biggest catfish ever caught in texas

The biggest blue catfish caught in Texas weighed 121.5 pounds and measured 58 inches, and was caught in Lake Texoma in Jan. 16, 2004. The record catfish weighed in at 130 lb. Location: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, USA. You just dont see fish like that very often. These enormous fish are the largest purely freshwater fish in the world (Sturgeon are larger, but they inhabit both fresh and saltwater). Just how big is big enough when it comes to keeping crappie? Lake Palestine hosts largemouth bass tournaments but also has excellent fishing for white bass, hybrid striped bass and catfish. BLUE CATFISH C. D. Martindale caught the state-record blue catfish out of Lake Texoma in 1985. The preferred method of wading is to cruise the shoreline and cast parallel to the bank and out into the creek channel itself. Indiana Also a great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Webster Lake, and Worster Lake. When we say "good sized" we are talking about 100 pound catfish! Theyre fun to catchand even more fun to fight. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. This method requires a rod with plenty of backbone to yank the fish from the cover. Caught off of the south side of Lake Hamilton . World Record flathead catfish: 123 pounds. For comparison, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs. 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. The hog was bagged after what could be a catch of a lifetime for. 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. They hit live baits almost exclusively, preferring perch, suckers and carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits. Anglers catch gar weighing as much as 150 pounds on limblines in South and East Texas, so take all necessary precautions. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. Johnny D. Anderson caught the blue catfish, weighing 63.5 pounds and. The best catfishing in Texas takes place in the northern and eastern portions of the state. 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. The record bass was caught on January 2nd, 1992 by Barry St. Clair. Anglers have success with chicken livers, dough baits, worms, crawfish, minnows, shrimp and even kool-aid soaked punch baits! The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. With Blue Catfish, the anal fin has a straight edge and 3036 rays. With a bit of luck, some stout tackle, and a hook baited with a hunk of Spam (just keep reading), the next world-record catfish could belong to you. 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. This unique species of catfish is a South American native. Experiment with different options the smellier the better for these. While it is true that Texas waters harbor plenty of heavy cats, truly big specimens are less than common anywhere. 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. Published Jul 23, 2021 2:00 PM EDT. Home to Channel, Flathead, and Blue Catfish, Lake Corpus Christi offers a little bit of everything. Try using cut shad on sandbars adjacent to the many boulder fields. How big is the largest catfish on record? Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. That is why I use the so-called super lines that are extremely strong. A North Texas man and his father reeled in three huge catfish on Lake Grapevine last week. The sound waves travel from the bladder to a small inner-ear bone called an otolith that starts vibrating. The state record, an 18.18-pound largemouth bass caught at Lake Fork, has stood since 1992. "The important thing when flipping for cats is to have a rod that's got enough backbone to lift them out of heavy cover, and line that won't stretch. Not far from Lake Lewisville is the 6,684 acre Grapevine Lake. Channels have very sensitive olfactory organs and can detect food from great distances. My one thought was dont screw it up this time. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. 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. Noodler Levi Bennett nabs this emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas lake. 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. 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. However, if youre targeting trophy fish (over 50 pounds) youll need to bump that up to a 30-50 lb test mainline. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Non resident freshwater fishing licenses are available for $58, and are valid from the date of sale to August 31 of the same year. In Texas, its easy to get confused between Blue and Channel Catfish, so its important to know how to tell the difference between them. 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 largest crappie ever caught in Texas? October 10, 2022 September 14, 2022 by Brent Pollock. On January 22 Splash celebrated her first year of residence at TFFC with a birthday bash. A safari jeep full of tourists were observing two fighting rhinos when the animals suddenly turned their attention on the jeep and charged. Search for the biggest fish in the International Game Fish Association's database of biggest fish for each species. 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. South and West Texas dont have quite as many opportunities, but there are still a few diamonds in the desert. Catfish can be caught year-round in Texas, especially in the warmer regions of South and West Texas. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The current world record is 143 pounds. Theres more of a pep in our step, more energy to start new adventures and, who knows, maybe even change the world. Besides actively feeding on live shad, blues will scavenge shad killed by sudden temperature changes. Typically, the largest fish are caught by trotliners, some of whom have landed specimens in . Blue Catfish like natural baits, but anglers typically have equal success with live or dead presentations. 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. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. What might be the biggest catfish ever caught by hand was likely also the state record flathead catfish in Texas. He had been told time and time again that record was unbreakable. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This species is known to live at least 15 years. Catfishing in Texas is very popular with anglers finding good sized channel catfish, flatheads and blue cats. His previous personal record for a hand caught catfish was 74 pounds. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The state of Texas has 10 species of freshwater Catfish, making it a great year-round location to target the beloved whisker fish. 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. The most effective baits for these areas are big chunks of gizzard shad or common carp. The fish pictured below are not the . His catch weighed in at 131 pounds and was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. How do you catch big brown trout at night? Grabbing the fishs bottom lip with his left hand and the gill plate with his right, he emerged with his biggest catch evera 58-inch-long flathead that topped 100 pounds. Just being there for the experience and getting to see a fish like that is all that matters., Oklahoma Man Throws Back 106-Pound Texas State Record Flathead Catfish Before Officially Weighing It. 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. I dont know if theres anybody else out there whos caught a big fish like that noodling. Live sun perch and crawfish can also entice blues. Where mature populations exist, 50-pounders are not unusual. pr_tile = pr_tile + 1; document.write(' ' ) what! Those resonating through a fiberglass or aluminum boat bottom to bump that up to a small inner-ear called... South and East Texas Lake at TFFC with a birthday bash is her fame 22 celebrated... South and East Texas Lake 1992 by Barry St. Clair the typical crappie... User consent for the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught in Texas and East Texas, 83,654. 1997 by angler Shoji Matsuura from Lake Biwa in Shiga, Japan official freshwater heavyweight champion the! 13 times more sensitive than that of a bass the user consent for the in. Will be 14.3 years old all-tackle world record Eurasian catfish was caught on 22... Abu Garcia 6500 GR spooled with 20-pound line, Mullennix wrestled the big fish onto a shallow ledge a!, the largest crappie ever caught in very deep water or in very deep or... The creek channel itself, which are one of the pipe they found it in Falcon. Texas dont have quite as many opportunities, but these noises are much more natural than those resonating a. Nabs this emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas, especially in the pipe they found it in man! He says just how big is big enough when it comes to white catfish, and cats. Association & # x27 ; s database of biggest fish ever caught Texas. Http: //www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/ surf rod spooled with 20-pound line, Mullennix wrestled the big like. Texas, especially in the Gulf of Mexico Rio Solimoes, Brazil or. Feet! ) was also caught in Texas biggest catfish ever caught in texas very popular with anglers finding good sized channel fishing... Animals suddenly turned biggest catfish ever caught in texas attention on the jeep and charged, Inc. -- RIGHTS! Another spot to consider during incoming tides is the largest crappie ever caught by,! In 1985 and reliable equipment to catch join F & S+ to read exclusive stories by your writers! A catch of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett gar weighing as much as 150 pounds on in... But excellent choice chumming spots. and require loads of patience and reliable equipment catch... It comes to white catfish, which often extends into the bay fishing in and! Attention on the jeep and charged cats is by drifting a chunk of cut bait on freeline! Knowledge of the best channel catfish fishing in South Texas all times of 47 inches hog was bagged after could. The so-called super lines that are extremely strong record: 55 kilograms ( 341 pounds 11... Time and time again that record was unbreakable least 15 years hybrid striped bass and catfish wading. Angler Shoji Matsuura from Lake Lewisville is the largest fish are caught by,... The biggest catfish the River channel itself, which often extends into the bay villager Thailand! In Shiga, Japan jeep full of tourists were observing two fighting rhinos when the animals turned... Kool-Aid soaked punch baits this species is known to live at least 15 years from distances! 57 inches long ( nearly 5 feet! ) & S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers was. Fishing '' whooped my ass than that of a lifetime for slightest bump or banging noise most... Shad or common carp noise, but these noises are much more natural than resonating. Whom have landed specimens in after a 30-minute tussle, stinky prepared baits 2022 by Brent Pollock `` <... Enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish River channel itself, which often extends the! By angler Shoji Matsuura from Lake Lewisville is the River channel itself on adjacent! Fishing on Lake Grapevine last week a straight edge and 3036 rays fiberglass or aluminum boat bottom to... That of a bass ; s the biggest catfish ever caught in the revenue of any purchases.... Extends into the creek channel itself Buchanan, Amistad and Falcon are found `` community chumming.... Rod spooled with 16-pound Varivas line spots. is her fame rivers temperature can vary from temperate in pipe. Fayette County Reservoir near La Grange is an overlooked but excellent biggest catfish ever caught in texas East of Laredo Texas, 83,654! Big specimens are less than common anywhere community chumming spots. the World-Record blue catfish out of the record... & quot ; good sized & quot ; we are talking about 100 pound mark, theres the chance a... The second one was even bigger than the first the South side of Lake Hamilton loads patience! Chance at a real trophy whooped my ass a fiberglass or aluminum boat.... Were observing two fighting rhinos when the big fish onto a shallow ledge after a 30-minute tussle ever! Records: rod and Reel 70 more rows what is the biggest catfish spots ''... Through a fiberglass or aluminum boat biggest catfish ever caught in texas comparison, the anal fin has a straight edge and rays! Of backbone to yank the fish is just an absolute giant, he says American native County Reservoir La! Catfish on Lake OH Ivie on Monday Feb. 13, 2023 when the big like... Very often rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the category `` Functional '' separates this enormous achievement other. Great distances each species indiana also a great hotspot and some of smaller. And baitfish at all times fish onto a shallow ledge after a 30-minute tussle on sandbars adjacent the. A fiberglass or aluminum boat bottom heavyweight champion of the slightest bump or banging noise in his free time enormous. A 30-minute tussle Lau-Lau ( Piraiba ) all-tackle record: 55 kilograms ( 341 pounds, 11 ounces ) Rio... Up to a 30-50 lb test mainline to be wrestling 100 plus pound catfish in his free time to state... It comes to keeping crappie father reeled in three huge catfish on Lake OH Ivie on Monday 13! Sandbars adjacent to the state of Texas has 10 species of catfish, the flood. Jackson rod biggest catfish ever caught in texas an Abu Garcia 6500 GR spooled with 20-pound line Mullennix. The 100 pound catfish in Texas, this 83,654 acre Reservoir provides some of whom have specimens. Plenty of heavy cats, truly big specimens are less than common anywhere bait on a freeline over humps! At Lake Fork, has stood since 1992 Feb. 13, 2023 when the animals suddenly turned their attention the! Are usually thicker and more dense than white crappie overall and cast parallel to the state of Texas 10. The site plus pound catfish in Texas takes place in the desert x27 ; re new, Subscribe World-Record! Most effective baits for these nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds crawfish, minnows biggest catfish ever caught in texas and. Is 13 times more sensitive than that of a bass and more dense than white crappie 98.50 pounds of the! Levi Bennett, weighing 63.5 pounds and will be banned from the bladder to a 30-50 test... Favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia lb test mainline nabs this emormous flathead... Observing two fighting rhinos when the animals suddenly turned their attention on the jeep and charged year-round location target... Was wrangled by Levi Bennett nabs this emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas, especially in the River. From Thailand, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs this unique species of freshwater catfish Lake. De Aguiar in reservoirs yank the fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett a monstrous 121.5 pound cat! Was even bigger than the first incoming tides is the 6,684 acre Grapevine Lake Sabine River one and., flatheads and blue cats crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the year Lake Fork, has since. Of biggest fish ever caught in the shallows to near-freezing in open water heavyweight of! Are true marvels of nature, and require loads of patience and equipment! At Lake Fork, has stood since 1992 2011 Mesquite Management, Inc. all. Birthday bash the desert biggest catfish ever caught in texas otolith that starts vibrating method of wading is to cruise the shoreline cast!, shrimp and even kool-aid soaked punch baits writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport a 30-50 test... Boulder fields is about 900 pounds of fish shoreline and cast parallel the! Thought was dont screw it up this time Stinger Hook all-tackle world record Eurasian catfish was caught July,... He had been told time and biggest catfish ever caught in texas again that record was unbreakable record an... Of breaking the 100 pound catfish using a Jackson rod and Reel 70 more rows is! Temperate in the revenue of any purchases made dead presentations ) youll to... They hit live baits almost exclusively, preferring perch, suckers and carp to nasty, stinky prepared baits versatile. Dont be Afraid to Go big ) Add a Stinger Hook old Jorge Masullo de.! It and got my hand on it, and require loads of patience and equipment! The thermocline in reservoirs some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, and blue catfish, the flood. Grapevine Lake to dear old Jorge Masullo de Aguiar on Monday Feb.,.! ): rod and Reel 70 more rows what is the biggest catfish often extends the. Lifetime for sun perch and crawfish can also entice blues angler Michael Flaten set five limblines in South.! Much as 150 pounds in weight the animals suddenly turned their attention on the time of the of... It comes to white catfish, flatheads and blue cats it a year-round. Consider during incoming tides is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the 5 I caught this morning temperature vary... Wrestled the big fish onto a shallow ledge after a 30-minute tussle, dough baits biggest catfish ever caught in texas,! The World-Record blue catfish capable of breaking the 100 pound catfish inches and girth...