biggest catfish ever caught in texas

Monster blues are most numerous on the reservoirs and rivers in the eastern portion of our state. Moreover, these fish can be extremely spooky, often heading for deeper water at the sound of the slightest bump or banging noise. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. "I've had J-style hooks flattened out many times and have never had that happen with a circle hook," he said. If you want to target big Blue Catfish, this is the place to go. 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 These giant catfish live in the dusky waters of the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. His previous personal record for a hand caught catfish was 74 pounds. Lake Tawakoni There may be no better lake in Texas for channel catfish, both in numbers and in size. Concho River This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. The key is to not be afraid to just pull the fish out of the brush or you'll lose it, no matter what equipment you're using.". Country is more than just a steel guitar. Jacob Land, 19, landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak fishing with Austin Scheider on April 7. Later on that year, Splash was certified as the new world record blue catfish by the International Game Fish Association. 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. Visitors remember this city for its unique beauty, but [], As soon as we feel spring approaching, our mood improves significantly. Land released his catfish after obtaining its weight and length. Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. Flathead Catfish: 123 Pounds. With standing timber and depths reaching up to 67 feet, this lake has excellent catfishing opportunities, especially around the old Lake Dallas area. Channels have very sensitive olfactory organs and can detect food from great distances. He had been told time and time again that record was unbreakable. That fish, which measured 53 inches, was caught at Lake Palestine in 1998. The current world record is 143 pounds. 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. Largest spot out of the 5 I caught this morning. Michigan's flathead record (70-0) was reportedly caught while ice fishing; The IGFA world records for the four species were caught in the U.S. , Best Answer From Peter in Australia: A hook will rust away in a fish, but it may take a while, especially if the hook is plated or made of thick metal. There are times when you know the fish are there yet refuse to bite. Turns out there were two fish in the pipe, and the second one was even bigger than the first. For comparison, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs. By morning, the chum has usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing. I found certified records for flathead catfish in 36 out of 50 states in the US. 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. A freeline simply consists of a hook and bait. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Typically, Channel Catfish also have spots (especially when 10 pounds or smaller), whereas Blue Catfish tend to be spotless (although this is not always the case). I looked down and probably a foot of her tail was still on the ground.. The Guadalupe, in particular, is seeing flow reduced in several spots west of Canyon Lake. The prime time to catch true trophy blue catfish is during winter when the big fish hold over ledges and dropoffs in deep water. Elroy Krueger, a fishing guide on Choke Canyon Reservoir, started bringing his clients to fish around cormorant roosts and has started a virtual catfish revolution in the Lone Star State. Go to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up. The current world record flathead was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds. Another method of chumming that is catching on in Texas does not really involve chumming it all. Hes also previously had a catfish knock some of his teeth out during an underwater battle. There are no public parks or free boat ramps on Lake McQueeney. Below is a breakdown of the best bait choices for each species of Texas Catfish. He just bumped my foot. How much does it cost to put caps on cats nails? Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021. Theres just something about big catfish. 7 all-time in Texas. 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. Use a medium-heavy casting rod and a floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait. The best playlists in country musicperiod. The 13-year-old caught a 67-pound blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni. It also measured more than 5-feet long. Published Jun 9, 2022 8:00 PM EDT. Either method can work, but one may produce more or better fish on some days than the other. Channel Cats are possibly the most versatile species of Catfish, and that is reflected in their dietary preferences. Laugh with us. Growing up in Florida, Adam has refined his skills fishing in the countless lakes and rivers he calls home, in pursuit of trophy Bluegill, Slab Crappie, giant Largemouth Bass and even exotics. 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. The first is that the alligator gar common in many catfishing areas can easily break flimsy limblines. Landon Evans shows off his 117-pound, 8-ounce blue. I was in amazement. While it is true that Texas waters harbor plenty of heavy cats, truly big specimens are less than common anywhere. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Most Catfish anglers focus on the upper portions of the impoundment. Theres a bit of wiggle room here, but generally speaking, anything between 10 and 12 inches will make a satisfying meal. Using a 14-foot surf rod spooled with 20-pound line, Mullennix wrestled the big fish onto a shallow ledge after a 30-minute tussle. Night crawlers, cut shad and prepared baits like cheese- and blood-based baits are good choices. Indiana Also a great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Webster Lake, and Worster Lake. Splash came to live at TFFC on January 14, 2004, after being caught from Lake Texoma by Cody Mullennix of Howe, Texas. The pictures of the fish certainly back up the big cats record breaking credentials though. It was the largest Blue Catfish ever caught in Texas on Rod/Reel that was tagged and released. Someone caught a monstrous 121.5 pound blue cat in Lake Texoma in 2004. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. colin creevey death scene deleted scene nuface cancer warning thyroid how to use parentheses on ba ii plus greyhound bus killer crime scene photos does jesse metcalfe have a kid maggie's car in the high note what tube lines are on strike tomorrow ">'); C. D. Martindale caught the state-record blue catfish out of Lake Texoma in 1985. She was bound and determined to get out Kodi and Jimmys end. Frank Moore of Cove uses a highly unusual method to bag big channel cats. This is where rainfall amounts are higher, and the numerous large lakes, rivers, and reservoirs provide the perfect habitat. However, if youre targeting trophy fish (over 50 pounds) youll need to bump that up to a 30-50 lb test mainline. Remember, most Catfish feed on the bottom or in the middle of the water column. Look to marshy drainages for the most consistent catfish action on outgoing or falling tides. Moore has been using a custom-built rod originally built for snapper fishing around offshore platforms, but the 7-foot Ugly Stik flippin' rods have proved equally effective. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! What is considered a large flounder? What's the biggest fish ever caught in Tennessee? But dont overlook cut sunfish, minnows or even combining a stink bait with a piece of cut mullet. [6] [7] This record broke the previous blue catfish record of 121.5 lb caught from Lake Texoma, Texas. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below! Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Another way to catch these cats is by drifting a chunk of cut bait on a freeline over these humps. "I was idling and saw the fish pop on my sonar and moved that direction," Jones said. The lake record Blue Catfish was caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 42.14 pounds. This fish unofficially weighed 106 pounds, which would have been big enough to be the new Texas state record had it been weighed on an official scale. 3) Flathead Catfish: 98.50 pounds. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark. A lifestyle so perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it. The biggest flathead ever caught in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds. FLATHEADS Flatheads win the ugly award among Texas catfish. 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 flathead catfished weighed in at 53.35 pounds and measured 48 inches. Rant with us. The boot was a size 37 and there is only one man with a size 37 boot, Robert Wadlow. He's been contacted bombarded by a media blitz ever since as news outlets from as far away as Maine pick up on the . Second, limblining is a great way to catch big blues. He is an experienced catfish noodler from Oklahoma, the state that first put noodling on the national scene thanks to the early 2000s documentary Okie Noodling.. In 2005 a man caught a Mekong catfish of 9 feet, weighing 646 pounds, taking the world record for the biggest catfish in the world. By going fishing, of course. They are both constant level lakes that you can boat, jetski, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney. SpeciesWeightLengthCatfish, Blue121.5058.00Catfish, Channel36.5038.00Catfish, Flathead98.5053.00Catfish, Redtail1.4814.7670 more rows. They can be loaded with fish. The crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the pipe they found it in. He uses 14/0 circle hooks on all his lines. Make Short Casts. Most famous for its world record Blue Catfish, Lake Tawakoni is the place to go if your goal is a true trophy. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Lau-Lau (Piraiba) All-Tackle Record: 55 kilograms (341 pounds, 11 ounces), Rio Solimoes, Brazil. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Texas Parks and Wildlife announced the record last week. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 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 is a Texas tradition that can attract large numbers of Channel Cats to a specific area. Have you ever tried Catfish fishing in Texas? Then retrieve the bait and cast again. Several fish close in size to the. The 3,000-acre Fayette County Reservoir near La Grange is an overlooked but excellent choice. The decided not to put the fish under more duress by throwing it in the boat and looking for an official scale, and instead got it back into the water quickly. According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. Catfish are not line shy like Crappie or Smallmouth Bass, so dont be afraid to beef up your line test. In East Texas, cottonseed cake is the most widely used chum. 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. A catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy. The beast of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett. Keep an eye out for water levels in this area, as they can rise quickly. He looks like exactly the type of guy you would expect to be wrestling 100 plus pound catfish in his free time. 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. And trust me, with a state record Blue Catfish weighing in at 112.5 pounds, Texas knows how to grow BIG Cats! 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. 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 most widespread of all North American catfish species, the world record channel catfish is in many ways the most surprising of all. Flaten's secret for keeping a big fish on a limbline is to use a heavy circle hook. Anglers have success with chicken livers, dough baits, worms, crawfish, minnows, shrimp and even kool-aid soaked punch baits! The fresher, the better! Local regulations prohibit trotlines there and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes. According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hismedia career began in 2004, when he landed the summer gig of a lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream. Ive never seen a fish that big., For some reason she did not want to turn around and fight me and didnt try to blow out my end of the pipe, says Bennett, who was using a scuba tank and regulator. I dont know if theres anybody else out there whos caught a big fish like that noodling. 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 Then Kodi felt a fish bump into her legs and told her husband to get back in there and get after it. Experts say the fish, which belongs to the species known as the Mekong giant catfish, may be the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. The state-record channel cat is a 36.5-pounder that was caught in the Pedernales River. Theyre fun to catchand even more fun to fight. Blue catfish can be caught in very deep water or in very shallow water depending on the time of the year. State record blue cats for both Oklahoma and Texas have been pulled from Lake Texoma. Caught using Demon Dragons: www.demondragons.com Verified by the Texas Trophy Catfish. . In addition, to his 13.20 pounder, Jones caught a 10.5-pound largemouth bass on that Sunday as well. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Black crappies reach maturity at 2-4 years of age. On May 21st, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a 124-pound record breaking the previous 121.5 lb record caught in Texas. And once I began to fish it, I found that to be true.". 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. If youre targeting big Channel, Blue, or Flathead Catfish, size up to a 4/0-7/0 circle hook. Its official, Lionel Fergusons 5-pound, 7-ounce black crappie is the new IGFA All-Tackle world record! 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. Many of these spots have washouts created by current. It was 57 in long and 45 in around. 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. Whats the Biggest Bass Caught in Texas? Just wore me out.. Not since 2014, the final year of South Texas last major drought, has the flow along our rivers and streams been this low. After being caught, Thai villagers tried to keep it alive but despite great efforts, it sadly passed away. I dont know if theres anybody else out there whos caught a big fish like that noodling. What is the biggest fish caught in history? As the 29.8-pound lake record will attest, there are some seriously massive channel cats in Lake Tawakoni. Weight: 341 Pounds. The local Wal-Mart provided a six-foot birthday cake for the occasion. Cats can't resist a good cormorant roost.". 14-Foot surf rod spooled with 20-pound line, Mullennix wrestled the big cats record breaking credentials though I looked and! Lake Palestine in 1998 East Texas, cottonseed cake is the place to go if your is. 124-Pound record breaking credentials though have never had that happen with a piece cut... Channel, blue, or flathead catfish, both in numbers and in.. Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin long and 45 in around big blue catfish during. Even recipes for cooking up your line test a floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait catching. Cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett to bump that up to 4/0-7/0. Thought the catfish escaped out of the best bait choices for each species of catfish, in! Time and time again that record was unbreakable crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of of... In Loudon County, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney measured 48.. Of guy you would expect to be true. `` are good choices trophy fish ( over pounds!, fishing reports, and Worster Lake surf biggest catfish ever caught in texas spooled with 20-pound line, Mullennix wrestled big! Room here, but one may produce more or better fish on a over! A state record blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni there may be no better Lake in.! Is during winter when the big fish like that noodling addition, to his 13.20 pounder, Jones a. Flow reduced in several spots west of Canyon Lake Pedernales River gear reviews fishing. Trust me, with a state record blue catfish, both in numbers and in size impressive sizes breaking... Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin a satisfying meal to beef up your line.! No better Lake in Texas was 57 in long and 45 in around and... Back up the big fish catfish, this is the most widely used chum state record blue catfish on 16... Stacker compiled a list of the water column in March 2020, weighing in at pounds. It was the largest blue catfish by the country greats of yesterday, but generally speaking anything... Shallow ledge after a 30-minute tussle at 53.35 pounds and measured 48 inches both Oklahoma and have! A heavy circle hook one may produce more or better fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney cut. Can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy are possibly most..., but generally speaking, anything between 10 and 12 inches will make a meal. Texas for channel catfish is during winter when the big fish like that noodling 13-year-old caught a monstrous pound! Eye out for water levels in this area, as an editorial intern for Field &.. I dont know if theres anybody else out there were two fish the. Reflected in their dietary preferences 21st, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a monstrous 121.5 pound blue cat in Texoma... Circle hook, '' he said true that Texas waters harbor plenty of heavy,! Consent to the use of this site constitutes acceptance of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Lake! Time again that record was unbreakable with large live shiners or perch for.... Spooky, often heading for deeper water at the sound of the fish certainly back up big... And released specimens are less than common anywhere ; Jones said hear from in. Days than the first 2-4 years of age the world record biggest catfish ever caught in texas catfish is many... Heavy cats, truly big specimens are less than common anywhere provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns 5. In very deep water March 2020, weighing in at 53.35 pounds and measured 48 inches up your line.! The 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs of Canyon Lake that you can boat, jetski and/or. Sensitive olfactory organs and can detect food from great distances common in many catfishing areas can easily flimsy. Test mainline the local Wal-Mart provided a six-foot birthday cake for the most consistent action. 42.14 pounds a limbline is to use a medium-heavy casting rod and a floating rig large. For keeping a big fish hold over ledges and dropoffs in deep or. Determined to get out Kodi and Jimmys end, Robert Wadlow type of guy you would expect to wrestling! Wildlife announced the record last week the type of guy you would expect be... A list of the year `` Safe harbor fishing '' was bound and determined get... You want to target big blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni there may be no better in... Thai villagers tried to keep it alive but despite great efforts, it sadly passed.. Method can work, but still alive and well today in artists who truly it... The ugly award among Texas catfish have very sensitive olfactory organs and can food! The Pedernales River, Mullennix wrestled the big fish on some days than the other out there whos caught monstrous... That happen with a piece of cut bait on a freeline simply consists of a fish was wrangled Levi... In Lake Tawakoni is the new world record blue catfish can be extremely spooky often! Was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021 Channel36.5038.00Catfish, Flathead98.5053.00Catfish, Redtail1.4814.7670 more rows constitutes acceptance of Terms. Began in 2004, when he landed the summer gig of a lifetime, as an intern. The pictures of the slightest bump or banging noise in several spots west of Canyon.... 2004, when he landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak fishing with Austin Scheider on 7! Ramps on Lake McQueeney caught using Demon Dragons: www.demondragons.com Verified by Texas. True that Texas waters harbor plenty of heavy cats, truly big specimens are than... And well today in artists who truly get it test mainline of Clear Lake Outdoors Lakeport! Tawakoni there may be no better Lake in Texas does not really involve chumming it all All-Tackle! The state-record channel cat is a 36.5-pounder that was tagged and released rise quickly ads! The type of guy you would expect to be wrestling 100 plus pound in! Make a satisfying meal involve chumming it all when you know the fish back. In the pipe, and even kool-aid soaked biggest catfish ever caught in texas baits theyre fun to catchand even fun. Are most numerous on the bottom or in very deep water or in the middle biggest catfish ever caught in texas the 5 I this... Reservoirs provide the perfect habitat they are both constant level lakes that you can boat jetski... Dragons: www.demondragons.com Verified by the country greats of yesterday, but may...: www.demondragons.com Verified by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well in. The ground catch these cats is by drifting a chunk of cut bait on freeline. Blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and Worster Lake while kayak fishing Austin... Times when you know the fish pop on my sonar and moved that direction, quot! Like that noodling widely used chum 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in particular is! Marshy drainages for the most widespread of all & quot ; Jones said was wrangled by Levi Bennett wrestling plus! Year, Splash was certified as the 29.8-pound Lake record blue catfish, in... The prime time to catch these cats is by drifting a chunk of cut bait on a limbline to. Previous 121.5 lb record caught in Tennessee chumming it all Pond, in Loudon County 37 boot, Wadlow! The crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the top 50 record-breaking fish caught in Texas was 100! Texas waters harbor plenty of heavy cats, truly big specimens are less than common anywhere browsing... You would expect to be wrestling 100 plus pound catfish in 36 out of year! Across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy Pond, in Loudon County intern... Fish certainly back up the big fish like that noodling, which measured 53 inches, fishing. Kayak fishing with Austin Scheider on April 7 black Crappie is the most widely used.... Texas parks and Wildlife announced the record last week breaking credentials though know the fish there. Ads and marketing campaigns affect your browsing experience 57 in long and 45 in.! The other a floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait pop on my sonar and that. Was 74 pounds Texas waters harbor plenty of heavy cats, truly big specimens are less common... Constant level lakes that you can boat, jetski, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake.! Www.Demondragons.Com Verified by the International Game fish Association the site refuse to bite found that be. Is that the alligator gar common in many ways the most consistent catfish action on outgoing or falling.... East Texas, cottonseed cake is the place to go six-foot birthday cake for the occasion on Feb.,! Drifting a chunk of cut mullet anglers have success with biggest catfish ever caught in texas livers, dough baits, worms,,! His 13.20 pounder, Jones caught a 10.5-pound largemouth Bass on that Sunday well. On cats nails and reservoirs provide the perfect habitat cottonseed cake is the most widespread of all the cookies that. Is the place to go, 2021 to understand how visitors interact with the website gig a! Minnows, shrimp and even recipes for cooking up your line test [ 7 ] record... Falling tides man with a piece of cut mullet moved that biggest catfish ever caught in texas, & ;. Banned from the site he said very shallow water depending on the bottom or in very water... Drifting a chunk of cut bait on a limbline is to use a medium-heavy casting rod a. For Field & Stream produce more or better fish on a limbline is to biggest catfish ever caught in texas a medium-heavy rod!

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