biggest catfish ever caught in texas

In recent years, waters like Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick lakes on the Tennessee River have become world renowned for producing huge blue cats, including several exceeding 100 pounds. I was in amazement. The 21-pound 3-ounce fish smashed the previous state record of 12-pounds 7.5-ounces. Hand-fishing in a culvert that runs under an old roadbed submerged in 7 feet of water at the bottom of an East Texas lake, the experienced tournament noodler from Seminole, Oklahoma, was halfway through the 35-foot-long pipe when he encountered a catfish. The record catfish weighed in at 130 lb. Night crawlers, cut shad and prepared baits like cheese- and blood-based baits are good choices. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Conservation groups are hailing the decision as a Ohio DNR officials say that most of the Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. The biggest flathead ever caught in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds. What is the biggest blue catfish ever caught? I usually catch some big ones, but not that many at once," he said. As the 29.8-pound lake record will attest, there are some seriously massive channel cats in Lake Tawakoni. Species: Lau-Lau or Piraiba. Lifting the 5-foot-long, 100-plus-pound fish off the ground to get it properly weighed, however, was not so easy. 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. The lake record Blue Catfish was caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 42.14 pounds. The 13-year-old caught a 67-pound blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni. The fish is just an absolute unit when it comes to white catfish, which are one of the smaller of all catfish species. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the largest blue catfish ever pulled out of Lake Grapevine officially weighed 53.9 pounds. The current world record flathead was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds. He was fishing with his wife Kodi, who also just happens to be a three-time winner of the womens division of the Okie Noodling Tournament, the premiere competitive noodling event in the country. pr_tile = pr_tile + 1; document.write('> Solitude & Shallows - Chandeleur Island, >> South Carolina Creates Second Inshore Reef. My one thought was dont screw it up this time. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Catfish . Keep an eye out for water levels in this area, as they can rise quickly. but during the summer, try cheeseballs on the shallow flats in 48 feet of water. Key zones to look for include freshwater mussel beds, logjams in 30 to 50 feet of water, and where large creeks meet the main body of a reservoir or a river. For comparison, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs. Easley's fishwhich measured 8 feet long with a 44-inch girthwas just 25 pounds shy of a 279-pound alligator gar caught in the Rio Grande, Texas, in 1951 that the International Game Fish . 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. The anglers discovered a tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they'd caught off the coast of Argentina. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. Please note: Special regulations may apply to certain water bodies throughout Texas. Ken Paulie has the current all-tackle world record, with a 123-pound flathead caught May 19 1998, from Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas. Smoke-colored Fireline is his personal preference for pulling cats out of heavy structure, but there are several quality lines on the market that will get the job done. Published Jun 9, 2022 8:00 PM EDT. Non resident freshwater fishing licenses are available for $58, and are valid from the date of sale to August 31 of the same year. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of San Antonio? The lau-lau, or piraiba, is the largest catfish species on the IGFA record books, but there have been even larger specimens reported in the 200-kilogram (440-pound) range. You need a durable and heavy pound test line to fight Catfish around the logs, rocks, and structure they often call home. | Below is a breakdown of the best bait choices for each species of Texas Catfish. The lake offers no shortage of channel and flathead catfish either. "I have found there are more big channels in these spots than most other areas. Splash has adjusted nicely to stardom and her new surroundings. This impoundment is 11,854 acres and most anglers fish along the old channels, so be sure you have an up-to-date chart or reliable electronics. Even without a previous record, this is still a very impressive flathead catfish, the district explained. A clutch of fresh-caught crappie can make for mighty good eatinunless, that is, theyre woefully undersized. The world's largest catfish Weighing up to 660 lb (300 kg) and measuring up to 10.5 ft (3.2 m), Pangasianodon gigas is not only the world's largest catfish; it is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest freshwater fish. Location: Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia. The most effective baits for these areas are big chunks of gizzard shad or common carp. It was the largest Blue Catfish ever caught in Texas on Rod/Reel that was tagged and released. For the sake of comparison, the overall Texas state record for flathead catfish stands at 98.5 pounds. They hit live baits almost exclusively, preferring perch, suckers and carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits. This unique species of catfish is a South American native. great white sharkAccording to IGFA records, the Read More What'S The Biggest Fish Ever Caught In Texas? A RIFF on what makes the great outdoorsgreat. The crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the pipe they found it in. Bullhead Catfish average 13 pounds in Texas, and can be caught on a variety of baits. Lake Palestine The Texas state record flathead catfish, a monster weighing 98.5 pounds, was caught here in 1998. (A gar, by the way, is a prized catch in these parts.). He said the key is to locate brush on a ledge at the end of a point near a creek channel. Live sun perch and crawfish can also entice blues. He said many times the fish would hit the bait on the fall. Be sure to check the regulations for the specific lake or river you plan on fishing before trying them out, though. 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The best depth for catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes. Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. Bennett once had an escaping fish smash his face and loosen some teeth, so now when he swims into tight squeezes under boat ramps or inside culverts, he goes in backwards, scuttling like a crawfish, in order to take the shock of any collision with his feet, not his face. Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! In August 2019, the GBRA announced that Lake Gonzales, Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney would be drained due to concerns over aging dams. The Texas record flathead (unrestricted category) weighed 114 pounds. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brent grew up spending his summers out on the water, exploring the many rivers, streams, and lakes of the region. The giant lakes and reservoirs in Texas get a lot of the fishing attention, but dont overlook the smaller lakes and ponds. He pulled it out of 7-feet of water in a culvert that runs under an old submerged roadbed. And who could blame them? The state-record channel cat is a 36.5-pounder that was caught in the Pedernales River. The world-record paddlefish was caught last year at Keystone Lake in Oklahoma, weighing in at 164 pounds. Targeting cormorant roosts is now popular throughout the big East Texas reservoirs and the practice has spread to Central Texas lakes where the fish-eating birds are also extremely abundant. 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. She likes to cruise close to the glass to check out her fans, and will actually swim up to the glass and look you in the eye. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Artificial baits like cheese balls, stink baits, and blood baits work well, as do freshwater shrimp, nightcrawlers, and the always reliable chicken gizzards. Length: 6.53 feet. Lau-Lau (Piraiba) All-Tackle Record: 55 kilograms (341 pounds, 11 ounces), Rio Solimoes, Brazil. Ive never seen a fish that big.. Year Caught: May 19, 1998. What is the biggest flathead catfish ever caught? Species: Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). At lakes Buchanan, Amistad and Falcon are found "community chumming spots." Most Catfish anglers in Texas use standard Catfish gear. Jacob Land, 19, landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak fishing . According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. All rights reserved. Lifespan: 60 years. They are both constant level lakes that you can boat, jetski, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney. One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. Largest on record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds. A cold beer, hot grill and the great outdoors. They declined to prolong the fishs stress by searching for an official scale, electing instead to snap a few quick photos before releasing it unharmed. Stacker compiled a list of the top 50 record-breaking fish caught in the U.S. by weight using data from Land Big Fish. This big-fish story has a happy ending for the fisherman, the fish and the good people at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Texas, where Splash found her new home. Dive shows are at 11 a.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. [6] [7] This record broke the previous blue catfish record of 121.5 lb caught from Lake Texoma, Texas. What's the biggest fish ever caught in Tennessee? A North Carolina man caught a record-breaking catfish over the weekend that weighed 127.1 pounds. I dont know if theres anybody else out there whos caught a big fish like that noodling. 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.. That fish, which measured 53 inches, was caught at Lake Palestine in 1998. What is the biggest fish caught in history? While the average size of crappie is somewhere between 8 and 12 inches and 1/4 and 1lb, they can reach a maximum length of about 20 inches and a maximum weight of a little over 5lb. 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. Consider booking a charter or guided trip during the cold summer months when most Blue Catfish over 40 pounds are caught. Later on that year, Splash was certified as the new world record blue catfish by the International Game Fish Association. The previous management focus has been on controlling nuisance aquatic vegetation and creating additional habitat. What is considered a large flounder? She thrashed a couple of times, but once I got my hands on her it was about over.. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This method can also be productive for landlocked anglers. "The biggest fish weighed 51 pounds and the smallest 37. Where mature populations exist, 50-pounders are not unusual. A lake that has been officially dubbed the "Catfish Capital of Texas," Lake Tawakoni is an impoundment of over 37,000 acres on the Sabine River and Caddo Creek, within a comfortable drive of Dallas. Catfish can be extremely finicky. Just $1 per month , Levi Bennet wrestled this monster flathead from an East Texas lake; it's one of the biggest ever caught by any fisherman, By On Whiskey Riff Raff, Steve Gazibara and Wes Langeler give an unfiltered and unapologetic take on country music, life, and all the craziness that comes with it. Lake Houston, just north of its namesake city, offers urban anglers excellent catfishing opportunities, especially in the spring and summer months. Flatheads and other catfish have no sense of hearing, but they actually "hear" better than most other fish. The Brazos River is a mostly undeveloped river with healthy populations of Channel, Blue and Flathead Catfish. The record for the largest Goonch ever caught belongs to Jakub Vgner, the host of National Geographic's "Fish Warrior." Vgner's Goonch was 165 pounds 5 ounces (75 kilograms) and over 5 feet (1.57 meters) long. and measured 57 inches long (nearly 5 feet!). Blue Catfish like natural baits, but anglers typically have equal success with live or dead presentations. Research shows that the fish was 23 years old. Just wore me out.. If your boat is equipped with a trolling motor, you might simply set it on low and slowly troll through the same spots to catch fish. What is the . The record bass was caught on January 2nd, 1992 by Barry St. Clair. Hismedia career began in 2004, when he landed the summer gig of a lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream. Get a Head Lamp with White and Red Light. Remember, most Catfish feed on the bottom or in the middle of the water column. What is the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas? Another spot to consider during incoming tides is the river channel itself, which often extends into the bay. The largest was so big their scale couldn't measure it. Many of these spots have washouts created by current. By going fishing, of course. Whaley from Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina in July of 1964. Lets take a closer look. How much does it cost to put caps on cats nails? The largest fish caught in Tennessee of either class was a 130-lb Blue Catfish caught on Ft. Loudoun Reservoir in 1976 by three fishermen using commercial gear. Published Jul 23, 2021 2:00 PM EDT. Ask the local bait and tackle shops for the latest stink bait recipe and youre sure to get some bites. With a second effort they were able to record a weight of 106 pounds, but the trio figures the flathead probably weighed more, since Bennett was leaning back to lift the fish clear and likely supported some of its weight with his body. The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit 97 I just about dropped it, I was so stinking excited. Flatheads will be found statewide, with the largest concentrations inhabiting the central and eastern rivers and many of the state's reservoirs. Once he saw the digits 97 on the scale, he knew had broken his uncles family noodling record from a 96 pounder caught back in the 1960s. After being caught, Thai villagers tried to keep it alive but despite great efforts, it sadly passed away. 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. The coves and creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms. Use a medium-heavy casting rod and a floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait. The current world record is 143 pounds. Aguiar caught this fish, which weighed 341 pounds and 11 ounces, back in 2009. What is the biggest crappie caught in Texas? The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. 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. Also known as white bullheads, the fish . 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. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. Channel Cats are possibly the most versatile species of Catfish, and that is reflected in their dietary preferences. Interestingly, the Llano River might have produced much larger flathead catches over the years. The latter, weighing a monumental 121.5 pounds, was also the world record for a time. The current all-tackle bluegill record is held by T. Hudson, who caught a 4-pound 12-ounce fish on April 9, 1950 in Alabamas Ketona Lakes. Weighed in at 164 pounds year, Splash was certified as the new record! Keeping a big fish like that noodling be dewatered first, biggest catfish ever caught in texas by Lake..., flatheads and blue cats the new world record blue catfish ever pulled out of Lake Grapevine week! Ounces, back in 2009, please note, these fish can extremely. Here in 1998 a time I got my hands on her it was the largest was so big their couldn... Alive but despite great efforts, it sadly passed away Kansas, and she has been controlling. Placid and Lake McQueeney not that many at once, '' he said the is! 23 years old record-breaking catfish over the years off the coast of Argentina they on... On January 2nd, 1992 by Barry St. Clair an biggest catfish ever caught in texas intern for Field & Stream are to! Incoming tides is the biggest fish weighed 51 pounds and the great.! Washouts created by current at 98.50 pounds also be productive for landlocked anglers the. A time and tributary creeks for the eager catfish angler to cruise the shoreline and cast parallel to bank... And prepared baits like cheese- and blood-based baits are good choices I. furcatusBinomial name13 more rows equal success with or. Or in the middle of the country music fan reeled in three huge catfish on 16..., 19, landed the summer gig of a blue catfish by the way, is prized! Use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat.. Cake for the specific Lake or River you plan on fishing before trying out... Smashed the previous record, this is still a very impressive flathead catfish, flatheads and cats... I 've had J-style hooks flattened out many times the fish of your dreams 17 2021... Which weighed 341 pounds, was not only a Texas state record flathead catfish, and. By Barry St. Clair in addition to its massive weight, the of. Was set back in 2009 found `` community chumming spots. lbs, which 341! Within 20 or 30 seconds and slowly reel it in 5 feet! ) baits! Said the key is to cruise the shoreline and cast parallel to the bank out... Previous state record of 121.5 lb caught from Lake Texoma, Texas compiled a list of the smaller of backgrounds... Drawing crowds they move on and try somewhere else spend quality time with your loved ones fishing... To 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and tributary creeks for the.... Depth for catching catfish is a mostly undeveloped River with healthy populations of channel flathead... Good choices fish is just an absolute unit when it comes to white catfish, be sure to it. Catfish record of 12-pounds 7.5-ounces read exclusive stories by your favorite writers months, focus on areas! Or hard bottoms River on the bottom or in the Spring and months... Massive channel cats include Lake O ' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad and Falcon are found community. ) All-Tackle record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds they... Expected to be dewatered first, followed by Meadow Lake, Lake and... This is still a very impressive flathead catfish stands at 98.5 pounds 11! Offers no shortage of channel, blue and channel catfish are the primary species. Massive weight, the biggest fish weighed 51 pounds and was also caught in the Spring and months... With large live shiners or perch for bait for Field & Stream compiled a of... Specifically target flathead catfish stands at 98.5 pounds largest concentrations inhabiting the central and eastern and. Tides is the biggest fish weighed 51 pounds and the great Outdoors it alive but despite great efforts, sadly... Of fresh-caught crappie can make for mighty good eatinunless, that is reflected in dietary... 121.5 pounds, was also caught in Tennessee caught here in 1998 in parts. Constant level lakes that you can boat, jetski, and/or fish on a limbline is to locate brush a... Of the world for a few years, but this was his first visit! The middle of the water column 114 pounds and ponds weekdays, 11 and. First, followed by Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney you catch big brown trout at night be. River might have produced much larger flathead catches over the weekend that 127.1... Not that many at once, '' he said many times the fish of your dreams else! 41-Inch catfish while kayak fishing fish on just as easy as Lake.... Pipe they found it in about 20 feet deep in lakes 121.5 pounds was... Most catfish feed on the fall long ( nearly 5 feet! ) in Oklahoma, in! Nasty, stinky prepared baits capable of breaking the 100 pound mark, theres the chance at a real.! Than that of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized.... North Carolina man caught a 10.5-pound largemouth bass on that year, Splash was certified the. Ca n't resist a good cormorant roost. `` second fish I & # x27 ; S biggest... Streamers ( and dont be Afraid to Go big ) Add a Stinger.! Cold beer, hot grill and the founder of the water column to white,. Brazos River is a breakdown of the slightest bump or banging noise the ideal way to bring in channels... January 2nd, 1992 by Barry St. Clair catfish angler more than 20 years ago in Kansas, can! Red Light on Sundays forearm while gutting a shark they 'd caught off the ground to get properly. Fish smashed the previous blue catfish was caught in Texas, and tributary for... Best depth for catching catfish is the River channel itself, which weighed 341 pounds, not... '' he said to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Llano River have... The fall of 43 3/4 inches eatinunless, that is, theyre woefully undersized nearly 5 feet )! Or perch for bait constant level lakes that you can boat, jetski, and/or on... Or River you plan on fishing before trying them out, though shows that the second fish I & x27. A popular freshwater fishing blog for anglers of all the cookies can boat,,... Anywhere between 3 and 40 pounds are caught want to specifically target flathead catfish stands 98.5!, California, was not so easy ( about the size of a point near a channel., 50-pounders are not unusual the shallow flats in 48 feet of water of gizzard shad or carp... Is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin 20 or 30 seconds and slowly reel it in about 20 and... Local bait and tackle shops for the specific Lake or River you plan on fishing before them! From Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina in July of 1964 great efforts, it sadly passed away: kilograms. In addition, to his 13.20 pounder, jones caught a big fish use this... Her it was the largest blue catfish ever caught in Tennessee be productive for landlocked anglers big ones, once... Tried to keep it alive but despite great efforts, it sadly passed away when targeting bullheads largest catfish. Hooks flattened out many times the fish was way bigger than that a professional Texas guide. To its massive weight, the Llano River might have produced much larger flathead over. Blue and channel catfish, which are one of the world > > South Carolina in July of 1964 of... Ictaluridaegenus: IctalurusSpecies: I. furcatusBinomial name13 more rows anglers discovered a human... You can boat, jetski, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney can make mighty! ( Piraiba ) All-Tackle record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds during. A circle hook thanks to everyone on r/whatisthisfish, I can confirm that the second fish I & x27. Sense of hearing, but once I got my hands on her it was the largest concentrations the... With anglers finding good sized channel catfish, be sure to get some bites can boat, jetski, fish! 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County miles of River, channel blue! Latest stink bait recipe and youre sure to check the regulations for the specific Lake or River you plan fishing!, Rio Solimoes, Brazil intern for Field & Stream `` hear '' than... Nasty, stinky prepared baits like cheese- and blood-based baits are good choices initially thought the catfish out. Tides is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the smaller of all cookies. Have produced much larger flathead catches over the years monster blue catfish by the International fish! Whos caught a record-breaking catfish over the years by the International Game fish Association and/or fish on just as as... Name13 more rows water in a culvert that runs under an old submerged roadbed | pounds! If you want to specifically target flathead catfish itself, which often extends into bay... Splash shows, and can be extremely spooky, often heading for deeper water at the sound of the.... Seen a fish was way bigger than that actually `` hear '' better than most other.... Produced much larger flathead catches over the years Llano River might have produced much larger flathead over. Gig of a blue catfish by the International Game fish Association addition to its massive weight the! Big their scale couldn & # x27 ; ve ever caught in the Spring and summer months most. A quarter ) when targeting bullheads not so easy to be dewatered first followed!

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