Ferrari's Wels catfish weighed 280 pounds (127 kilograms) and was 8.75 feet (2.67 meters) long. Not just where people fish but where they swim as well!. By Greg McCain Long known as one of the premier bass-fishing destinations, Lake Guntersville, a sprawling Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir in northwest Alabama, absolutely exudes fish-catching potential, covering 69,000 acres as the largest impoundment in the state. For reference, a large labrador retriever weighs 70-80 pounds. It lost some weight in the boat and getting it up to Cooleys Grocery to be weighed, he said. . Ultimate Fishing Site is the largest fishing tips and tourism website on the net. This record-breaking catfish was caught by Rick Conner of Selma, AL in Selma on the Alabama River. Guntersville Reservoir, Jeremy S. White, Alexander CityJack Grant, Altoona, Richard Johnson, Bay Minette Nick had reeled in a 70-pound flathead catfish so big that it made Larry look in the record books. Weighing must be witnessed by two people. The Goonch was caught in the River Ramganga in India. Contests & Promotions, Chilly, breezy, scattered snow showers possible, State fire marshal calls up C. Oregon firefighter task force to help battle large fire in downtown John Day. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Stephens said when it was all over, Nick's first words were, "Dad, that thing is huge! The state record is 120 pounds caught near Tuscaloosa in 2012. Zach Hester 10/28/2022. Flathead catfish average 18-24 inches long but can reach 29-30 inches. Paulies flathead catfish weighed 123 pounds (55.79 kilograms) and was over 5 feet (1.55 meters) in length. In 2005, a behemoth Mekong giant catfish, weighing in at a scale-tipping 646 pounds (293 kilograms) was caught in a remote village in Thailand near the Mekong River. 12 Blue catfish have been caught near here. His method of fishing is bumping the bottom and he was using a stout 5-foot rod, a 4 ounce weight, 30 pound test and cut shad for bait when the 100 pounder bit. Even though catfish thrive in our rivers and reservoirs, the probability of catching a record fish may equal that of winning a lottery. Mike Watts had been on a quest for years to catch a giant catfish.
Barkley Reservoir Micka Burkhart September 24, 2022 Class A Brown Bullhead Catfish 3 lbs., 15 oz. Have you caught a big fish lately? They have a mottled coloration of olive, brown, and light yellow. Purchase Licenses GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught? Be Proactive. The largest lake in the state, Lake Guntersville stretches 75 miles along the Tennessee River and covers 69,100 acres. I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Morris with a degree in Elementary Education and I am a former teacher. Anderson wanted to keep his blue catfish alive so that it could be put in a tank at a local Bass Pro Shops retail store. With over 949 miles of shoreline, it is best known for excellent Largemouth Bass fishing, but also contains Black Crappie, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass, and several species of bream and catfish. The bait we used for this one was bigger than my hand, said Richards. Alternatively, you may use, Giving an Extra Circle for Tough Times, This place was a fun surprise. It took Nick a 20-minute battle to get the fish up to the dock. Entertainment Thank you for reading! What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. Youd expect a big cat like that to be caught at dawn or dusk or even night. Larry Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch Flathead Catfish on one of the causeways over Lake Guntersville. 4. Instead, we did best on blade baits on creek ledges and jerkbaits over shallow grass. monkeys, cats, dogs, birds, and other catfish have been found in their stomachs. Andrew Osmer, Ryan Richards and Timmy Richey were fishing late that night when Osmer hooked a huge catfish. There must have been hundreds of people who heard about it and stopped to see that fish, he said. The largest flathead catfish ever caught in the world was 123 pounds! Therefore, the largest catfish ever caught in Alabama was a blue catfish that weighed 120 pounds 4 ounces and was caught on the Holt Reservoir by John Paul Nichols, of Northport, AL. He gets a motel room in Guntersville and always stays a few day when he comes to fish. Adding in the 33 pound catfish and the 11 pound drum, we ended up with at least 90 pounds of fish caught. It is a large lake and there are so many spots you can target largemouth bass here. And they took hundreds of pictures. Lake Guntersville State Park Pinecrest Dining Room. His goal was a 100-pounder. Nick is back in class, and the catfish is back in the lake. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) - A fishing trip with his grandpa turned into a big catch for 10-year-old . We check for new photo additions every day and approve them. Frank Lambert Dickey, Chatom, Mud Creek,Tannehill Historical State Park, (a) World Record, Rod And Reel/ (b) Previous World Record, Rod and Reel / (c) Previous World Record, Any Method, Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 2023 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130, Physically Disabled Hunting and Fishing Trail, https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=467475161060988&ev=PageView&noscript=1. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. Now is the time to mouse-proof where you live. Larry took the pole while Nick jumped into the water, hugged the fish and, with some help, lifted it onto the dock. Fishing Rigs racist or sexually-oriented language. Type your phone number with no spaces (example:2565555555). Alabama has some impressive state record fish, including the all-tackle state and world-record landlocked striped bass, 69 pounds 9 ounces, caught by James Bramlett, of Dora ,from Bankhead Reservoir in February 2013. This big catfish broke 2 sets of scales, one after it had registered 106 pounds. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Some of the best bass fishing on Lake Guntersville can be found in the creeks, such as North and South Sauty, Siebold Creek, Brown's Creek and Town Creek. Im about to be 60 and I told them it was going to have to happen pretty quick if it was going to happen, he said. Application must be submitted on official application form . The former world record blue catfish came from Wheeler and I suspect the new record is swimming in there now. In 2015, an Italian fisherman named Dino Ferrari was featured in international news for capturing a monster Wels catfish in the Po Delta. He catches some good ones in the spring - April through June - but always felt if he ever got a true monster it would be in the fall. His flathead measured 61 inches long which is 5 feet 1 inch. Its near the dam, thats all Ill say, said Richards. Flathead catfish are typically larger than the channel, white, and bullhead catfish. Youve never seen like the people who stopped to see it.. Some anglers have found excellent catfishing in the Tensaw River as well. It was Dale Hill and his friend Tommy. Andrew Buck and Daniel Rice are part of the fishing group too. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. At first we struggled to figure the fish out, since we went in expecting the traditional pre-spawn bite of red lipless and squarebill crankbaits. Like Comments |. Within five hours of posting, the photos had over 750 likes, 950 shares, and 150 comments. access for current print subscribers. Paulies record was set back on May 19, 1998. Jorge Masullo de Aguiar currently holds the world record for the largest Lau-Lau (Piraiba), which is a species of catfish that is native to South America. It got cloudy again at 1:00 and thats when the big one hit. It created quite a traffic jam as I turned around to see as many as nine cars parked with people with their phones out making pictures and videos.. Ferrari's sponsor did say that his catch may hold the world record for a fish caught with a Torpedo spinning rod made by an Italian manufacturer. Catfishing on Guntersville Lake today folks. Don't Threaten. If you're looking to target a real big fish, try fishing for the blue catfish. Severe Weather State fishing records are kept for the blue, flathead, channel, and white with the blue catfish being the largest catfish species in the state. Wed love to see it. RE: catfishing guntersville The first 5 or 6 miles below Guntersville Dam on Wheeler Lake has some great catfishing. You dont catch as many in the fall, but the average weight is bigger, he said. Paulie's record was set back on May 19, 1998. Fishing Techniques Andrew Osmer caught this 89-pound catfish in Lake Guntersville on March 17, 2017. If youre looking to target a real big fish, try fishing for the blue catfish. I realized the size of fish that were below the dam and I started bait fishing and Ive been coming ever since, he said. The record for the largest flathead catfish belongs to Ken Paulie, who landed his big flathead over 20 years ago. Stephens was fishing on Sunday with a medium-weight spinning rod and reel. Big crappie caught on Guntersville lake. It took Anderson about 45 minutes to land the giant blue catfish, whose size surprised Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries chief Gary Martel. -Melissa :) In fact, the Piraiba is the largest of the catfish species found in the Amazon. The friend encouraged him and so did his brother. Some locals were watching me fight the fish and they came over to help, Mike said. Depending on how big it was, you were probably exhausted! This record-breaker had a girth of 43 inches around; now that is a big catfish! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. They can weigh more than 100 pounds with the heaviest recorded weight in the world being 143 pounds. Lake Guntersville does have good numbers of catfish available too. Their most recent catch was the night of Friday, March 17 St. Patricks Day. (now protected, Redtail catfish are not picky eaters and in the wild tend to eat fish and crustaceans. Piraiba are so large that monkeys, cats, dogs, birds, and other catfish have been found in their stomachs. Overall, catfish are some of the most abundant species of fish in the world. Grandpa Larry yanked the pole out of the holder and handed it to Nick. Fish over 40 and 50 pounds are possible. Lake Guntersville is one of the best bass lakes in the country. that is degrading to another person. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. Andrew Osmer caught this 89-pound catfish in Lake Guntersville on March 17, 2017. We have now organized our main site into 300 plus websites to make it easier for you to learn more about the fish you want to catch and the places you want to visit. I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. Blue catfish are typically in the 20-40 pound range with a trophy size being considered anything over 50 pounds. Now you have several tips to start (or continue) your effort to catch the next largest flathead catfish in Alabama! Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. Henry Merritt, Deer Park Just a month before he made his record redtail catfish catch, Fernandes caught another redtail that was 113 pounds 8 ounces (51.5 kilograms). Guntersville. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Flathead catfish are heavy-bodied that have a tail that tapers off. In an interview, Vgner said that he is sill after the world record Goliath Tiger Fish of the Kongo river. The Alabama River is quite the meandering river with many twists and turns, but Conner certainly found a lucky spot in the summer of 86. Promotional Rates were found for your code. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Use the 'Report' link on If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, WHNT News 19 Sales Team Broadcast and Digital, 10 effective rodent repellent solutions to keep mice, Water filter faucets and pitchers for healthy hydration, Give your kitchen a makeover on a budget with these, Animal therapy group teams up with brewery for fundraiser, Holocaust survivors, descendants team on social media, What to watch for in the Dominion vs. Fox News trial, Local educators react to First Grade Readiness bill, OK officials called to resign after racist recording, Sheriff Rocky Harnen reflects during first week, Moulton looks to improve maintenance on water tanks, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. According to the Alabama Department of . Mekong giant catfish is rare and endangered. They wont give away their fishing hole, though. Richards said commercial fishermen often ask where they can catch the big guys. Goonch catfish have reportedly been known to eat corpses from funeral pyres on the Kali River, which runs between Nepal and India. Check out pictures of the guys with their big catches below. Nick is back in class, and the. We held him down in the water for about five minutes and he swam away strong, said Richards. It took over an hour for the Thai fishermen to reel in the heavy catfish. Bassett Creek, Wash. Co. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. Although Ferrari's catch is impressive, unfortunately he was just shy of the world record for a Wels catfish catch, which weighed 297 pounds 9 ounces (134.97 kilograms). If Stephen's estimate were correct, it would rival the current record for the largest flathead catfish caught in the state of Alabama. Guntersville Tourism . In addition to the large Goonch, Vgner has caught several other large freshwater fish, including and 286.6 pound (130 kilogram) Arapaima and an 242.5 pound (110 kilogram) Wels catfish. Stephens was fishing on Sunday with a medium-weight spinning rod and reel with 12 lb test line when he caught a whopper around 3 p.m. Freshwater drum. KTVZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News Paulies flathead catfish was frozen for many years before it was presented to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism in 2016 for further examination. Experts believe that this monster Mekong giant catfish is not only the largest catfish ever caught in the world, but the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. Their skin is nearly scaleless and they have barbed spines on their pectoral and dorsal fins. There really isnt any more details about Fernandes catch, but he did use a fiberglass Sportex rod to land the redtail catfish. It was still an absolute ton of fun to land the fish and then watch it swim away, Said Stephens. Use this FISHING rig to find and catch Giant Lake Catfish Steve Douglas 399K views 7 years ago THOUSANDS Of Crappie Fishing LAKE GUNTERSVILLE!! There are flathead catfish in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Not quite. Now, its someone elses catfish to catch, Larry said. They started coming to Guntersville Dam years ago when snagging was still legal and they liked to snag the spoonbill cats. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Freshwater Fishing Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. With numerous bridges around the lake, working funnel areas can also be productive. Catfish are found in lakes and rivers all over the U.S. His flathead measured 61 inches long which is 5 feet 1 inch. Blue catfish were intentionally introduced into rivers in Virginia in the 1970s, but have now become an invasive species that grows and breeds rapidly. Stephens estimated the fish was around 70 pounds. You have permission to edit this article. Thanks! He said she caught. He loves the feel of the strings and the sound of sweet chords. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. A 4-pound 12-ounce bluegill caught in Ketona Lake in April 1950 by T.S. Also read: Pair lands giant catfish on Lake Guntersville, Alabama. His luck changed last week when he brought in a big blue catfish that went well over 100 pounds. Fishing spots and baits to use at Guntersville Lake? While Paulies record was verified by the the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and has been standing for over 20 years, many people have questioned the legitimacy of Paulies catch. The largest flathead catfish ever caught in the world was 123 pounds! Good food., Guntersville Hotels with Air Conditioning, Guntersville Hotels with Laundry Facilities, Hotels near Lake Guntersville State Park Cabins by RRM, Hotels near Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center, Hotels near Homer B. Wilson Jr Vintage Museum, Hotels near First Baptist Church Guntersville, American Restaurants for Families in Guntersville, American Restaurants for Large Groups in Guntersville, American Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Guntersville, Restaurants near Hampton Inn Guntersville, Restaurants near Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge, Restaurants near Wyndham Garden Lake-Guntersville, Restaurants near Lake Guntersville State Park, Restaurants near Lake Guntersville State Park Cabins by RRM, Restaurants near Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center, Restaurants near Town Creek Fishing Center. Class had just been dismissed at Collins Elementary School in Scottsboro. Many anglers will target them near the Guntersville Dam, but you can catch them throughout the lake as well. The Marshall County Cross Country Meet 2022. 5. So, what do they do with the fish afterwards? A Big Blue Cat, Gone Viral Around 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 28, Mike Mitchell of Russellville, Alabama, posted a few photos of a massive blue catfish to his Facebook page. It sure was chilly on Lake Guntersville, Alabama, on Monday. Keep it Clean. 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. The water is starting to cool off now and the fish are getting active, Mike said. In captivity, redtail catfish eat assorted worms, frozen foods, sinking catfish pellets, and dry foods. Flathead catfish are a sport fish that anglers love to catch for their size as well as their tasty meat. It was five feet long and weighed 89 pounds. 7 Freshwater drum have been caught near here. accounts, the history behind an article. They can get huge. But last Friday, a 10-year-old kid reeled in one of the biggest fish in the lake. However, despite his best efforts, his record blue catfish died. Now is the time to mouse-proof where you live. Big catfish caught at dam. The Holt Reservoir is just northeast of Tuscaloosa and Northport. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Lake Guntersville is the home of some of the best bass fishing in the world. With the help of his grandpa, Larry Stephens, they were able to get it up on the dock where they took a picture with the flathead next to Nickthey were about the same size! We check for new photo additions every day and approve them. One set said 106 before it broke, Mike said. Nick is feeling good, and we assume the catfish is, too, after quite an adventure. Alabama's largest lake contains 69,100 acres and stretches 75 miles from Nickajack Dam to Guntersville Dam. It is 75 miles (121 km) long, running from Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam. But the 10-year-old from Langston, Alabama, loves one thing more: It was last Friday when Nick and his grandfather Larry Stephens headed to the dock at the South Sauty Creek Resort. He thinks the male fish are territorial and are moving into their winter haunts in the fall. They bit well for an hour and a half and I caught several that weighed in the 20s.. It is speculated that this has allowed the Goonch to grow so large and develop a taste for human flesh. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught? Nearly all of these catfish are listed as the world record for their species in the International Game Fish Associations (IGFA) World Records Database. One weighed 127 pounds and another was between 130 and 135 pounds. He and his friends have caught several monsters over the past few years. The second largest lake in Alabama, Wheeler spreads across 67,100 acres near Decatur and already produced two former state record blue cats each weighing more than 100 pounds. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Nevertheless, anglers across Alabama frequently land trophy blues and . Large ones caught in Alabama usually fall in the 30-50 pound range. Share with Us. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Nick grabbed another lighter pole and cast for crappie on the banks of Lake Guntersville. This large blue catfish weighed in at 143 pounds (64.86 kilograms) and was 4.75 feet (1.45 meters) long. He said he didnt want to kill the fish and had no where to immediately get it weighed, so he let it go. Mike Watts caught it below Guntersville Dam. This California slab is the most recently caught record crappie on our list. (Photo: Ryan Richards) Richards. Free boat ramps and private marinas dot the lake's perimeter. We'd love to hear eyewitness We fished Lake Guntersville from March 17-20. However, the water tends to get saltier the closer you get to the Gulf. Be Nice. Depending on the body of water, a lake may contain some big specimens as well as plenty of smaller ones, and the subspecies can be varied. Keep pesky rodents outside where they belong. We fished Lake Guntersville from March 17-20. Don't knowingly lie about anyone All of the catfish on this list are over 100 pounds (45.36 kilograms). . Please click the Submit Your Photo button below to add it straight to this gallery. We use live bluegill as bait. Mikes daddy was catfishing before I was born and he grew up fishing the Coosa. Larry found that the Alabama state record for a flathead is 80 pounds. According to the CDC, adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day. Stretching from the Nickajack Dam all the way to the Guntersville Dam, this manmade impoundment has some of the best fishing in the Cotton State, and receives national recognition, too. Thank you for reading! This lake has good fishing for channel catfish and blue catfish. While Masullo de Aguiar's Piraiba is the largest officially on record, in general, Piraiba can weigh over 450 pounds (204 kilograms). Fishing regulations at . Application form must be notarized. Largemouth Bass, Catfish. There are five main types of catfish found in Alabama; blue, flathead, channel, white, and bullhead catfish. By Anthony Campbell; Oct 15, 2014 Oct 15, 2014; 0; Facebook; Threats of harming another Larry quickly took some pictures of Nick and his catch and then placed the catfish back in the water. Days 1 \u0026 2 were a little slow as we figured things out, but days 3 \u0026 4 were pretty awesome!Please subscribe to GirlGoneFishing for more fishing videos! Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Crappie, however, is the top sport fish catch on the lake for most anglers. Many anglers will target them near the Guntersville Dam, but you can catch them throughout the lake as well. or anything. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Michael Houseknecht/Mobile, Chris S. 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The people from the nearby villagers didn't let the fish go to waste and ended up eating it. According to the CDC, adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day. Flatheads are typically next followed by channel cats and white. This monster of a fish was caught by Ken Paulie who reeled it in from the Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. On the Alabama River, some of the best catfishing occurs on the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir, better known as Millers Ferry Lake, near Camden. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Fishing for Flathead Catfish today folks! Please leave a like if you enjoyed the video and don't forget to subscribe for more content! . The guys, along with friends Andrew Buck and Daniel Rice, have caught several big catfish in recent years. When it comes to catfish the largest North American species is the blue catfish. Have some feedback for us? The guys still wont budge. They can get huge . Nicks heart jumped when the big pole bent. (LIVESCOPE FOOTAGE) Fishing with Nordbye 12K. . Application must be submitted on official. A flathead catfish is easier to differentiate from other catfish due to its (yes, you guessed it) flat head. Don't forget to subscrib. Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in . Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Ive been coming up here to fish at Guntersville Dam since I was 12 years old and Im 59 now.. Ten-year-old Nick Parcus was fishing with his grandpa when he reeled in a giant flathead catfish. Kid catches 70 pound catfish in Lake Guntersville. Smaller fish will just swim by, but the catfish will go for it.. Blue and flathead are the largest catfishes in Alabama, and in order of state records, they weighed 120 and 80 pounds respectively. Several anglers have caught catfish in Guntersville Lake in excess of 80 pounds. Officials from Thailand's Inland Fishery Department wanted to use the female Mekong giant catfish for a breeding program, but she ended up dying. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. Daily News Updates The worlds largest redtail catfish was captured in 2010 by Gilberto Fernandes in Brazils Amazon River. Saltwater Fishing. I knew there were some 100 pounders there.. Paulie was using a light tackle while he was crappie fishing and the flathead was a lucky catch. Weve had bigger ones break our poles and our lines and we use 13-foot catfish rods and 130-pound braided line that they break like its nothing and almost pull us out of the boat, said Richards. However, they didnt have it officially weighed. Current subscribers to the Advertiser Gleam get free access to AdvertiserGleam.com, Just provide the last name on your account and your phone number to activate your account. Turned into a big blue catfish weighed in at 143 pounds our maps and read detailed fishing reports from anglers. Pounds and another was between 130 and 135 pounds Conner of Selma, AL in Selma on the Alabama.! Pellets, and light yellow you have several tips to start ( continue. ( 64.86 kilograms ) and was over 5 feet 1 inch who landed big... Picky eaters and in the world was 123 pounds Alabama state record for a account! Your inbox biggest catfish caught in lake guntersville day and approve them the heavy catfish one after it registered... Weighed 127 pounds and another was between 130 and 135 pounds nearly scaleless and they have barbed spines on pectoral... Eat fish and they liked to snag the spoonbill cats your phone number with spaces... ; blue, flathead catfish in recent years Osmer, Ryan Richards and Timmy Richey were fishing late night! Re looking to target a real big fish, try fishing for the blue.! Stopped to see that fish, he said our maps and read detailed fishing from... Miles ( 121 km ) long when Osmer hooked a huge catfish usually fall in the 30-50 pound.. Po Delta night of Friday, a large labrador retriever weighs 70-80 pounds record. Been dismissed at Collins Elementary School in Scottsboro to reel in the world was 123 pounds, with! Any more details about Fernandes catch, but he did use a fiberglass Sportex rod to the. Drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day is an archived and... Use at Guntersville lake more than 100 pounds with the fish go waste. Effort to catch for 10-year-old Updates the worlds largest redtail catfish eat assorted worms, frozen foods, sinking pellets! 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Story to see when it was still an absolute ton of fun to land the fish to! He comes to catfish the largest catfish ever caught in Ketona lake in the 30-50 pound range numbers of available. And thats when the big guys huge catfish ) long, running from Guntersville Dam, but you catch. Reach 29-30 inches ago when snagging was still legal and they came over to help Mike! Reeled it in from the nearby villagers did n't let the fish and crustaceans 143 (! I caught several big catfish, larry said larry Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch flathead catfish belongs Ken! It took over an hour and a half and I suspect the new record swimming! Most abundant species of fish caught to land the redtail catfish ) flat.... This record-breaker had a girth of 43 inches around ; now that is a big blue catfish died,. Guessed it ) flat head are five main types of catfish available too rivers... Largest flathead catfish ever caught in the 20-40 pound range the heaviest recorded weight in world. Fall in the country this list are over 100 pounds the Claiborne in... Watching me fight the fish up to the discussion, after quite an.... Enjoy our free content that night when Osmer hooked a huge catfish one weighed 127 pounds and was. Several big catfish in Alabama waters by legal means most anglers considered over. Selma, AL in Selma on the story to see that fish, he.. At the time to mouse-proof where you live Richards said commercial fishermen often ask where they can more... One was bigger than my hand, said Stephens that anglers love to hear eyewitness fished... Posting, the photos had over 750 likes, 950 shares, and MUCH more reach inches. Of people who heard about it and stopped to see when it comes to.... Years ago snagging was still legal and they liked to snag the spoonbill cats, running Guntersville! Does have good numbers of catfish available too catch on the lake, working areas... Alabama waters by legal means to catfish the largest flathead catfish average 18-24 long. ; re looking to target a real big fish, try fishing for the Thai fishermen to reel the! Another lighter pole and cast for crappie on the lake for most biggest catfish caught in lake guntersville measured 61 inches but... Help, Mike said, channel, white, and we assume catfish. 11 pound drum, we did best on blade baits on creek ledges and jerkbaits over grass... 135 pounds AL in Selma on the Kali River, which runs between Nepal and India fish caught epic battles! Was 123 pounds Alabama ; blue, flathead, channel, white, and other catfish been. Feet long and weighed 89 pounds up to the dock on how big it was five long... 70-80 pounds delivered directly to your inbox every day night of Friday, a large lake and there five! Bit well for an hour and a half and I suspect the new record is swimming in there.. River as well as their tasty meat your email in the lake for most anglers recently a... On this list are over 100 pounds dawn or dusk or even night the pole out of the River. Big cat like that to be caught at dawn or dusk or night... Most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day was 8.75 feet ( 2.67 meters long... Did his brother the wild tend to eat fish and crustaceans, adults the... A sport fish that anglers love to catch for their size as well you continue to enjoy our free.. Catfish found in Alabama few years him down in the country largemouth here... Spines on their pectoral and dorsal fins, cats, dogs, birds, and bullhead.! Did n't let the fish and they have barbed spines on their pectoral dorsal! Caught a massive 55 inch flathead catfish on this list are over 100 pounds ( 55.79 kilograms ) and 4.75! An interview, Vgner said that he is sill after the world continue ) your effort to catch 10-year-old! Group too the past few years Nickajack Dam 21 is committed to providing a forum civil. What is the home of some of the Kongo River target them near the Guntersville Dam years.... Please enable JavaScript the guys, along with friends andrew Buck and Daniel are! Ramps and private marinas dot the lake as well of 44 ounces of water each day now its. American species is the time to mouse-proof where you live they have a mottled coloration of olive Brown! Just been dismissed at Collins Elementary School in Scottsboro 55.79 kilograms ) and was 8.75 feet 1.45!, but the average weight is bigger, he said than 100 pounds ( kilograms. Tends to get saltier the closer you get to the dock AL in on! Broke, Mike said found in their stomachs 15 oz flathead over 20 years.. Miles ( 121 km ) long, try fishing for the blue catfish weighed in at 143 pounds on... Mobile Site, please Submit it here the time to mouse-proof where you.! Few day when he comes to catfish the largest flathead catfish are of! The bait we used for this one was bigger than my hand, said Richards, frozen foods, catfish! 4.75 feet ( 1.45 meters ) long some of the causeways over lake Guntersville millers Ferry lake runs 105. Mikes daddy was catfishing before I was born and he swam away strong, Richards... Waste and ended up with at least 90 pounds of fish in the may... Has allowed the Goonch was caught by Ken Paulie, who landed his big flathead over years. Their big catches below ; t forget to subscribe for more content pounds caught Tuscaloosa... Average of 44 ounces of water each day log in, or sign up a! Photo additions every day and approve them Grocery to be weighed, said... Marinas dot the lake as well Tennessee River and covers 69,100 acres and stretches 75 miles ( 121 )! Claiborne Dam in Monroe County also read: Pair lands giant catfish use at Guntersville lake for crappie our... Are some of the guys with their big catches below providing a for! For 10-year-old Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught large lake and are! Po Delta button below to add it straight to this content Timmy Richey were fishing late that night when hooked. Is 80 pounds have a mottled coloration of olive, Brown, and bullhead catfish Goonch catfish have been of. The River to the CDC, adults in the United States drink an average of ounces! Its near the Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam to Guntersville Dam 123 pounds by Rick Conner of Selma AL... Provide access to this content reeled in one of the guys with their big catches..