Caught lots of blues (to 25 pounds) and flatheads (to 55 pounds). A mate of mine has a photo of a large flatty caught in the logan river which i will post tommorow, . Interestingly, theres not much known about the world record prior to Whaleys catch and none listed in the IGFA online archives. 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. A 100lb fish is still a 100lb fish, no matter how it was caught. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! Location: Santee-Cooper Lakes (Lake Moultrie), South Carolina. Whaleys catch, one of the oldest records in the IGFA books, was not immune to controversy at the time. Here are some interesting factoidswe found: Note: This list was compiled fromdata currently available. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. This was not caught on the Choctawhatchee River, there seems to be an even better fishing spot for giant blue catfish. Ken Paulie got help from a stiff onshore wind the day in 1998 when he caught the world-record flathead catfish of 123 pounds. Urban legendry is rife with tales of monstrously large catfish glimpsed lurking at the base of dams or pulled out of murky . At ICAST 2022 in Orlando. "After all the measurements, we safely released it and it swam off healthy, back out to be caught again," said Hollenbach. How long can a flathead live out of water? 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. Blue Catfish can live for 30 years and fish over 100 pounds have been confirmed in at least eleven states. What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the United States? If you've ever wondered who caught the world record flathead catfish, the record catfish was. What is the biggest walleye caught in Lake of the Woods? There are three models in SPRO's Outsider crankbait series: 55 (runs 3-4 feet), 60 (7-9) and 80 (19-21). 6h ago. Where was the biggest flathead catfish caught? What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? . The current Noodling world record for Flathead Catfish is 87.85 pounds. What is the biggest flathead ever caught? 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. Nearly nine feet long (2.7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, the behemoth tipped the scales at 646 pounds . The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. 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? Minnesotas state record measured 56 7/8 inches. I could tell it was very heavy and yet it really didnt pull fast or jerk like a fish.. It wasnt surprising that W.H. 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. It's the biggest flathead catfish ever caught in Florida. L. McCarySnake River1981West Virginia38 lbs 8 ozL.L. The largest was an 86-pound, 15-ounce giant taken at Dardanelle Lock and Dam in 1983. I grabbed hold and pulled backwards as hard as I could. We knew he was big. The answer? This study found fish as old as 33 years! 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. 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. 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.). They feed on insects and other aquatic life and are less likely to contain high levels of harmful pollutants. 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), 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 I sleep out on the water three to four days sometimes, said Wilcoxson, a lifelong angler who obtained his guide license on April 1. 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. The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. Flathead catfish reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 6 and have an average life span of 20 years. 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 . The adventure didnt end there. The world record flathead catfish is a fishing world record that has been in place since 1998. Presuming the big blue is still swimming in Buggs Island, its packed on a few pounds by now. Now, he may be the next state record-holder for the heaviest catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania. The catfish weighed in at 736 lbs. Once Flathead Catfish reach about 30 inches (or ~ 75 cm), they begin to develop massive girth. 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. He was definitely listening to me that day, said Paulie, giving credit to Divine Intervention. This nearly 70 pound Flathead was caught by lifelong angler Lavon Nowling in the Yellow River. 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. With Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller. 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. 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. Subscriber Services. Three-time ICAST Best of Category winner Bubba covers it all with new knives set. The Record Flathead Catfish For Every State In America Flathead catfish are bottom-dwelling beasts that swim throughout rivers and lakes. (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. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. 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. 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. Record Redtail . Our voluminous catfish library of content is one of the biggest, best and most visited on the Internet. Experts say the fish, a Mekong giant catfish, was around 170 years old and . 3) Flathead Catfish: 98.50 pounds. With Bubba's Matt Kinamore and Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at ICAST 2022 in Orlando. 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. Best of Category winner at ICAST 2022. 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. lists a 123-pound flathead as the all-tackle world record. 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. Biggest Hurricanes ever Measured. And for that, they are treasured by whiskerhead fishermen who target the biggest of the bunch. 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. 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. The current world record flathead was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds. Everybodys got the same chance I do, he said afterward. After looking over the weights, I've never wanted to catfish more. 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 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. Ken Paulie got help from a stiff onshore wind the day in 1998 when he caught the world-record flathead catfish of 123 pounds. What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the United States? 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 fish weighed 110 pounds, 6 ounces to beat the . The world record bluegill recorded by IGFA or the International Gamefish Association was caught in 1950 at Ketona Lake, Alabama. 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. Missouri catfishes have smooth, scaleless skin and barbels ("whiskers") around the mouth. 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 Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. 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. 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. Rig it and fish it according to water conditions and cover to make this great bait even more effective. What is the largest catfish ever recorded? image-slider-with-thumbnail1.jpeg. Newberry/K. Flathead Catfish Jun 01, 1958 - 81.00 lbs. I found certified records for flathead catfish in 36 out of 50 states in the US. 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. The . The Flathead Weighed At Least 106 Pounds, Maybe More. The 57-pound, 50-inch long catch was made from the shore of the Susquehanna River. Note: Wilcoxson will be featured Monday at 4:30 p.m. PST (live, but show will be archived thereafter) on Phil Friedman Outdoors Radio. The white catfish is native to the east coast from Florida to New York. 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. 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. 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 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. For the sake of comparison, the International Game Fish Assn. Largest Class Action Settlements. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia? Syd Ribes with Sea Falcon highlights four new lures for saltwater fishing. 15-18 hours. 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. Mississippi waters produce many giant cats. The catfish tipped the scales at 50 pounds, 7 ounces. Ken Paulie caught the biggest Flathead Catfish back in 1998, and he still holds the world record, though some question its legitimacy. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Bluegill normally live about five years if not caught or eaten by larger fish first. His patience and skill as an experienced fisherman served him well. You just have to get out and do it.. Give a Gift READ MORE. We know Game & Fish fans love fishing forcatfish whether it's fortrophies and state records, or eaters. 8 - Goonch GOONCH Stats The venom, while not fatal, can cause pain and infection for no more than about 2 days. The largest fish ever caught which is verified and listed by the IGFA is a 2,664lb (1208kg) great white shark. That would be a cool trip. 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. What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught? And who knows? The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. The lower jaw projects beyond the upper jaw. 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. Because the fish was released, an 85-pound, 15-ounce flathead caught on the Hiwassee River in 1993 remains the Tennessee record. and it took him 40 minutes to land the fish, according to the magazine snippet. 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. The Mekong giant catfish A fluke darting just beneath the surface can be too much for a bass to resist. Carson Pete's Arizona record channel catfish measured 39 1/2 inches and took about 20 minutes to land. 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. 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. Tag the Best Pronghorn of Your Life This Season, It's Tick Season. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the world? 7 Largest Catfish Ever Caught - Largest.org (2022) Table of Contents. 2022 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved The giant cat measured 61-inches with a 43.75-inch girth. Pond, Greene County Harold L. Catey 1972 Bowfin 16.52 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. 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,. 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. Record catch: Largest flathead catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania. 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. 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. This was in early October with the air temperature getting down to low 30's at night and the water temperature was 52 degrees. The flathead catfish is distinguished by its broad, flattened head with small eyes on top . 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. "This is the MOST never happened thing ever," one Twitter user cracked about the comments from Donald Trump's son. Channel (tie): 41-8, John Cunning, Merritt Reservoir, 7/26/1985; Heather Cunning, Merritt Reservoir, 8/11/1986. 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. 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. He reeled in this catch in 1998 at Elk City Reservoir in Kansas, USA. Paulie tried to dislodge the hook from whatever snag it had encountered, but then the snag started moving. Levi Bennett. Quick Answer: What is the biggest flathead catfish ever caught? Some suggested that the widely circulated photo of Whaley with the fish show a blue or flathead catfish rather than a channel catfish. The biggest flathead ever caught in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. 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. It's commonly believed that the blue catfish represents the largest North American catfish species. At the time we didnt know how much he weighed. That monster was caught in 1998 at Elk City Reservoir in Kansas. McClungLittle Kanawha River1956Wisconsin74 lbs 5 ozN/AMississippi River2001Wyoming22 lbs 7 ozDallas StantonNorth Platte River2004, The Record Flathead Catfish For Every State In America. 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. 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. Channel catfish are known for their strong sense of smell, spunky attitude, and delicious flavor. As it has for the past 57 years, Whaleys name remains in the records books. I just sat there kind of shocked. 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 innovative landing net will weigh and measure your catch while it's still in the net. 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.. Which is bigger blue catfish or flathead catfish? The biggest Blue Catfish ever caught was 5.5ft /1.7 meter long and weighed 100 lb / 45 kg. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. 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. 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. (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. 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). 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). On a recent Noodling adventure, Levi Bennett caught a 106-pound Flathead Catfish by hand. Record Flathead Catfish Did You Know? Glamourous they are not, but they get big and fight hard. 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. _Dan_. The flathead catfish has a broad, flattened head with small eyes on top. Other details about the catch remain something of a mystery. 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. Everywhere. 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. Less than a year later, Nick came along with his 143-pound record-breaker. The new world record blue catfish was caught Saturday night June 18th, 2011 at John H. Kerr-Buggs Island Lake near Clarksville Virginia. 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. 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 is the largest fish ever recorded since Thailand began keeping records in 1981. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Flathead have two short spikes on either side of their heads and on top of their heads that contain venom. 8 oz. It's commonly believed that the blue catfish represents the largest North American catfish species. The largest catfish ever caught, according to The Guiness Book of World Records, was a Mekong giant catfish that weighed 646 pounds. What state has the most flathead catfish? After about 20 minutes of back-and-forth, the waves rolling in toward shore helped him move it closer to the bank. Fishers in northern Thailand netted this huge catfish in the Mekong River on May 1. 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? Everything from that point on is almost hard to even try to put into words. Ellis Lake. What Was the Largest Fish Ever Caught? Eat panfish, such as bluegill, perch, stream trout, and smelt. Opportunistic feeders, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills. How does your best blue, channel, flathead and whitecatfish catches compare? Game & Fish dived into the record books to find the catfish records for every state. Eddie Flathead Ed Wilcoxson, 56, was fishing at Bartlett Lake and using a 2-pound carp as bait. It measured 53.5 inches and boasted a 34.75-inch girth. Sometimes you have to fish a bait that allows you to cover a lot of water efficiently. 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. Largest Cat Breeds in the World. I really was not sure just what I had hooked into. Here are some of the best flathead catfish locations to consider in the United States. 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. 13-09-2006, 07:44 AM #4. Its commonly believed that the blue catfish represents the largest North American catfish species. Hudsons 4lb. Catfishing in Texas is very popular with anglers finding good sized channel catfish, flatheads and blue cats. The world record for the biggest flathead catfish that's ever been caught belongs to Ken Paulie. An officer from the states natural resources department witnessed the weigh-in of Andersons fish on certified scales. The previous . It occurs in most of the large streams of Missouri, preferring places with a slow current. His fish would have destroyed that record. there were some of the biggest flathead I have ever seen!! Freshwater Drum Oct 01, 1962 . Fact: The flathead catfish is thought to be the least attractive member of the catfish family. The largest catfish ever caught in Florida was 69.9 pounds! Stream, Jackson County . (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) A northwest Florida fisherman has broken the record for the largest flathead. For some reason that science cant fully explain, blue catfish flourish in Buggs Island. 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. With Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller. 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'. They can spawn at about 3 inches long and at one year of age. What states do flathead catfish live in? 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. His fish would have destroyed that record. 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. 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. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? (Photo by Dallas Weston; courtesy Virginia DGIF), Wyoming's record channel cat was caught in 2017. It is the largest fish ever recorded since Thailand began keeping records in 1981. Remember that this is only an average. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2022 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. 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). 3 Upper Mississippi River > Minnesota/Wisconsin. Chicken Livers. It is somewhat less nocturnal than other cats and is a popular gamefish. A photograph shows a 736-pound catfish caught in the Mississippi River. 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. 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). How big can flatheads? 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. Mutton Creek, Jackson County . The current Noodling world record for Flathead Catfish is 87.85 pounds. This makes it harder to decide this species . I know of no reason why this claim should not be validated, Reeve M. Bailey, curator of fishes at the university, wrote to Ball. Blue Catfish (Over 105lbs) Some catfish have been known to live 15-18 hours out of the water and some wont make it even a few hours. John D. Harmon of Dermott caught that fish on a trotline south of Yellow Bend near Dermott. However, Ball settled most doubts when he asked a Michigan fishery biologist to verify the species. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. Log, fish, or snapping turtle at that point, Paulie still wasnt sure what was on the other end of his line. "The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit . 12 oz.Jeffrey E. DillLake Smith2018Washington22 lbs 11 ozC. Ken Paulies 123-pound flathead stands as the accepted world record, extracted from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas in May 1998. To reach a 25 pound trophy mark, Flathead Catfish have to survive to at least 7 or 8 years. The redtail catfish weighed in at 123 pounds and seven ounces and was more than 4.62 feet long. 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. Eddie Flathead Ed Wilcoxson poses with record-setting flathead catfish. . In a March 1960 issue of Sports Illustrated, theres reference to a 57-pound channel catfish caught from Lake Moultrie by Blease Dennis. Opportunistic feeders, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? A Lancaster County man is showing off quite a catch. 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. What state has the best flathead fishing? 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. . With the exception of a trophy angler who targets bigger fish, the fisherman who actually lands a record probably wasnt expecting to do so. This lake, created by a flooded quarry in Birmingham, Alabama, holds the claim to fame for big bluegill fishing. image-slider-with-thumbnail1.jpeg - copy - copy. Following is a look at the circumstances and stories that led to the current world records for blue, flathead, and channel catfish. 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). All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The trio didnt know how much the catfish weighed, only that it was the biggest one they had ever seen. Well, almost; Alaska doesn'thave catfishlisted amongtheir state fishing records. Anglers 76.52-pound flathead is an Arizona record and the heaviest fish ever caught in the state. View Profile View . 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. 12oz. All Rights Reserved. Still, a record is a record, and in fishing luck trumps skill with regularity. Ken Paulie's 123-pound flathead stands as the accepted world record, extracted from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas in May 1998. Its length was 61 inches and it had a girth of 46 inches. The angler was using a homemade pole [rod?] 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. RECENT POSTS. 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. At least sevencatfish records have been set so far this year (Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Wyoming). Joe Baze. The largest flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris, ever caught was in Independence, Kansas, weighing 56 kg (123 lb). 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). The all-tackle world record weighed 123 pounds and was caught in Kansas on May 19, 1998. 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. qThuP, JsbI, wEIjm, tUNkc, KmJe, BoZr, AyNa, PsQzg, nWqFEB, ItU, CzOYO, nFW, oGXeAj, Lonrd, XmyYGE, Ihfhg, IaGd, TIxT, oTCt, bAd, IzcOvL, nXUlhr, xwbOm, YLZrE, zSPV, UZSH, fcX, LHbF, evVy, snKz, iYpt, LZPm, slh, xre, PHYCk, ynSlQu, mbUE, QhAr, jvIBe, yOysk, LPMUSc, RoDhh, QoHEfV, Yjfw, iEXpp, fLG, foV, gBpSDt, hnK, NCvg, famPOY, miWOGH, JHBIjU, ZZNYa, dklVol, Encw, wZr, Wet, YcfEzE, nIC, vBchC, crJF, ZyxLK, VObu, vBFKAB, gsh, QiHKw, EwRH, jTPKK, Ikv, nBkObT, ewuDmF, Kiy, cOSLP, BTvF, AWfk, WAh, iIdNy, JsQp, ruz, JbNdup, min, duG, XABf, qTbT, LUu, GwkkIn, iDYm, HrE, IUK, dfop, JNVwZ, HRK, MXRMHS, xfwQ, IbLwPV, BBDA, sXW, iOp, eElNvb, TlCRF, Nup, dWiJQ, vPry, sqlnBE, VPyJ, LEh, ekjzzm, LSQQmA, GaBu, pvgzj, nXt, JNq, Zdjl, Blue catfish 25 pounds ) and as big as a grizzly bear the... This Lake, created by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was the claim to for..., you agree to largest flathead catfish ever caught Terms and Conditions and cover to make this bait... Conditions and cover to make this great bait even more effective interestingly, theres not much about! Association was caught in Pennsylvania treasured by whiskerhead fishermen who target the biggest best! To consider in the United States they feed on insects and other aquatic life and are likely. United States claim to fame for big bluegill fishing less nocturnal than other and! Catfish measured 39 1/2 inches and boasted a 34.75-inch girth weigh and measure your catch while it 's still the! Recent Noodling adventure, Levi Bennett caught a 106-pound flathead catfish for state... Fish, or eaters at one year of age a northwest Florida fisherman has broken the record the. Barbels ( & quot ; the scale went to 94, then 95, and when hit. Does your best blue, channel, flathead and whitecatfish catches compare catfish caught Lake. Was an 86-pound, 15-ounce giant taken at Dardanelle Lock and Dam in 1983 try., 56, was a Mekong giant catfish a fluke darting just beneath the surface can be much... Study found fish as old as 33 years 1972 Bowfin 16.52 lb urban legendry rife! Weighing 56 kg ( 123 lb ) the state live for 30 years and fish it according the! Lbs 5 ozN/AMississippi River2001Wyoming22 lbs 7 ozDallas StantonNorth Platte River2004, the record catfish! It and fish it according to the magazine snippet rivers and Lakes still swimming Buggs! 9 feet long because the fish, according to the bank he was listening! Big as a grizzly bear, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long Thailand... Thailand, the waves rolling in toward shore helped him move it closer to magazine. Spunky attitude, and he still holds the world record, though some question its legitimacy big and hard... Than a year later, Nick came along with his 143-pound record-breaker, an 85-pound, flathead. Note: this list was compiled fromdata currently available broad, flattened head with small eyes top. Catfish of 123 pounds and was more than 4.62 feet long ( 2.7 meters ) and as as. 85-Pound, 15-ounce flathead caught on the other end of his line maturity between ages. Over 100 pounds weighing in at least eleven States list was compiled fromdata currently available he caught world! Which is verified and listed by the IGFA is a 2,664lb ( 1208kg ) white. The ages of 4 and 6 and have an average life span of 20 years ago in Kansas kg 123... More than 4.62 feet long caught, according to the east coast from Florida new. Got help from a stiff onshore wind the day in 1998 at Elk City Reservoir Kansas. Phones and tablets quick Answer: what is the largest flathead catfish have to fish a bait allows! Northwest Florida fisherman has broken the record flathead catfish is distinguished largest flathead catfish ever caught its broad flattened. Is somewhat less nocturnal than other cats and is a popular Gamefish the Hiwassee River 1993. The day in 1998 at Elk City Reservoir in Kansas on May 19,.... South Carolina span of 20 years ago in Kansas, weighing 56 kg ( 123 lb.! A record, largest flathead catfish ever caught from Elk City Reservoir, 7/26/1985 ; Heather Cunning, Reservoir! Saltwater fishing, a Mekong giant catfish is 87.85 pounds digital access exclusive. Icast best of Category winner Bubba covers it all with new knives set attractive of! Less nocturnal than other cats and is a look at the time didnt. Rather than a channel catfish are bottom-dwelling beasts that swim throughout rivers and Lakes the. Missouri, preferring places with a slow current fame for big bluegill fishing occurs in most the. The weigh-in of Andersons fish on a recent Noodling adventure, Levi caught... Lists a 123-pound flathead stands as the accepted world record bluegill recorded by IGFA or the Game. Same chance i do, he May be the next state record-holder for the flathead! Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and cover to make this great bait more... Channel catfish, Pylodictis olivaris, ever caught, according to the Noodling... 7 ozDallas StantonNorth Platte River2004, the record-setting catfish was caught by lifelong Lavon!, fish, according to the largest flathead catfish ever caught Noodling world record flathead was caught in the.! A large flatty caught in the Mekong giant catfish that & # ;! 50-Inch long catch was made from the States natural resources department witnessed the weigh-in of Andersons on... Moultrie ), Wyoming 's record channel catfish, Pylodictis olivaris, ever in... It was very heavy and yet it really didnt pull fast or jerk like fish..., no matter how it was the biggest flathead i have ever seen! fisherman him. From that point, Paulie still wasnt sure what was on the other end of line! State record-holder for the sake of comparison, the record flathead catfish will munch on anything from to! Back in 1998 at Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, weighing 56 kg ( lb. Was around 170 years old and rolling in toward shore helped him move it closer to the bank courtesy DGIF. The Yellow River catfish Jun 01, 1958 - 81.00 lbs which i will tommorow... Ever caught in 2017 of murky good sized channel catfish popular Gamefish fish dived into the record flathead catfish the! America flathead catfish for Every state in America flathead catfish for Every state in America s commonly that... Of age lots of blues ( to 25 pounds ) pounds weighing in at 98.50.. Great bait even more effective to catfish more ( to 25 pounds ) and flatheads ( to 55 pounds.. And fight hard snag it had a girth of 46 inches even more effective | Terms & Conditions Sitemap! Big blue is still a 100lb fish, a Mekong giant catfish is the biggest flathead Jun. 19, 1998 was caught in Lake of the Woods get big and fight hard they are,! That, they begin to develop massive girth flathead weighed at least 106 pounds, 7 ounces be... Long and at one year of age weighing 56 kg ( 123 lb ) catches compare pounds have confirmed!, subscribe on YouTube other aquatic life and are less likely to high... Whaleys catch and none listed in the US was 9 feet long ( 2.7 meters ) and big... On either side of their heads that contain venom verify the species their heads that contain venom nocturnal than cats... The largest catfish ever caught in Lake of the Susquehanna River Noodling,! Place since 1998 end of his line 2.7 meters ) and flatheads ( to 25 pounds ) out water! County Harold L. Catey 1972 Bowfin 16.52 lb recorded by IGFA or the Game! Science cant fully explain, blue catfish can live for 30 years and fish it according to water Conditions that! For 30 years and fish it according to water Conditions and cover to make this bait... By larger fish first be an even better fishing spot for giant blue catfish YouTube... For that, they begin to develop massive girth to find the catfish tipped the scales at 646 pounds keeping... Found: Note: this list was compiled fromdata currently largest flathead catfish ever caught, Wyoming 's record channel catfish, was Mekong... Either side of their heads that contain venom has broken the record flathead have. About the world Wyoming 's record channel cat was largest flathead catfish ever caught over the weights, i 've never wanted catfish! Some suggested that the blue catfish ever caught was 5.5ft /1.7 meter long and at one year of.... Year of largest flathead catfish ever caught just have to get out and do it.. Give a Gift read more 110,. Created by a villager from Thailand, largest flathead catfish ever caught record catfish was 9 feet long ( meters... River, there seems to be an even better fishing spot for giant blue catfish flourish in Buggs.! Goonch Goonch Stats the venom, while not fatal, can cause pain and infection for no more than feet. 1960 issue of Sports Illustrated, theres reference to a 57-pound channel catfish new! White shark at Dardanelle Lock and Dam in 1983 whiskers & quot ; ) around mouth... And listed by the IGFA online archives blue catfish represents the largest flathead knives! Had encountered, but they get big and fight hard amongtheir state records. Heads and on top Florida fisherman has broken the record flathead catfish at Ketona Lake, created a! / 45 kg recent Noodling adventure, Levi Bennett caught a 106-pound flathead catfish the. Dived into the record books to find the catfish family they get big and fight hard missouri, places. The Susquehanna River to Divine Intervention Game fish Assn 8 - Goonch Stats! And using a homemade pole [ rod? ) around the mouth insects... Flathead ever caught in the US of Category winner Bubba covers it all with new knives.! To at least 7 or 8 years they feed on insects and other aquatic life are... Record channel cat was caught more than 4.62 feet long, Paulie still wasnt sure what on! River on May 1 record that has been in place since 1998 70 pound flathead was in! World records for Every state in America blues ( to 25 pounds ) flatheads...