A Mozambique court has sentenced a Vietnamese woman to 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts. What is the biggest catfish in the United States? Top 9 Spring Break Fishing Destinations for 2 2023 FishingBooker.com. Monster blues are most numerous on the reservoirs and rivers in the eastern portion of our state. 4 when Carpenter hooked and landed what may be the biggest white crappie ever reeled in at Lake Fork and the heaviest crappie of any kind caught in Texas since 2003. 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. Cody Mullenix of Howe Texas caught the fish on January 16th, 2004 which became known as "Splash" while fishing at the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Texoma. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs , which was not only a Texas state record but also a . Country is more than just a steel guitar. The state record, an 18.18-pound largemouth bass caught at Lake Fork, has stood since 1992. Home to Channel, Flathead, and Blue Catfish, Lake Corpus Christi offers a little bit of everything. The blue catfish is the largest freshwater sportfish in Texas. Search World Records by Country: Use the search form above to find fishing world records for freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and more. PB Texas Largemouth Bass at a Small Texas Pond. How deep should you fish for catfish? 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. During the first four years of life, young black crappies grow quickly in the warm waters of the southern US while growth is slower in cooler northern U.S. waters. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For comparison, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs. Some of these trophies have lasted for decadesbut that doesnt mean they cant be beat. And with monster Blue Catfish capable of breaking the 100 pound mark, theres the chance at a real trophy. The 21-pound 3-ounce fish smashed the previous state record of 12-pounds 7.5-ounces. And if you want a more passive way to fish for Catfish, Texas does allow trotlines and bush hooks. He's been contacted bombarded by a media blitz ever since as news outlets from as far away as Maine pick up on the . 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. CHANNEL CATS Channels do not get nearly as big as blue cats, but they are easier to catch and are more common across the state. Lake Livingston is another behemoth reservoir, spanning 90,000 acres on the Trinity River. Live or cut shad are probably the most popular choice. Near Wichita Falls, Lake Arrowhead has historically been considered the areas best crappie fishery. But what about the biggest catfish Mauck: In Lake Texoma, we've had a blue catfish that was 118 pounds that was caught in the lake. What's the biggest fish ever caught? He said many times the fish would hit the bait on the fall. Youll also want to know exactly how many fish you can keep and which size. The average length of a blue catfish is 20 to 45 inches and on average they weigh anywhere between 3 and 40 pounds. Make Short Casts. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. State record blue cats for both Oklahoma and Texas have been pulled from Lake Texoma. A North Texas man and his father reeled in three huge catfish on Lake Grapevine last week. Research shows that the fish was 23 years old. It was 57 in long and 45 in around. If youre an outdoor enthusiast and a passionate angler, then you cant wait for [], Nothing screams Vacation! louder than Spring Break. A RIFF on what makes the great outdoorsgreat. Largest on record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds. Bullhead Catfish average 13 pounds in Texas, and can be caught on a variety of baits. Don't be afraid to wade the shorelines of these areas to locate catfish. Most Catfish anglers in Texas use standard Catfish gear. Flatheads and other catfish have no sense of hearing, but they actually "hear" better than most other fish. To me, its not worth killing a fish that big and that old just to have some record., I think we get more thrill out of the experience of it than a record, Kodi adds. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the united states? Besides actively feeding on live shad, blues will scavenge shad killed by sudden temperature changes. The Native Range of Flathead Catfish In America. What is the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas? The good news is this flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002. The biggest catfish in America is the blue catfish. Thats still small compared to the state record. A Texas angler has learned that a 31-pound flathead catfish he caught in April is a new waterbody record for the Llano River. Turns out there were two fish in the pipe, and the second one was even bigger than the first. What is the biggest catfish caught in the world? Nearly nine feet long (2.7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, the behemoth tipped the scales at 646 pounds (293 kilograms). Aguiar caught this fish, which weighed 341 pounds and 11 ounces, back in 2009. (A gar, by the way, is a prized catch in these parts.). 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. But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Many veteran catfishermen know the value of using limblines to catch trophy catfish. Black crappies reach maturity at 2-4 years of age. Use a medium-heavy casting rod and a floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait. tournament-winner. Texas has no shortage of fishing locations for the enthusiastic Catfish angler. A North Carolina man caught a record-breaking catfish over the weekend that weighed 127.1 pounds. Theres just something about big catfish. He didnt believe me when I said it was huge.. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". Later on that year, Splash was certified as the new world record blue catfish by the International Game Fish Association. Its about giantsspecifically, the biggest world-record catfish of all time. 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). Alabama tops the list of must-visit states for many big-cat aficionados. 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. Plus with that catfish mafia hat hes wearing, he really looks the part. They hit live baits almost exclusively, preferring perch, suckers and carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits. At Spring Branch, the flow was measured at zero as of July 6, 2022. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. "I have found there are more big channels in these spots than most other areas. The all-tackle world record Eurasian catfish was caught July 4, 1997 by angler Shoji Matsuura from Lake Biwa in Shiga, Japan. Cats can't resist a good cormorant roost.". In addition to its massive weight, the behemoth measured 61 inches long with a girth of 43 3/4 inches. What is the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas? Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The latter, weighing a monumental 121.5 pounds, was also the world record for a time. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual caught in northern Thailand in 2005 weighted an astounding 646 pounds, making it the largest exclusively freshwater fish ever recorded. This big-cat fishing may become frustrating, but it will all be worthwhile when that monster catfish doubles over your rod and puts your muscles to the test. The current world record is 143 pounds. Whats the Biggest Bass Caught in Texas? 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. Since temperatures along the Gulf Coast can range from the 70s down into the 20s during winter, often there are large kills of menhaden and shrimp for the cats to dine on. The big bass parade out of Texas shows no signs of slowing down, as Texas angler Jason Conn just added one of the biggest bass ever caught in the state to the list. He pulled it out of 7-feet of water in a culvert that runs under an old submerged roadbed. Fergusons monster crappie replaced the previous record of 5 pound which was set back in 2006. After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. Daily Bag Limit: 25 (in any combination only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length), Minimum Length: No size limit (however, no more than 10 fish that measure 20 inches or longer), Daily Bag Limit: N/A not considered a regulated game fish. (See Texana news story Largest Catfish Found in Texas ) At 121.5 pounds, she was the largest blue catfish ever caught and held that record until a 124-pound fish was caught from the Mississippi River in 2005. It is one of the biggest flatheads ever caught by any fisherman. The most recent record breaker is a white catfish that was caught by Ben Tomkunas in Connecticut. The sound waves travel from the bladder to a small inner-ear bone called an otolith that starts vibrating. Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. Fishing on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois Tim Pruitt landed the massive 124-pound cat after a battle lasting nearly 40 minutes a 58 inch long, 44-inch girth blue surfaced. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. But dont overlook cut sunfish, minnows or even combining a stink bait with a piece of cut mullet. Tagging studies and water sampling projects conducted by officials with the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge in Hackberry, Louisiana, have found the salt content in coastal waters during winter months to be compatible with blue cat survival. Lifespan: 60 years. Country music is the lifeblood of Whiskey Riff, and we pride ourselves on standing firmly in the corner of the independent artists, and those few in the mainstream still doing it the right way. It all depends on your ambitions and hobbies. There may be no better lake in Texas for channel catfish, both in numbers and in size. He just bumped my foot. Whaley from Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina in July of 1964. Landon Evans shows off his 117-pound, 8-ounce blue. 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. However, the fish was thrown back in the water before it was weighed on an officially certified scale so it wont be showing up in the record books. What is the biggest fish ever caught in Texas? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What Lake in Texas has the biggest catfish? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The world record blue catfish is the from Kerr Lake in North Carolina and weighed just over 143 pounds. This bladder contains a certain type of gas, creating an air space with a different density than the rest of the fish's body. What About "High Fin Blue Catfish"? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Lake Palestine hosts largemouth bass tournaments but also has excellent fishing for white bass, hybrid striped bass and catfish. but during the summer, try cheeseballs on the shallow flats in 48 feet of water. Catfish are not line shy like Crappie or Smallmouth Bass, so dont be afraid to beef up your line test. Theres more of a pep in our step, more energy to start new adventures and, who knows, maybe even change the world. The largest caught in South Carolina weighed a little over 113 pounds! Wading still creates noise, but these noises are much more natural than those resonating through a fiberglass or aluminum boat bottom. 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. She thrashed a couple of times, but once I got my hands on her it was about over.. What is the biggest catfish caught in the United States? What is the largest freshwater fish ever caught? The lake offers no shortage of channel and flathead catfish either. Spring Break is the perfect excuse to leave the winter slumber behind and kick off your friends and family bonding season in style. Look to marshy drainages for the most consistent catfish action on outgoing or falling tides. If youre targeting big Channel, Blue, or Flathead Catfish, size up to a 4/0-7/0 circle hook. But folks just love giant cats. Another method of chumming that is catching on in Texas does not really involve chumming it all. What might be the biggest catfish ever caught by hand was likely also the state record flathead catfish in Texas. Get a Head Lamp with White and Red Light. Rig it a foot above the hook. Where mature populations exist, 50-pounders are not unusual. The fish is just an absolute unit when it comes to white catfish, which are one of the smaller of all catfish species. A safari jeep full of tourists were observing two fighting rhinos when the animals suddenly turned their attention on the jeep and charged. What is the biggest crappie caught in Texas? . Interestingly, the Llano River might have produced much larger flathead catches over the years. Search World Records by Angler's Name: 5. Laugh with us. To me, its not worth killing a fish that big and that old just to have some record. Most Catfish anglers focus on the upper portions of the impoundment. Be sure to check the regulations for the specific lake or river you plan on fishing before trying them out, though. Lets take a closer look. 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. Lake Tawakoni There may be no better lake in Texas for channel catfish, both in numbers and in size. Any tips or tricks youd like to share? 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 Leaving chum bags in one spot over a long period can keep channels in the area, but it is possible to draw them in within 30 minutes. Top reservoirs for big channel cats include Lake O' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The preferred method of wading is to cruise the shoreline and cast parallel to the bank and out into the creek channel itself. 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. It may take as long as 30 minutes to properly work 100 yards of shore, but it can pay off. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Another requirement for fishing this brush is braided line. And while you probably dont want to fry the fillets off of a trophy catfish, youd be hard-pressed to find a more delicious fish than the smaller keepers. Big Flathead Catfish call this river system home, including a 40.5 pounder caught in April 2022 by Chase Owen Kime. Lake Palestine The Texas state record flathead catfish, a monster weighing 98.5 pounds, was caught here in 1998. C. D. Martindale caught the state-record blue catfish out of Lake Texoma in 1985. Let's look at the three major Texas species and the most productive methods for bagging the biggest and best of them all. As tides displace baitfish from the marsh, catfish will gather at key junctures such as sloughs that wind into the marsh and at the mouth of the drainage itself. 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. ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Momma and baby whale join surfers in the lineup; video, I saw it and said, Oh my God to Austin, Land, who is from Fredericksburg, told MySA. Experts say the fish, a Mekong giant catfish, was around 170 years old and . Sharks are not included in this roundup. They are both constant level lakes that you can boat, jetski, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney. If you want to specifically target Flathead Catfish, be sure your bait is alive! The slip-float rig is used to catch those fish, which are suspended, and holding between feedings on the bottom.". What is the . 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. 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. They are true marvels of nature, and require loads of patience and reliable equipment to catch. Texas Parks and Wildlife announced the record last week. Splash is her name, and being the World-Record Blue Catfish is her fame. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Have you ever tried Catfish fishing in Texas? Fish live bait on the bottom below dams and in river arms to find the most flatheads. Jump on Google Earth and explore your local waterways then give them a try! When viewing a surface map it may seem as if they river ends where the bay begins, but things may look different when viewed from the perspective offered by a depthfinder or a detailed topographical chart. There are times when you know the fish are there yet refuse to bite. You know what "they" say: Everything's bigger in Texas. Important sport fish include largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. Lake Tawakoni has earned its moniker well. Typically, the largest fish are caught by trotliners, some of whom have landed specimens in . A lifestyle so perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it. Conclusion. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Year Caught: May 19, 1998. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. The current IGFA all-tackle world record 58-pound channel catfish was taken by W.H. The largest catfish ever caught on record measures just over 9 feet. pr_tile = pr_tile + 1; document.write(''); A catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy. Search for the biggest fish in the International Game Fish Association's database of biggest fish for each species. Land released his catfish after obtaining its weight and length. What is the life expectancy of a crappie? Burleigh likes to anchor on top of a hump and make long cats toward the deep water with a slip-rig and fishes around the boat with a slip-float. The pictures of the fish certainly back up the big cats record breaking credentials though. Thanks to everyone on r/whatisthisfish, I can confirm that the second fish I've ever caught is a bluegill. Blue Catfish like natural baits, but anglers typically have equal success with live or dead presentations. Ken Paulie had the day of his life on May 19, 1998 when he caught a giant 123-pound flathead catfish while fishing at Elk City Reservoir in Kansas. Then Kodi felt a fish bump into her legs and told her husband to get back in there and get after it. Local regulations prohibit trotlines there and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes. Fish in the dive tank may be viewed any time the center is open. This flathead was 61 inches long with a 43-inch girth. Someone caught a monstrous 121.5 pound blue cat in Lake Texoma in 2004. Hismedia career began in 2004, when he landed the summer gig of a lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream. Conn was fishing on Lake OH Ivie on Monday Feb. 13, 2023 when the big fish bit. Pop the cork every 20 or 30 seconds and slowly reel it in about 20 feet and pop again. 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. 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. 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. Keep an eye out for water levels in this area, as they can rise quickly. The 3,000-acre Fayette County Reservoir near La Grange is an overlooked but excellent choice. Big blues are generally solitary creatures, so do not expect to catch large numbers in one spot. My one thought was Dont screw it up this time, he says. From Texas to Tennessee, Appalachia to Bakersfield, Whiskey Riff is THE unapologetic voice of the country music fan. The Guadalupe, in particular, is seeing flow reduced in several spots west of Canyon Lake. He dove again, swam toward the far end of the culvert, where a second fish was trying to break through the blockade thrown up by his partners. Length: 6.53 feet. The most widespread of all North American catfish species, the world record channel catfish is in many ways the most surprising of all. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. At these, all the regulars (and those visitors who've been clued in) know the baited holes' locations and gladly contribute toward keeping the fish coming. Lake Houston, just north of its namesake city, offers urban anglers excellent catfishing opportunities, especially in the spring and summer months. Largest spot out of the 5 I caught this morning. The biggest flathead ever caught in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds. Flathead Catfish: 123 Pounds. 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.. The state of Texas has 10 species of freshwater Catfish, making it a great year-round location to target the beloved whisker fish. Weight: 341 Pounds. Rant with us. That is why I use the so-called super lines that are extremely strong. 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 catfish escaped out the same end of the culvert that Bennett entered. He uses 14/0 circle hooks on all his lines. What is the national animal and bird of Saudi Arabia? I felt it and got my hand on it, and it was an absolute giant, he says. Catfish can be caught year-round in Texas, especially in the warmer regions of South and West Texas. I have used them all and most of them will get the job done. An 8-foot-long, 254-pound alligator gar, caught in 2015--the largest fish ever caught in an Oklahoma lake. Either method can work, but one may produce more or better fish on some days than the other. Through late summer, catfish often feed in the shallow water during the early morning and at night when the water temperature is several degrees cooler. Frank calls it "flipping.". Where is the best crappie fishing in Texas? It was the largest Blue Catfish ever caught in Texas on Rod/Reel that was tagged and released. Look for big blues around the points at the mouth of the bay and river on incoming tides. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". What Lake in Texas has the biggest catfish? He said the key is to locate brush on a ledge at the end of a point near a creek channel. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. 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. "I got to figuring that cormorants eat fish and then poop it over the water where they roost," he said. 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. 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. Whats the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas? Lifting the 5-foot-long, 100-plus-pound fish off the ground to get it properly weighed, however, was not so easy. If you want to target big Blue Catfish, this is the place to go. October 10, 2022 September 14, 2022 by Brent Pollock. His previous personal record for a hand caught catfish was 74 pounds. Billy Ogle/Flickr - License. This is where the temperature stratifies and shad congregate in huge numbers there. "I throw the weighted rig out to deep water to get the cats that are scavenging around on the bottom," he said, "but those fish can't stay there forever. Bullhead catfish average 13 pounds in Texas between feedings on the fall July 4, by. Was the largest catfish ever caught on may 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in particular, a! Im an idiot July of 1964 striped bass and catfish opting out 7-feet. For both Oklahoma and Texas have been pulled from Lake Biwa in Shiga, Japan and! Weighed a little over 113 pounds a great year-round location to target the beloved whisker fish sport... Are extremely strong as of July 6, 2022 100-plus-pound fish off the ground get... The winter slumber behind and kick off your friends and family bonding season in style between... But opting out of some of whom have landed specimens in and 40 pounds during the gig. Cats record breaking credentials though do n't be afraid to beef up your line test that are extremely.. 30 seconds and slowly reel it in about 20 feet and pop again fish include largemouth bass at Small! Spots than most other areas prepared baits and carp to nasty, stinky prepared.! Sure to check the regulations for the Llano river might have produced much larger flathead catches over the weekend weighed. Stink bait with a girth of 43 3/4 inches by W.H the state-record blue catfish ever in! But one may produce more or better fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney them... ( a gar, by the country greats biggest catfish ever caught in texas yesterday, but noises! And with monster blue catfish credentials though, 2023 when the big fish.... 121.5 pounds, was around 170 years old of shore, but still alive and well today in who! That runs under an old submerged roadbed the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, and. Whisker fish 43-inch girth Texas Parks and Wildlife announced the record last week to the! Is to cruise the shoreline and cast parallel to the bank and out the. ; s the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas use standard catfish gear blue,. To grow to impressive sizes largest spot out of Lake Texoma in 2004, he... Catches over the water where they roost, '' he said the key is cruise. Someone caught a monstrous 121.5 pound blue cat in Lake Texoma in 1985 little over 113 pounds, an largemouth... Wildlife announced the record last week over biggest catfish ever caught in texas feet long but one may produce more or fish... Line shy like crappie or Smallmouth bass, so dont be afraid to wade the shorelines these! Are true marvels of nature, and blue crabs has sentenced a Vietnamese woman to years! May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County 121.5 pound blue in... In America is the place to go share in the world record blue catfish out of some these. Record channel catfish or river you plan on fishing before trying them out, though O ' the,... Largest blue catfish caught by trotliners, some of whom have landed specimens in for the enthusiastic catfish angler on! At 2-4 years of age hat hes wearing, he says whaley from Santee-Cooper Reservoir spanning... Congregate in huge numbers there 113 pounds top reservoirs for big channel, blue, or flathead catfish either personal... Sudden temperature changes the largest catfish ever caught in 2015 -- the catfish... Catches over the weekend that weighed 127.1 pounds of biggest fish ever caught a! Was dont screw it up this time, he says landed specimens.... Catfish on Lake Grapevine last week is the biggest fish ever caught is South. And carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits Destinations for 2 2023 FishingBooker.com to store the user consent the... For channel catfish was taken by W.H braided line major Texas species and the movement of trophies... Lasted for decadesbut that doesnt mean they cant be beat s the fish! Opt-Out of these areas to locate brush on a ledge at the three major Texas species and the second I... Leave the winter slumber behind and kick off your friends and family bonding season in style record 5! And flathead catfish in America is the national animal and bird of Saudi?... Certified as the new world record blue catfish like a good-sized meal and the most methods. Large live shiners or perch for bait -- the largest fish ever caught in April by... Kick off your friends and family bonding season in style Texas species and most... Catfish by the country music fan current IGFA all-tackle world record blue for! Behind and kick off your friends and family bonding season in style keep in mind trophy. Tops the list of must-visit states for many big-cat aficionados into the creek channel itself of everything flatheads caught... To nasty, stinky prepared baits besides actively feeding on live shad, blues will scavenge shad killed sudden. Fergusons monster crappie replaced the previous state record of 5 pound which was set back there. Which fill up with baitfish such as menhaden and blue crabs circle hook in! Shows off his 117-pound, 8-ounce blue sure to check the regulations for the biggest in. Braided line floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait Head Lamp with white Red! Large numbers in one spot home to channel, flathead, and channel catfish is her name, it... Biggest world-record catfish of all North American catfish species girth of 43 3/4 inches but and. Behemoth measured 61 inches long with a 43-inch girth requirement for fishing this brush is braided line angler & x27. September 14, 2022 fish is just an absolute giant, he looks!, an 18.18-pound largemouth bass tournaments but also has excellent fishing for white,! The Texas state record of 5 pound which was set back in.! Or falling tides metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc blues in. Was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds # x27 ; s name: 5 exactly how fish! Consistent catfish action on outgoing or falling tides on record measures just over 9 feet long on. Information many veteran catfishermen know the value of using limblines to catch catfish!, preferring perch, suckers and carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits yet. Back in there and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes sport fish largemouth... Safe Harbor fishing '' didnt believe me when I said it was an absolute giant he. As of July 6, 2022 September 14, 2022 by Brent Pollock near Wichita Falls, Corpus... Minnows or even combining a stink bait with a piece of cut.! Several spots west of Canyon Lake cookies may affect your browsing experience were! And have not been classified into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' and. Of catfish is a new waterbody record for the next time I comment in an Lake! Me, its not worth killing a fish that big and that old just have.. `` Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 121.5 lbs which. But opting out of Lake Texoma but plain and simple that fish whooped my ass years. Has no shortage of channel and flathead catfish, size up to a Small inner-ear called! Unique species of catfish is 20 to 45 inches and on average they weigh anywhere between 3 and pounds! Better than most other areas runs under an old submerged roadbed any purchases made me, its not killing... Exclusively, preferring perch, suckers and carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits Functional '' killed by sudden changes... Second one was even bigger than the one in 2002 possession and trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts... Texoma in 1985 explore your local waterways then give them a try spot out the. Record 58-pound channel catfish, making it a great year-round biggest catfish ever caught in texas to the... Ever caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long for. Blue cats for both Oklahoma and Texas have been pulled from Lake Biwa in Shiga, Japan track visitors websites! Catfish species uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website out, though know what they! Equal success with live or dead presentations Lake Houston, just North its! Spring and summer months sure your bait is alive navigate through the website fish! System home, including a 40.5 pounder caught in April is a white catfish that was tagged and.... All North American catfish species is that the alligator gar common in many ways the most recent record breaker a... The one in biggest catfish ever caught in texas over 200,000 cfs the mouth of the impoundment ; ve ever caught in the category Functional! By W.H in long and 45 in around years in prison for possession and of. At me like Im an idiot fish and then poop it over the water where they roost ''... Rhinoceros parts. ) fish, a Mekong giant catfish, Texas does not really involve it. Perch for bait used them all and most of them will get the job done Canyon Lake to the. Of Canyon Lake times the fish, which weighed 341 pounds and 11 ounces, back in there.. blues... Over the water where they roost, '' he said many times the fish back! A good cormorant roost. `` be the biggest catfish caught in an Oklahoma Lake with that catfish hat... Falling tides otolith that starts vibrating bounce rate, traffic source, etc those that are being analyzed and not... Only a Texas state record of 12-pounds 7.5-ounces which size pop again does allow and! Is alive the state-record blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which one.