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. His previous personal record for a hand caught catfish was 74 pounds. It also measured more than 5-feet long. Now a catfish that big would surely kick most peoples ass, but Levi Bennett looks like he could be Stone Cold Steve Austins little brother or playing defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys. 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. For the sake of comparison, the overall Texas state record for flathead catfish stands at 98.5 pounds. The world record blue catfish is the from Kerr Lake in North Carolina and weighed just over 143 pounds. What is the biggest blue catfish ever caught? Moore has been using a custom-built rod originally built for snapper fishing around offshore platforms, but the 7-foot Ugly Stik flippin' rods have proved equally effective. At a whopping 116 pounds, it stands as a testament to the world-class blue cats swimming in Texas' waters. 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. Whaley from Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina in July of 1964. Andersons monster blue catfish was taken to Mecklenburg Farm Supply in Chase City Virginia because it was the only place within the area that had scales large enough to perform the official weigh-in. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/07/texas-angler-sets-catfish-record-but-where-was-the-competition, Predicting where the NFL's top 21 free agents will wind up in 2023, 2023 NFL mock draft: Shaking up the top 6 with trades (and a Chicago Bears haul), NHL March power rankings: The East is so loaded as the trade deadline approaches, 1 side-by-side MLB video should convince you the pitch clock is the best, The top-20 NHL trade targets headed into the 2023 deadline, Sister Jean surprisingly picked a non-Chicago team to win the NCAA Mens National title, Max Scherzers innovative way to use the MLB pitch clock is horrible news for hitters, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Anchoring on top of the hump and pitching the free-lined bait into the deep water can result in some great catches. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The Sabine River on the Texas-Louisiana border offers countless miles of river, channel, and tributary creeks for the eager Catfish angler. All fish must be caught per IGFA rules. Consider booking a charter or guided trip during the cold summer months when most Blue Catfish over 40 pounds are caught. He had been told time and time again that record was unbreakable. The best catfishing in Texas takes place in the northern and eastern portions of the state. Another method of chumming that is catching on in Texas does not really involve chumming it all. Most famous for its world record Blue Catfish, Lake Tawakoni is the place to go if your goal is a true trophy. The largest catfish ever caught is the Mekong catfish. He followed it out and surfaced. The 13-year-old caught a 67-pound blue catfish on March 16 at Lake Tawakoni. The record catfish weighed in at 130 lb. tournament-winner. I looked down and probably a foot of her tail was still on the ground.. Search World Records by Country: Use the search form above to find fishing world records for freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and more. The lau-lau, or piraiba, is the largest catfish species on the IGFA record books, but there have been even larger specimens reported in the 200-kilogram (440-pound) range. The good news is this flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002. Either method can work, but one may produce more or better fish on some days than the other. But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. Where mature populations exist, 50-pounders are not unusual. The catfish weighed in at 736 lbs. The preferred method of wading is to cruise the shoreline and cast parallel to the bank and out into the creek channel itself. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. The best way to bring in big channels is to chum with soured grain along grassy flats or around boat docks. Texas has no shortage of fishing locations for the enthusiastic Catfish angler. A catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy. A cold beer, hot grill and the great outdoors. Texas Parks and Wildlife announced the record last week. For comparison, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs. 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. The beast of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett. Burleigh likes to anchor on top of a hump and make long cats toward the deep water with a slip-rig and fishes around the boat with a slip-float. Hand-fishing in a culvert that runs under an old roadbed submerged in 7 feet of water at the bottom of an East Texas lake, the experienced tournament noodler from Seminole, Oklahoma, was halfway through the 35-foot-long pipe when he encountered a catfish. , Best Answer From Peter in Australia: A hook will rust away in a fish, but it may take a while, especially if the hook is plated or made of thick metal. Levi was fishing at an East Texas lake when he caught this mighty fish. This remote 2,212 acre reservoir southwest of Wichita Falls is home to Channel, Blue, and Flathead Catfish. Largest spot out of the 5 I caught this morning. He looks like exactly the type of guy you would expect to be wrestling 100 plus pound catfish in his free time. This impoundment is 11,854 acres and most anglers fish along the old channels, so be sure you have an up-to-date chart or reliable electronics. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". If youre targeting big Channel, Blue, or Flathead Catfish, size up to a 4/0-7/0 circle hook. Based on previously mentioned Blue catfish you would be right to guess that this one was also caught on Lake Texoma! 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. Or El Mercado, the biggest Mexican market in the country and a symbol of the local Hispanic culture? He said they are prime locations for finding big blues. Lake Tawakoni There may be no better lake in Texas for channel catfish, both in numbers and in size. 3. This method requires a rod with plenty of backbone to yank the fish from the cover. Levi shared his story with Field and Stream: I felt it and got my hand on it, and it was an absolute giant. A fish nearly as long as the man who reeled it in is now the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the state of Florida. One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. Lake Palestine hosts largemouth bass tournaments but also has excellent fishing for white bass, hybrid striped bass and catfish. Conn was fishing on Lake OH Ivie on Monday Feb. 13, 2023 when the big fish bit. Both resident and non-resident Catfish anglers are required to have a valid Texas fishing license before casting a line. Black Crappie tend to grow larger than white crappie overall. A catfish has no outer ears, so instead it uses its swim bladder to detect vibrations. Some of these trophies have lasted for decadesbut that doesnt mean they cant be beat. Jones has been coming to fish in Texas for a few years, but this was his first ever visit to O.H. Whats the state record catfish in Texas? He's been contacted bombarded by a media blitz ever since as news outlets from as far away as Maine pick up on the . Ive never seen a fish that big.. This flathead was 61 inches long with a 43-inch girth. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Non resident freshwater fishing licenses are available for $58, and are valid from the date of sale to August 31 of the same year. The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located at 5550 FM 2495, four miles east of Athens. According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. Year Caught: May 19, 1998. The current world record flathead was caught more than 20 years ago in Kansas, and weighed 123 pounds. Kodi and Jimmy were both looking at me like Im an idiot. 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. The world-record paddlefish was caught last year at Keystone Lake in Oklahoma, weighing in at 164 pounds. What is the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas? The giant lakes and reservoirs in Texas get a lot of the fishing attention, but dont overlook the smaller lakes and ponds. His wife, Kodi Bennett, a three-time winner of the womens division at the Okie Noodling Tournament, was blocking the opposite end of the pipe with fellow noodler Jimmy Millsap. The first is that the alligator gar common in many catfishing areas can easily break flimsy limblines. Most Catfish anglers in Texas use standard Catfish gear. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. I said, Hes gone. I was mad., No, hes right here, Kodi told her husband. Go to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up. I have used them all and most of them will get the job done. They are usually thicker and more dense than White Crappie. He started the blog as a way to share his love of fishing and the outdoors with others, and to provide tips, tricks, and advice to fellow fishermen. Sure, world-record bass get all of the glory, big brown trout get the glamour, and the biggest alligator gar grab the headlines. Veteran angler Michael Flaten set five limblines in the Sabine River one weekend and caught five catfish totaling 150 pounds in weight. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. By morning, the chum has usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing. Just being there for the experience and getting to see a fish like that is all that matters., The anglers discovered a tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they'd caught off the coast of Argentina. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The largest was so big their scale couldn't measure it. Important sport fish include largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. 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. World Record flathead catfish: 123 pounds. 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. (See Texana news story Largest Catfish Found in Texas ) At 121.5 pounds, she was the largest blue catfish ever caught and held that record until a 124-pound fish was caught from the Mississippi River in 2005. Experiment with different options the smellier the better for these. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Lake Gonzales was expected to be dewatered first, followed by Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney. Ivie. From Texas to Tennessee, Appalachia to Bakersfield, Whiskey Riff is THE unapologetic voice of the country music fan. You need a durable and heavy pound test line to fight Catfish around the logs, rocks, and structure they often call home. Turns out there were two fish in the pipe, and the second one was even bigger than the first. While the average size of crappie is somewhere between 8 and 12 inches and 1/4 and 1lb, they can reach a maximum length of about 20 inches and a maximum weight of a little over 5lb. There may be no better lake in Texas for channel catfish, both in numbers and in size. C. D. Martindale caught the state-record blue catfish out of Lake Texoma in 1985. A Texas angler has learned that a 31-pound flathead catfish he caught in April is a new waterbody record for the Llano River. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. After looking over the weights, I've never wanted to catfish more. pr_tile = pr_tile + 1; document.write(''); Look to marshy drainages for the most consistent catfish action on outgoing or falling tides. Then Kodi felt a fish bump into her legs and told her husband to get back in there and get after it. Interestingly, the Llano River might have produced much larger flathead catches over the years. Species: Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). 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. Just how big is big enough when it comes to keeping crappie? Drink with us. The crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the pipe they found it in. How much does it cost to put caps on cats nails? The Texas record flathead (unrestricted category) weighed 114 pounds. Not since 2014, the final year of South Texas last major drought, has the flow along our rivers and streams been this low. Kodi and Jimmy were both looking at me like Im an idiot, Levi Bennett recalls. Catfishing in Texas is very popular with anglers finding good sized channel catfish, flatheads and blue cats. 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. FLATHEADS Flatheads win the ugly award among Texas catfish. "I've had J-style hooks flattened out many times and have never had that happen with a circle hook," he said. . Where is the best crappie fishing in Texas? Big blues are generally solitary creatures, so do not expect to catch large numbers in one spot. Athens, TX - 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. Or El Mercado, the Llano River might have produced much larger catches... So big their scale couldn & # x27 ; t measure it cats. 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