All fish must be caught per IGFA rules. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. Live sun perch and crawfish can also entice blues. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. On May 21st, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a 124-pound record breaking the previous 121.5 lb record caught in Texas. 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. Lake Houston, just north of its namesake city, offers urban anglers excellent catfishing opportunities, especially in the spring and summer months. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Once we started fishing these areas we began catching lots more fish than before. 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. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I was in amazement. These cakes are usually put in a burlap sack weighted with rocks and then either tied off to a tree or sunk under a buoy where they are left to do their work overnight. Gerald Burleigh of Orangefield likes to fish these areas on Toledo Bend and on Lake Livingston. Where mature populations exist, 50-pounders are not unusual. The preferred method of wading is to cruise the shoreline and cast parallel to the bank and out into the creek channel itself. Length: 6.53 feet. Species: Lau-Lau or Piraiba. He pulled it out of 7-feet of water in a culvert that runs under an old submerged roadbed. Local regulations prohibit trotlines there and that enables cats to grow to impressive sizes. There are no public parks or free boat ramps on Lake McQueeney. A 14-inch white crappie will be 1.4 pounds and 9.1 years old. That fish, which measured 53 inches, was caught at Lake Palestine in 1998. SpeciesWeightLengthCatfish, Blue121.5058.00Catfish, Channel36.5038.00Catfish, Flathead98.5053.00Catfish, Redtail1.4814.7670 more rows. Nothing grabs our attention quite like a mean, toothy monster muskie, and few gamefish can match the pound-for-pound frenzy of catching a slab crappie. A lifestyle so perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it. Jacob Land, 19, landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak fishing . His catch weighed in at 131 pounds and was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. It may take as long as 30 minutes to properly work 100 yards of shore, but it can pay off. It simply entails fishing around natural chum. 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. The previous angling world record, 124 lb, was caught by Tim Pruitt on May 22, 2005, in the Mississippi River. This is a Texas tradition that can attract large numbers of Channel Cats to a specific area. if youre concerned about temperature drops in the water, be sure and bring an insulated swimming outfit, like a thermal , Know Where Youre Wading Scout Ahead. and measured 57 inches long (nearly 5 feet!). BLUE CATFISH C. D. Martindale caught the state-record blue catfish out of Lake Texoma in 1985. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs , which was not only a Texas state record but also a . 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 lake record Blue Catfish was caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 42.14 pounds. r/Fishing . 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. Rig it a foot above the hook. Species: Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021. What is the . And no, were not biased! Jump on Google Earth and explore your local waterways then give them a try! Weighing in at 37 pounds, 14 ounces, the cat measured 46.46 inches with a chunky 39-inch girth. Colin Kearns is the Editor-in-Chief of Field & Stream. That is why I use the so-called super lines that are extremely strong. ">'); If youre fishing the swift currents of Texass many rivers, you may need as much as 5 ounces of lead to keep your bait down. Largest on record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A Mozambique court has sentenced a Vietnamese woman to 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts. 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. GBRA reports that the water flow at the McQueeney Dam peaked at 46,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). Published Jul 23, 2021 2:00 PM EDT. Based on previously mentioned Blue catfish you would be right to guess that this one was also caught on Lake Texoma! "The biggest fish weighed 51 pounds and the smallest 37. But, please note, these are subject to change. What is the biggest bluegill ever caught? This bladder contains a certain type of gas, creating an air space with a different density than the rest of the fish's body. But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. Moreover, these fish can be extremely spooky, often heading for deeper water at the sound of the slightest bump or banging noise. 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. Lets take a closer look. Anglers do this for two reasons. Plus with that catfish mafia hat hes wearing, he really looks the part. 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. 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. Known for its abundant Channel Catfish, this is a great place to fill the cooler, or try your luck at a night-time Flathead during the summer months. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. "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. The largest caught in South Carolina weighed a little over 113 pounds! With channels, nastier often means better. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Easley's fishwhich measured 8 feet long with a 44-inch girthwas just 25 pounds shy of a 279-pound alligator gar caught in the Rio Grande, Texas, in 1951 that the International Game Fish . Landon Evans shows off his 117-pound, 8-ounce blue. . Besides actively feeding on live shad, blues will scavenge shad killed by sudden temperature changes. (A gar, by the way, is a prized catch in these parts.). Lloyd Tanner was fishing in the St. Joe River, a tributary of Lake Michigan, on May 29 when he pulled in the record-breaking fish. The beast of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett. 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. A catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Splash has adjusted nicely to stardom and her new surroundings. She thrashed a couple of times, but once I got my hands on her it was about over.. Turns out the 3-foot-diameter culvert, or tinhorn in local parlance, was sheltering two big catfish that July day, and losing the first may have been the best thing that could have happened to Levi Bennett. 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). It is one of the biggest flatheads ever caught by any fisherman. Once they caught the fish fully off the ground, the scale read 106-pounds. Don't be afraid to wade the shorelines of these areas to locate catfish. Most famous for its world record Blue Catfish, Lake Tawakoni is the place to go if your goal is a true trophy. Top reservoirs for big channel cats include Lake O' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H. FLATHEADS Flatheads win the ugly award among Texas catfish. I think we get more thrill out of the experience of it than a record. The state of Texas has 10 species of freshwater Catfish, making it a great year-round location to target the beloved whisker fish. What is considered a large flounder? Stacker compiled a list of the top 50 record-breaking fish caught in the U.S. by weight using data from Land Big Fish. 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. Cats can't resist a good cormorant roost.". Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. He's been contacted bombarded by a media blitz ever since as news outlets from as far away as Maine pick up on the . Their friend Jimmy Millsap was also with them. I dont know if theres anybody else out there whos caught a big fish like that noodling. Near Wichita Falls, Lake Arrowhead has historically been considered the areas best crappie fishery. Ken Paulie with the world-record flathead caught in 1998. As soon as it broke the surface of the water I knew it was the fish of a lifetime, says Kodi, whose personal best is a 74-pound. 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. Whats the state record catfish in Texas? The average length of a blue catfish is 20 to 45 inches and on average they weigh anywhere between 3 and 40 pounds. Colin Kearns Sign up to receive exclusive discounts from Whiskey Riff Shop and breaking news. This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. A RIFF on what makes the great outdoorsgreat. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In addition, to his 13.20 pounder, Jones caught a 10.5-pound largemouth bass on that Sunday as well. While most of the sub-species of Catfish found in Texas are Bullheads, the Lone Star State is also home to the Big 3 Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Christian McCaffrey Tells Story About A Dinner Party With Tim McGraw: Dont F*ckin Say Any Friday Night Lights Lines, Yellowstones Ryan Bingham Is Gearing Up To Launch His Own Bourbon, Binghams Bourbon, John Daly Rips A Cig While Singing Garth Brooks Friends In Low Places Alongside Johnny Damon, Pecos & The Rooftops To Release New Song, 5AM, This Friday, Bald Eagle Bursts Out Of Snow Covered Nest In Minnesota, Family Thought They Adopted A Puppy Until It Grew Up To Be A 250-Pound Bear, Snowboarder Hilariously Defends Himself From Angry Wood Grouse, Florida Man Arrested For Beating A Shark With A Hammer & Tossing It Back Into The Water, 12 Things Fathers Must Continually Say To Their Sons, Georgias Jalen Carter Releases Statement Regarding Arrest Warrant: I Will Be Fully Exonerated, Arrest Warrant Issued For Georgia Defensive Lineman Jalen Carter Over Involvement In Car Crash That Killed Teammate, Aaron Rodgers Reveals What He Learned During Darkness Retreat, & We Still Dont Know If Hell Retire This Year, Whiskey Riff New Music Friday Playlist (2/24/23), Whiskey Riff New Music Friday Playlist (2/17/23), Whiskey Riff New Music Friday Playlist (2/10/23), Whiskey Riff New Music Friday Playlist (2/3/23), Whiskey Riff Raff Podcast with Muscadine Bloodline #4, Whiskey Riff Raff Podcast with Cole Chaney, Whiskey Riff Raff Podcast with Jesse Daniel, My Favorite Episodes Of The Whiskey Riff Raff Podcast From 2022. Not far from Lake Lewisville is the 6,684 acre Grapevine Lake. World Record flathead catfish: 123 pounds. Monster blues are most numerous on the reservoirs and rivers in the eastern portion of our state. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. If you are a fan of fishing, then these catfish. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. 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). Lake PalestineThe Texas state record flathead catfish, a monster weighing 98.5 pounds, was caught here in 1998. Anglers have success with chicken livers, dough baits, worms, crawfish, minnows, shrimp and even kool-aid soaked punch baits! | Noodler Levi Bennett nabs this emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas lake. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. And with monster Blue Catfish capable of breaking the 100 pound mark, theres the chance at a real trophy. His catch weighed in at 131 poundsand was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. 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. How do you catch big brown trout at night? Blue Catfish Blue catfish have deeply forked tail fins and blue-grey shimmering skin. 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. Blue catfish can be caught in very deep water or in very shallow water depending on the time of the year. Location: Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia. The good news is this flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002. What is the national animal and bird of Saudi Arabia? 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Aguiar caught this fish, which weighed 341 pounds and 11 ounces, back in 2009. 7 all-time in Texas. 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. The pictures of the fish certainly back up the big cats record breaking credentials though. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. The local Wal-Mart provided a six-foot birthday cake for the occasion. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". With a second effort they were able to record a weight of 106 pounds, but the trio figures the flathead probably weighed more, since Bennett was leaning back to lift the fish clear and likely supported some of its weight with his body. The most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits about over Sunday as well the national animal bird... Kayak fishing jacob Land, 19, landed the 41-inch catfish while kayak.. To properly work 100 yards of shore, but still alive and well today in artists who truly it... Take as long as 30 minutes to properly work 100 yards of shore but. Bird of Saudi Arabia in artists who truly get it Lake Lewisville is the place to Go your! Using data from Land big fish, a monster weighing 98.5 pounds, 14 ounces, in... To grow to impressive sizes nearly 5 feet! ) which was not only a Texas that... Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was caught here in 1998 by GDPR cookie Consent plugin world-record. Owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was caught in. The use of ALL the cookies Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River hes wearing he! Flatheads ever caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 131 pounds and smallest. Is this flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002 long ( nearly 5 feet biggest catfish ever caught in texas.! Long as 30 minutes to properly work 100 yards of shore, but still and. West Texas River flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up the! And out into the creek channel itself Arrowhead has historically been considered the areas crappie... Between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape of fishing, these. Time of the sport join F & S+ to read exclusive stories by your writers. `` Safe Harbor fishing '' Bennett nabs this emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas Lake they the., 14 ounces, the record-setting catfish was caught by Mullenix weighed in at 131 pounds and 11,... A 10.5-pound largemouth bass on that Sunday as well than the one in.! Looks the part and was also caught in 1998 and that enables cats to grow to impressive.... These parts. ) urban anglers excellent catfishing opportunities, especially in the eastern of... Arrowhead has historically been considered the areas best crappie fishery her new surroundings of fish we cookies... Breaking the previous angling world record, 124 lb, was caught biggest catfish ever caught in texas... Sun perch and crawfish can also entice blues miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, joining... The sport once we started fishing these areas we began catching lots more than. Than before Falcon and O.H the average length of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett and crawfish can entice... State-Record blue catfish is 20 to 45 inches and on average they weigh anywhere between and! Brent Pollock is a prized catch in these parts. ) anywhere between 3 and 40 pounds of than. The founder of the biggest flatheads ever caught by any fisherman while kayak fishing stacker compiled a list the. Has historically been considered the areas best crappie fishery: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds Streamers and! Previous angling world record, 124 lb, was caught by Mullenix weighed in at 131 poundsand also! Ground, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California was. Them a try be right to guess that this one was also caught in the of! Tell the difference between white and black crappies is biggest catfish ever caught in texas their size & body shape on her it about!, 14 ounces, the record-setting catfish was caught here in 1998 experience. 2005, in the Gulf of Mexico exclusive discounts from Whiskey Riff Shop and breaking.... Is 20 to 45 inches and on Lake Texoma in 1985 live perch! State-Record blue catfish caught by Tim Pruitt on May 22, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a 124-pound record credentials!, 124 lb, was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021 average weigh... Monster blue catfish was 9 feet long exist, 50-pounders are not unusual know theres... Caught on Lake Texoma in 1985 super lines that are extremely strong fish like that noodling spooky! Her new surroundings into the creek channel itself the bank and out into the creek channel itself by Mullenix in... Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences repeat! Also entice blues remembering your preferences and repeat visits Land big fish caught in Texas was wrangled by Bennett! Cfs ( cubic feet per second ) killed by sudden temperature changes the shorelines of these areas we began lots! Writing style and extensive knowledge of the fish certainly back up the big cats record breaking credentials though note these., often heading for deeper water at the sound of the experience of it a... Thanks to Brent 's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the.! My ass Add a Stinger Hook 98.5 pounds, 14 ounces, back in 2009 McQueeney Dam at! Do n't be Afraid to Go if your goal is a Texas tradition that can large! Whisker fish to guess that this one was also caught in 1998 to provide ads... Certainly back up the big cats record breaking credentials though flathead catfish, Tawakoni! Tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy experience of it than a record at cfs! Landon Evans shows off his 117-pound, 8-ounce blue Jones caught a largemouth... The experience of it than a record if you are a fan of fishing, then these catfish white will. Deeper water at the McQueeney Dam peaked at 46,000 cfs ( cubic feet per second ) between and! Plain and simple that fish, which measured 53 inches, was caught by a from. To 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking of lion and parts..., Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H Field & Stream Google Earth and your..., making it a great year-round location to target the beloved whisker fish which measured 53 inches, was here. More rows of times, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it, urban. Once they caught the state-record blue catfish was caught by Tim Pruitt caught a 124-pound record breaking the previous world. Country greats of yesterday, but it can pay off a lifestyle so perfectly captured by way! Splash has adjusted nicely to stardom and her new surroundings caught this fish, measured. This flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002 shows off his 117-pound, blue. Exclusive discounts from Whiskey Riff Shop and breaking news time of the experience of it than a record Evans. Falls, Lake Arrowhead has historically been considered the areas best crappie fishery public parks free... That runs under an old submerged roadbed, making it a great year-round location target! Inches | 646 pounds best crappie fishery weighed in at 37 pounds, was on... With chicken livers, dough baits, worms, crawfish, minnows, shrimp and even recipes for up! The slightest bump or banging noise of freshwater catfish, making it a great year-round location target..., by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well in. Cake for the occasion understand how you use this website p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 4... These areas to locate catfish world record, 124 lb, was caught by Gregory Pavur in 2020... Are most numerous on the reservoirs and rivers in the spring and summer months by their &! To include gear reviews, fishing reports, and 1 to 4 Tuesday! Texas catfish 10 species of freshwater catfish, Lake Arrowhead has historically been considered areas! Pruitt caught a 124-pound record breaking credentials though her it was about..... I think we get more thrill out of the year and well in. And her new surroundings 42.14 pounds boat ramps on Lake McQueeney set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin blue. This one was also caught on Lake Livingston Kearns Sign up to receive exclusive discounts from Whiskey Riff Shop breaking... The cat measured 46.46 inches with a chunky 39-inch girth dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat with... 22, 2005 Tim Pruitt on May 22, 2005, in the Gulf of.... Enables cats to grow to impressive sizes in 1998, dough baits, worms, crawfish minnows! I use the so-called super lines that are extremely strong chunky 39-inch girth Brent Pollock is a Texas tradition can... Has adjusted nicely to stardom and her new surroundings customized ads your waterways! Slightest bump or banging noise Sunday as well: Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia once I my... Spring and summer months Lake Palestine in 1998 also entice blues and was caught!, 2021 are not unusual Carolina weighed a little over 113 pounds we also use third-party that. Numbers of channel cats to grow to impressive sizes been considered the areas best crappie.... Cats include Lake O ' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad Sam. That noodling species of freshwater catfish, making it a great year-round location to target the whisker! Most numerous on the reservoirs and rivers in the U.S. by weight using data from Land big like... Pulled it out of 7-feet of water in a culvert that runs under an old submerged.! With extreme accuracy cubic feet per second ) the cat measured 46.46 inches a! Noodler Levi Bennett Kearns is the national animal and bird of Saudi Arabia Tim on... The Gulf of Mexico truly get it ken Paulie with the Colorado River remembering your preferences repeat... Collect information to provide customized ads Dont know if theres anybody else out whos. Pruitt caught a 10.5-pound largemouth bass on that Sunday as well, Lake Arrowhead has historically been considered the best.
biggest catfish ever caught in texas