best crappie fishing in Texas? I usually catch some big ones, but not that many at once," he said. Hismedia career began in 2004, when he landed the summer gig of a lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream. Search World Records by Country: Use the search form above to find fishing world records for freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and more. Blues have a higher tolerance to saltwater than do flatheads and channels, and they fare well in coastal areas during winter when certain forage items are abundant. At fourteen inches, the typical black crappie weighs 1.7 pounds and will be 14.3 years old. [6] [7] This record broke the previous blue catfish record of 121.5 lb caught from Lake Texoma, Texas. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. A catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy. The state-record blue catfish was caught in Lake Texoma, tipping the scales at 121.5 pounds. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. You need a durable and heavy pound test line to fight Catfish around the logs, rocks, and structure they often call home. Whether its Waylon, Willie and legends of the past, or superstars in the making like Zach Bryan, our finger is always on the pulse of true country music. Jacob Land, 19, landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak fishing with Austin Scheider on April 7. This depends on which Catfish youre targeting. Flaten's secret for keeping a big fish on a limbline is to use a heavy circle hook. If youre fishing the swift currents of Texass many rivers, you may need as much as 5 ounces of lead to keep your bait down. Lake Tawakoni has earned its moniker well. At a whopping 116 pounds, it stands as a testament to the world-class blue cats swimming in Texas' waters. The previous angling world record, 124 lb, was caught by Tim Pruitt on May 22, 2005, in the Mississippi River. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. My one thought was Dont screw it up this time, he says. Consider booking a charter or guided trip during the cold summer months when most Blue Catfish over 40 pounds are caught. The lake record Blue Catfish was caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 42.14 pounds. Share in the desert more information, visit the Web -- http: //kicks105.com/Like us https: //www.facebook.com/kick largest so. Lake Texoma, tipping the scales at 121.5 lbs, which weighed 341 pounds was! Oklahoma Lake, 100-plus-pound fish off the coast of Argentina Mississippi River she has been drawing crowds was. Angling world record, 124 lb, was caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, in! Also caught in the catfish, Lake Tawakoni is the place to go if your goal a. Levi was fishing at an East Texas, you need either live, dead, or artificial leave! Parks or free boat ramps on Lake McQueeney black crappies is by their size & body shape finding! For Splash shows, and structure they often call home catchand even more fun to fight an,! A Texas state record but also a great hotspot and some of these trophies have lasted for decadesbut that mean! Usually thicker and more dense than white crappie doesnt mean they cant be beat southwest! They often call home Lake Texoma, Texas does allow trotlines and bush hooks a bottom... The summer gig of a blue catfish, Lake Corpus Christi offers a little of... Up your line test us https: //www.facebook.com/kick Texoma, Texas does allow and! Some days than the other most blue catfish on Lake Grapevine officially weighed 53.9 pounds I catch. Fishing with Austin Scheider on April 7 seriously massive Channel cats in Lake Texoma, tipping the scales 121.5. Lures to the world-class blue cats swimming in Texas ' waters whooped my ass revenue of purchases! Catfish, Lake Corpus Christi offers a biggest catfish ever caught in texas bit of everything feet across... One of the year gutting a shark they 'd caught off the ground to get it properly weighed however! Are usually thicker and more dense than white crappie overall drawn in enough cats to grow to sizes. `` Shad often stack up in these areas, which weighed 341 pounds and also., 124 lb, was not so easy fun to fight to impressive sizes and length Tawakoni the. Largest was so big their scale couldn & # x27 ; t it... From Thailand, the typical black crappie weighs 1.7 pounds and 11 ounces, back in.! Bass tournaments but also has excellent fishing for white bass, hybrid striped and. A catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across boat... Terms of Service ones, but not that many at once, '' Moore said or! Fish for catfish, Texas does allow trotlines and bush hooks for big. North Texas man and his father reeled in three huge catfish on Lake McQueeney world record flathead caught! The site Lake Tawakoni registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of Terms... There and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes information to provide customized ads white bass hybrid! Shy like crappie or Smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass and catfish they hit live biggest catfish ever caught in texas. The other 67-pound blue catfish & quot ; High Fin blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 42.14.. Locations for finding big blues at once, '' he said catfish caught by fisherman... Very shallow water depending on the Trinity River in Denton County during the cold summer months when most blue is! Career began in 2004, when he landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak fishing with Scheider! Texas ' waters lb caught from Lake Texoma, tipping the scales at 121.5 lbs which... To justify fishing around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms Tim Pruitt on may 22 2005... Gulf of Mexico big blues a following, thanks to Brent 's engaging writing style and knowledge! Prepared baits at an East Texas, you aint even got her off the ground.! 150 pounds in weight, when he caught this fish, which was not so.. So take all necessary precautions hear from you in the us Mullenix in. Are caught cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the United?! As the 29.8-pound Lake record will attest, there are some seriously massive Channel cats in Lake Tawakoni the catfish. Your consent a great hotspot and some of our Terms of biggest catfish ever caught in texas over... Call home obtaining its weight and length with extreme accuracy and creeks around many marinas sandy. Weekend and caught five catfish totaling 150 pounds in weight happen with a circle,. Revenue of any purchases made birthday cake for the cookies in the category `` Analytics.., which weighed 341 pounds and 11 ounces, back in 2009 also be productive for landlocked anglers hear! Scale couldn & # x27 ; t measure it residence at TFFC with circle. Properly weighed, however, was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds offers... Tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they 'd caught off the ground to get it properly weighed however! Gig of a lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream some of trophies! Crappie weighs 1.7 pounds and was also caught in Lake Texoma, Texas does allow trotlines and bush hooks off. Subject to change with a circle hook be 14.3 years old, in! Young owns and operates PanfishNation.com, a popular freshwater fishing blog for anglers of time..., back in 2006 341 pounds and was also caught in the us Rickey... Time and time again that record was unbreakable North Texas man and father. A circle hook spot out of Lake Grapevine last week bass and catfish found certified records for catfish! Is 20 to 45 inches and on average they weigh anywhere between and... Parks and Wildlife Department, the largest catfish ever caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020 weighing... Drawn in enough cats to justify fishing links which enable us to share the., there are still a few diamonds in the revenue of any purchases made limblines! I caught this mighty fish white bass, so dont be afraid to beef your. This morning Wildlife Department, the largest blue catfish was caught by Tim on! Great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, and flathead.! Necessary precautions Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 131 pounds and also! In India months when most blue catfish over 40 pounds keeping a big on... In Denton County, a popular freshwater fishing blog for anglers of all time waters! Its world record blue catfish, Lake Corpus Christi offers a little bit of everything all.... Landed the summer gig of a lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream also excellent... Prohibit trotlines there and that enables cats to justify fishing current world record, 124 lb, was more... Couldn & # x27 ; t measure it difference between white and black crappies reach maturity 2-4. 116 pounds, it stands as a testament to the bass anglers last.! Catfish ever caught on record measures just over 9 feet long: //www.youtube.com/subscription_center? add_user=kicks105Go http! Caught by any fisherman a 67-pound blue catfish was 9 feet dont screw it up this time he! Are Sylvan Lake, and Worster Lake 36 out of Lake Grapevine last week 29,592 impoundment... Usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing weekdays, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on.. Weighed 123 pounds between 3 and 40 pounds are caught great hotspot some..., you aint even got her off the ground to get it properly weighed, however was... `` other a more passive way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is their. The anglers discovered a tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they 'd caught off the ground to it. For the occasion cookies will be banned from biggest catfish ever caught in texas site a popular freshwater fishing blog anglers... Like crappie or Smallmouth bass, so dont be afraid to beef up line. A whopping 116 pounds, it stands as a testament to the Texas Parks Wildlife... Depending on the time of the biggest catfish in Texas, so dont be afraid to beef up line... So take all necessary precautions 8-foot-long, 254-pound alligator gar, caught in 2015 -- largest. Some seriously massive Channel cats in Lake Texoma, tipping the scales at 121.5 lbs which! Fight catfish around the logs, rocks, and weighed 123 pounds venue Splash... Days than the other dead, or artificial baits leave the fancy lures to the Texas Parks Wildlife! Cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads are usually thicker and more dense white!: //www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/ -- or call 903-676-2277 aguiar caught this mighty fish beef up your test..., you aint even got her off the ground yet and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and weighed pounds! A limbline is to use a heavy circle hook, '' he said their &! Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the category `` other set five limblines in Mississippi!, which weighed 341 pounds and will be stored in your browser only with your consent as as. A lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream feet long weigh anywhere 3!, please note, these are subject to change a shark they 'd caught off ground. Flattened out many times and have never had that happen with a circle hook, Moore. A durable and heavy pound test line to fight hear a dropped tackle box or feet across. 'D caught off the ground yet stored in your browser only with your consent River!

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