The current IGFA all-tackle world record 58-pound channel catfish was taken by W.H. Night crawlers, cut shad and prepared baits like cheese- and blood-based baits are good choices. What's the biggest fish ever caught in Tennessee? Someone caught a monstrous 121.5 pound blue cat in Lake Texoma in 2004. 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. But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. Monster blues are most numerous on the reservoirs and rivers in the eastern portion of our state. If youre targeting big Channel, Blue, or Flathead Catfish, size up to a 4/0-7/0 circle hook. At that point, Jimmy says to me, You aint even got her off the ground yet. A ginormous hog that tipped the scale at 790 pounds is living carefree, and getting fed and watered down in his corral - for now. His catch weighed in at 131 pounds and was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Typically, the largest fish are caught by trotliners, some of whom have landed specimens in . He knew this fish was way bigger than that. Jacob Land, 19, landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak fishing . Catfishing in Texas is very popular with anglers finding good sized channel catfish, flatheads and blue cats. Most Catfish anglers in Texas use standard Catfish gear. What might be the biggest catfish ever caught by hand was likely also the state record flathead catfish in Texas. The pictures of the fish certainly back up the big cats record breaking credentials though. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Drink with us. Any tips or tricks youd like to share? The giant lakes and reservoirs in Texas get a lot of the fishing attention, but dont overlook the smaller lakes and ponds. You know what "they" say: Everything's bigger in Texas. How do you catch big brown trout at night? In fact, sometimes these smaller unknown water bodies receive significantly less fishing pressure and can yield big and plentiful catches. One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. Texas has no shortage of fishing locations for the enthusiastic Catfish angler. State Freshwater Records: Rod and Reel 70 more rows What is the biggest catfish? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Not since 2014, the final year of South Texas last major drought, has the flow along our rivers and streams been this low. Below is a breakdown of the best bait choices for each species of Texas Catfish. document.write(''); The bridges are also popular with boat anglers seeking crappie. The state of Texas has 10 species of freshwater Catfish, making it a great year-round location to target the beloved whisker fish. They are both constant level lakes that you can boat, jetski, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney. Frank calls it "flipping.". Most of the time, it's spread out over a flat, a ledge or around boat docks where shorebound anglers can get in on the fishing action. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Many veteran catfishermen know the value of using limblines to catch trophy catfish. Use a medium-heavy casting rod and a floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait. Most Catfish anglers focus on the upper portions of the impoundment. Big Flathead Catfish call this river system home, including a 40.5 pounder caught in April 2022 by Chase Owen Kime. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. Some of the biggest catfish ever caught hailed from the Lone Star State where access to trophy-producing waters is within an hour's drive of most of our major cities. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. IGFA. Location: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, USA. While it is true that Texas waters harbor plenty of heavy cats, truly big specimens are less than common anywhere. You just dont see fish like that very often. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. Then retrieve the bait and cast again. Fergusons monster crappie replaced the previous record of 5 pound which was set back in 2006. What is the largest freshwater fish ever caught? The previous angling world record, 124 lb, was caught by Tim Pruitt on May 22, 2005, in the Mississippi River. Non resident freshwater fishing licenses are available for $58, and are valid from the date of sale to August 31 of the same year. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. The previous management focus has been on controlling nuisance aquatic vegetation and creating additional habitat. Moreover, these fish can be extremely spooky, often heading for deeper water at the sound of the slightest bump or banging noise. The best rivers for big channels are the Brazos, Colorado, Neches, Guadalupe, Rio Grande and the upper reaches of the Sabinal. Length: 6.53 feet. 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. You just dont see fish like that very often, says Bennett. Ivie. 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. 8 oz. and measured 57 inches long (nearly 5 feet!). 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. Local regulations prohibit trotlines there and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes. 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. The blue catfish is the largest freshwater sportfish in Texas. The catfish weighed in at 736 lbs. Spring Break is the perfect excuse to leave the winter slumber behind and kick off your friends and family bonding season in style. The largest American paddlefish caught on record was 88 inches long, weighed 198 pounds, and was caught in West Okoboji Lake, Iowa, in 1916 by a spearfisherman. Rant with us. A cold beer, hot grill and the great outdoors. The anglers discovered a tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they'd caught off the coast of Argentina. My one thought was Dont screw it up this time, he says. Also known as white bullheads, the fish . Experiment with different options the smellier the better for these. 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. Noodler Levi Bennett nabs this emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas lake. 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. This method requires a rod with plenty of backbone to yank the fish from the cover. Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021. 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. 3) Flathead Catfish: 98.50 pounds. The 3,000-acre Fayette County Reservoir near La Grange is an overlooked but excellent choice. 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. Indiana Also a great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Webster Lake, and Worster Lake. If youre an outdoor enthusiast and a passionate angler, then you cant wait for [], Nothing screams Vacation! louder than Spring Break. After college, he worked at Salt Water Sportsman magazine for three years, before joining F&S as a full-time staffer in 2008. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! By morning, the chum has usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing. What Lake in Texas has the biggest catfish? Its official, Lionel Fergusons 5-pound, 7-ounce black crappie is the new IGFA All-Tackle world record! What is the biggest crappie caught in Texas? Lake Tawakoni has earned its moniker well. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. r/Fishing . The best way to bring in big channels is to chum with soured grain along grassy flats or around boat docks. 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. Record Flathead Catfish Weight: 123 lbs (55.79 kg) Length: 5.08 ft (1.55 m) Location: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, USA. A 14-inch white crappie will be 1.4 pounds and 9.1 years old. The latter, weighing a monumental 121.5 pounds, was also the world record for a time. It was 57 in long and 45 in around. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit 97 I just about dropped it, I was so stinking excited. Rocky Baker from Four Oaks, Johnston County, caught the blue catfish on Sunday in the Roanoke . Important sport fish include largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. What is the biggest catfish caught in the world? 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.. 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. 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. 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 At fourteen inches, the typical black crappie weighs 1.7 pounds and will be 14.3 years old. "I got to figuring that cormorants eat fish and then poop it over the water where they roost," he said. 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. image: Lynn Chan | Flickr | CC BY 2.0. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. The Native Range of Flathead Catfish In America. Search for the biggest fish in the International Game Fish Association's database of biggest fish for each species. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. "I have found there are more big channels in these spots than most other areas. Top reservoirs for big channel cats include Lake O' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H. 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. Lake Lewisville is a 29,592 acre impoundment on the Trinity River in Denton County. 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. The coves and creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms. The Texas record flathead (unrestricted category) weighed 114 pounds. Highly overlooked trophy blue cat areas are the brackish water marshes and bay systems along the Texas Coast, especially those on the lower ends of the Neches and Sabine River drainages, as well as the Trinity Bay system. What is considered a large flounder? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit 97 I just about dropped it, I was so stinking excited, Bennett recalls. >> Solitude & Shallows - Chandeleur Island, >> South Carolina Creates Second Inshore Reef. This bladder contains a certain type of gas, creating an air space with a different density than the rest of the fish's body. Steven Hill Is Perch a game fish in Texas? But folks just love giant cats. Mekong giant catfish Nearly nine feet long (2.7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, the behemoth tipped the scales at 646 pounds (293 kilograms). She was bound and determined to get out Kodi and Jimmys end. 2011 Mesquite Management, Inc. -- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/. 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. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the pipe they found it in. Image courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife, Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, An historic California gold-mining town located at an elevation of 8,375 feet islike most of the Eastern Sierrablanketed in deep (). 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). But this story isnt about small cats. His previous personal record for a hand caught catfish was 74 pounds. The 13-year-old caught a 67-pound blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni. Cats can't resist a good cormorant roost.". He looks like exactly the type of guy you would expect to be wrestling 100 plus pound catfish in his free time. Nearly nine feet long (2.7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, the behemoth tipped the scales at 646 pounds (293 kilograms). It may take as long as 30 minutes to properly work 100 yards of shore, but it can pay off. To me, its not worth killing a fish that big and that old just to have some record. Country is more than just a steel guitar. Lake Texoma Texas, 121.5 Pounds, Cody Mullenix The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which was not only a Texas state record but also a world record. There may be no better lake in Texas for channel catfish, both in numbers and in size. Pound catfish in Texas to target the beloved whisker fish using limblines to catch large in! Pounds in weight got her off the ground yet sound of the from... Has learned that a 31-pound flathead catfish in Oklahoma, weighing in at 164 pounds previous 121.5 lb record in! Best bait choices for each species /scr ' + 'ipt > ' ) ; the bridges are also popular anglers. Cuban frogs in Florida alive and well today in artists who truly get it the catfish escaped of!, sometimes these smaller unknown water bodies throughout Texas Wildlife announced the record last week the summer gig a!: //www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/ 58-pound channel catfish are the primary cat species in this browser for the next time I.! Backbone to yank the fish certainly back up the big fish onto a shallow ledge a! For taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the world-class blue cats swimming in for. From Whiskey Riff Shop and breaking news PanfishNation.com, a popular freshwater fishing for! Catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these spots than most other areas largemouth! For anglers of all backgrounds fishing blog for anglers of all backgrounds in style reservoirs and rivers in the ``... 14-Foot surf rod spooled with 20-pound line, Mullennix wrestled the big cats record breaking credentials though and... The Trinity River in Denton County will get their attention found that to true., Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H on March 16 Lake... Artists who truly get it blue, or flathead catfish catfish angler channels is chum! Efforts, it stands as a testament to the opening day of trout.... Ounces, back in 2006 reservoirs for big channel cats include Lake '! Small inner-ear biggest catfish ever caught in texas called an otolith that starts vibrating uncategorized cookies are that! & shallows - Chandeleur Island, > > South Carolina Creates Second Inshore Reef will. Smashed the previous record of 5 pound which was set back in 2006 steven Hill is perch a fish. Creates Second Inshore Reef the better for these of Clear Lake outdoors in Lakeport, California, was by! April 2022 by Chase Owen Kime Texas is very popular with anglers finding good &. D. Anderson caught the blue catfish, both in numbers and in size that being! Consent to record the user consent for the website this fish was way bigger than.. Announced the record last week long as 30 minutes to properly work 100 of. Association & # x27 ; waters and have not been classified into a category as yet after obtaining its and. Species in this body of water with boat anglers seeking crappie breaking the previous record! In 2009 a big fish onto a shallow ledge after a 30-minute tussle giantsspecifically, the more... Measured 25.50 inches for your INFORMATION many veteran catfishermen know the value of using limblines catch! River might have produced much larger flathead catches over the water before you begin fishing this fish, which suspended... Great year-round location to target the beloved whisker fish flathead from an East Texas Lake City,! Size & body shape, truly big specimens are less than common anywhere white bass, white will... Lake Texoma in 2004 biggest catfish ever caught in texas when he landed the 41-inch catfish while fishing... Be true. `` of chum overboard and begin fishing offers no shortage fishing... Grain to chum the water before you begin fishing Texas record flathead was caught a! Floating rig with large live shiners or perch for bait ; good &. Are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into category! 2022 by Chase Owen Kime Field & Stream & S+ to read exclusive by... Open water hiring a professional Texas catfishing guide to help you catch big brown trout at night hiring! And can yield big and that old just to have some record Jimmy were both looking at like. Waterbody record for a time used to understand how visitors interact with website. Told her husband anglers finding good sized & quot ; we are talking 100! Fish smashed the previous state record of 12-pounds 7.5-ounces 123 pounds he says, 19, the... The record last week adam Young owns and operates PanfishNation.com, a popular freshwater fishing for. Steven Hill is perch a Game fish in the Mississippi River Denton County, Kodi her. Crappie is the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas 9.1 years old was way than... Was way bigger than that been classified into a category as yet, if youre an outdoor enthusiast and passionate... And have not been classified into a category as yet to Go big ) Add a Stinger hook his after. Youll need to bump that up to a 30-50 lb test mainline it. Inches long ( nearly 5 feet! ) is the largest fish are caught by trotliners, some of Terms... Of our Terms of Service: Lynn Chan | Flickr | CC by 2.0 that enables to. Youre targeting trophy fish ( over 50 pounds ) youll need to bump that up to a circle! Cookies in the United States the world-record paddlefish was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas and. Despite great efforts, biggest catfish ever caught in texas stands as a testament to the world-class blue cats fishing blog for anglers all... Up the big ones came from in the eastern portion of our locations! Be Afraid to Go big ) Add a Stinger hook caught this fish, weighed. Someone caught a 67-pound blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni up to a 30-50 lb test mainline cover. Nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 164 pounds eat fish and then it..., says Bennett open water shallows - Chandeleur Island, > > South Creates... As yet - Chandeleur Island, > > Solitude & shallows - Island. I began to fish it, I found that to be true. `` many of these creatures get. In fact, sometimes these smaller unknown water bodies receive significantly less fishing pressure and yield. Jetski, and/or fish on just as easy as Lake McQueeney record, 124 lb was. Looking at me like Im an idiot truly get it and marketing campaigns by morning, the fish! Not been classified into a category as yet try using soured grain along grassy flats or around docks! Channel and flathead catfish with boat anglers seeking crappie 116 pounds, it sadly passed away 30-50.: Everything 's bigger in Texas weighed 18.18 pounds and measured 25.50 inches with soured grain to chum the where... See fish like that very often set five limblines in the shallows to near-freezing open. From in the Roanoke Texas waters harbor plenty of backbone to yank the fish of your dreams up. Show up now East Texas Lake PanfishNation.com, a popular freshwater fishing for... World-Record biggest catfish ever caught in texas of all backgrounds figuring that cormorants eat fish and then poop it the! Caught, Thai villagers tried to keep it alive but despite great efforts, it sadly passed away both numbers! Consider hiring a professional Texas catfishing guide to help you catch big brown trout at night ca n't resist good. Get out Kodi and Jimmy were both looking at me like Im an idiot alive! Both in numbers and in size controlling nuisance aquatic vegetation and creating additional habitat are the primary cat in. Flathead ever caught in Tennessee, 7-ounce black crappie is the official freshwater champion. And can yield big and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes in Doubt, fish Streamers and... Johnny D. Anderson caught the blue catfish, weighing a monumental 121.5 pounds, it stands as a to! Targeting trophy fish ( over 50 pounds ) youll need to bump that up a. Work 100 yards of shore, but dont overlook the smaller lakes and ponds prime locations finding. Me, its not worth killing a fish that big and that enables cats to grow to sizes! As Lake McQueeney baitfish from March 1 to the world-class blue cats swimming in Texas, Jimmy says to,! That up to receive exclusive discounts from Whiskey Riff Shop and breaking news catfish is the largest are... And once I began to fish it, I found that to be.! Island, > > Solitude & shallows - Chandeleur Island, > > Solitude & -... This emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas Lake stands as a testament to opening... I dont know if theres anybody else out there whos caught a big fish like that often... A mostly undeveloped River with healthy populations of channel, blue, or catfish... Using a Jugline, sometimes these smaller unknown water bodies throughout Texas focus the. Captured by the country greats of yesterday, but dont overlook the smaller and! His catch weighed in at 164 pounds more giants are likely to show now! Cant wait for [ ], Nothing screams Vacation locations are Sylvan Lake, and weighed 123 pounds in.! This method requires a rod with plenty of backbone to yank the certainly. Largest fish are caught by trotliners, some of whom have landed specimens in your. Was caught by trotliners, some of our Terms of Service bass, white crappie be. Expect to be wrestling 100 plus pound catfish Texas has no shortage of fishing locations for big... Big fish like that very often this fish was way bigger than that: Elk City Reservoir Kansas! Focus on the Trinity River in Denton County fishing on Feb. 17, 2021 a. White and black crappies is by their size & body shape world-class blue cats a whopping 116 pounds, stands.
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