Our coastal fishery is in excellent shape, and thus affords anglers many opportunities for a good time. One increases your chances of scoring a big fish, while the other improves your odds of snagging a rare fish. image: Lynn Chan | Flickr | CC BY 2. The world record for blue catfish, recorded by the IGFA, weighs 143 pounds, with the longest one measuring over four feet in length. The Freshwater Catfish has 4 pairs of barbels surrounding the mouth, and sharp serrated dorsal- and pectoral-fin spines which are venomous and can cause a very. Date: May 20, 1961. As they grow, the body ends up being yellow and brownish or white, horizontal stripes appear. State records for the heaviest marine fishes caught in Florida waters, or in federal waters extending directly outward of Florida state line boundaries, are maintained for 81 species in conventional tackle and fly-fishing categories. Most authorities now give the crown of the largest catfish to the Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas, which is also considered the heaviest completely freshwater fish. Hardhead catfish have six rounded barbels that stick out from their chins like whiskers. Dorsal fin deeply notched. Catfish have an extraordinarily keen. states. The largest lake trout in Connecticut weighed almost 30 pounds! The upper half of the body is a silvery bluish-green or brown color, while the underside is mostly white. In 2005, a man caught a 9-foot-long, 646-pound Mekong catfish, breaking the world record for the world's largest catfish. The blue catfish reaches anywhere from 30-60 inches, depending on age, while the channel catfish grows 12-24 inches on average. Channel catfish are so plentiful here that Lake Okeechobee supports a commercial fishery for them. Another reason why catfish get so big is because they live in warm waters. In 2021 alone, we imported around 256 million pounds of it from other countries. Striped bass is one of the largest fish available to the nearshore angler. They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico. 7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, the behemoth tipped the scales at 646 pounds (293 kilograms) Experts say the fish, which belongs to the species known as the Mekong giant catfish, may be the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. February 28, 2022 Robert. Is a. Go from underneath the spines put your middle finger under one and your thumb under the other on the opposite side. Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) Description: ( Anatomy of a Fish) Blue catfish has a deeply forked tail fin. 5 lbs , which was not only a Texas. How big is the biggest freshwater fish ever caught? Nearly nine feet long (2. Channel catfish live in freshwater rivers, lakes, streams and ponds throughout North. Redtail Catfish Care Guide & Species Profile. 2) Lake Trout: 29 lbs 13 oz. The most common saltwater catfish species are the hardhead catfish ( Ariopsis felis) and the gafftopsail catfish ( Bagre marinus) though they are not found in the aquarium hobby. The world record holder for the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught went to dear old Jorge Masullo de Aguiar. The best catfish angling on the Coosa River is at Lay Lake and Lake Mitchell. 1:1 Handle: Left or right Pros. a big catfish can keep you down far longer than you can hold your breath. Here is just a short list of why I hate catching saltwater catfish (or more like why I hate it when they bite my line while I am fishing for an inshore fish like a snook,. The catfish can discharge a shock of up to 450 volts to defend itself and capture prey. In 2019, a new state record for flathead catfish was set when Marvin Griffen caught one that weighed a whopping 69. Catfish are a popular bottom feeder fish for anglers who want to eat their catch. Unique Traits: Cleaner shrimp behavior. Bristle Nose Pleco. It’s the largest artificial reef in the area and home to a range of exciting fish species. The morning bite typically occurs during the early hours of the day, just after sunrise, and is a great time to catch catfish. Why are they called hardheads? The largest recorded weight for a gafftopsail catfish is 4. They are silver with brown to olive green undertones and a yellow to white belly. Nile Perch, Nile River – Africa. 6 inches for males and 7. Redtail Catfish This catfish gets way to big for the majority of home aquariums. Catfish have a lifespan of 20 years, but this depends on the species. Both the larger, spine-like main bone and the smaller, rib-like bones are present. Joshua Jones Sr. Dredge the fish in the cornmeal mixture and gently coat the fillets on all sides. Some live much longer however. Pound-for-Pound Fighting Score. Hardheads get their name from the bony plate between their eyes and dorsal fin. This catfish is brownish to gray-green in color and has four barbells on the chin. Adult sucker fish reach up to 12 inches long, and some species of sucker fish grow up to 24 inches. Broad Hotspots 30 fish, 20-30 minute respawn Common Fish 45% chance; Uncommon Fish 40% chance;. If you've ever been stuck by a saltwater catfish, then you know how awful that feeling is! That's why fishermen have devised all kinds of ways to dealing with them, from using lead-core billy clubs to keep catfish from jumping around when being handled, to a special gripping technique that avoids the barbs, to using a catfish flipper. Josh Jorgensen, the presenter of YouTube’s largest saltwater fishing show, hosted three absolutely massive men off the coast of. Tank Size. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to. 53 feet. com. In home aquariums, they are used to clean the bottom of the aquarium and control algae and detritus build-up. The foam creates more flotation. Bull Shark – 477 Pounds 12 Ounces. 4. 025) Lifespan : 10 - 15 years or longer. Trash Fish Tuesday. (Alessandro Biancardi / MADCAT) After a few attempts of gloving the fish's mouth, the animal was still too strong. Cobia, with an average length of three to four feet, have a torpedo-shaped body. Emerald Catfish. 1-888-392-8545. For catfish, in particular, using a bigger hook and a big piece of bait will help you catch fewer cats. “It was almost like pulling in a 30-inch striper,” Tomkunas. What Are Saltwater Catfish? Are there saltwater catfish? There are a few species of catfish that live in saltwater. Prefilled with quality. A professional fisherman in Italy reeled in a massive catfish measuring more than nine feet long last month—and may have set a new world record in the process. Best Snelled Hook: Gamakatsu Catfish Rig. A professional fisherman in Italy has caught what may be a world record-breaking catfish in the country's largest river. Sciaenops ocellatus. Claim: A photograph shows a 736-pound catfish caught in the Mississippi River. Alligator Gar Bait Rig: The Hi-Vis Cable Rig. Barbels at corner of mouth (shorter than head and not flat) Similar Species: Gafftopsail catfish, B. Striped bass is our most sought-after species, providing great sport through catch and release fishing and great eating when you catch a “keeper”. A 15-year-old Missourian caught the fish of his dreams during a mid-August outing on the Missouri River with his father, boating a 108-pound blue catfish that some say is the. Saltwater Catfish. These fish can reach 3-4 feet long and weigh up to 80 pounds. com. The size and organization of those bones are important facts. How to Cook Saltwater Catfish. 22 pounds The largest flathead catfish record in North Carolina goes to a 74 pound 14 ounce flathead caught by Tyler Barnes on the Neuse River. Gafftopsail catfish get their name. It sports three spines, one on the dorsal fin and one each on the pectoral fins. Their ideal tank conditions include a minimum tank size of 20 gallons and warm water with a pH between 7. pH: 7. Huston/Shutterstock. The zebra danio is another great cold-water fish that is really underrated in the aquarium hobby. They are also the most sought-after species. Longer, heavier models have longer handles for better control when battling big fish, and each rod is backed by a five-year warranty and St. Use a three-way rig with a 20-pound-test main line and a 17-pound-test leader. Best For Most Anglers: Penn Battle II and III 5000 (click to see) “The Penn Battle is made to last and handles huge fighting fish. These spines are not only sharp, they also have a coating of toxic slime. 76-foot, or 267-centimeter, wels catfish caught on the River Po in February 2015 was hailed as a world record at the time, eclipsing a record 255-centimeter. The smoothest reel I’ve ever fished with – it will put a big grin on your face. Stephen Klobucar Sep 17, 2019. The skin of this catfish has no scales. 10- to 20-pound test line is preferable when you will be fishing around a structure of any. MADCAT. 0–7. 2- The Yellow River. The auchenipterid cats all exhibit a scaleless (or “naked”) body and three pairs. Average size is about 2. They perform well suspended under bobbers or resting on the bottom behind a sinker. 5-8. Hayes held the All-Tackle title for 41 years, despite swirling rumors denouncing his catch. Fisherman reels in massive catfish that could break a world record. By Sascha Pare published 15 June 2023 An angler caught the gigantic wels catfish in the murky waters of the River Po, in Italy, where the previous world record for. Mekong catfish are severely threatened by habitat degradation and dam construction along the Mekong River. 5ft /1. Katrina Reef: Sitting just a couple of miles from Biloxi, Katrina Reef is one of the most popular nearshore fishing spots in Mississippi. Flathead catfish. Migrates in fall from fresh to saltwater to spawn. The state record is three pounds fifteen ounces. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. But fish approaching or exceeding 100 pounds are caught. The dorsal and pectoral fins each are supported by a sharp, slime-covered barbed spine. The blue catfish is the largest species that U. Alessandro Biancardi with the pending world-record Wels catfish. The underparts have a pinkish suffusion, which is most evident in males. occurring in some waters. It’s called a hardhead because of a hard. Specs. Color Pattern: Red and white stripes with yellow. Channel cats have between 24 and 29 rays, while blue cats have 30 to 36. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark. Qualifying anglers receive a colorful citation showing the type of fish caught and a window sticker to proudly display their prowess. 0:00. ** Because of Federal regulations, these species can no longer be legally retained and must be released alive, the record listed will remain. Lifespan: 60 years. Key Takeaways. Catfish do indeed have bones. The beluga sturgeon in Russia is the largest freshwater fish in the world. 5 cm (1 inch). Josh Jorgensen, the presenter of YouTube’s largest saltwater fishing show, hosted three absolutely massive men off the coast of Florida to catch the world’s strongest fish, the. The Beluga Sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in the world. You can search all IGFA World Records for freshwater and saltwater fishes in All-TackleLine Class, All-Tackle Length for male, female and junior anglers. The state record is three pounds fifteen ounces. The coral catfish color changes as the fish grows. Using what we know as “artificial” baits, like crankbaits and plastics, is seldom the best bet for consistently catching catfish. There are more than 3000 different catfish species in the world, including the Asian Mekong giant catfish , the large Wels catfish and the tiny cory catfish found in South America. The typical length is about 25–46 in (64–117 cm). Madcat / Alessandro Biancardi. White Sturgeon. The Mekong giant catfish is widely regarded as the largest purely freshwater fish in the world (excluding the species that migrate between saltwater and freshwater like the sturgeon ). They range from 2. Tim Shugrue is vice president of Congressional Seafood in Jessup, MD, which is the largest processor of blue catfish around the Bay. It weighed 143 pounds and measured 57 inches long. May 9, 2023. Catfish (Freshwater) - Found in Cutlass Keys, Ebonscale Reach,. 5 inches (0. Texoma on the Texas/Oklahoma border, one of the largest reservoirs in the country at 89,000 acres, is considered by many to be best of the best because that’s where Cody Mullennix caught Splash, a 121. Salt Catfish. com. It typically has an olive-colored body with yellowish-white belly. The hardhead catfish, Ariopsis felis, has six whiskers, called barbels - one long pair and two shorter pairs. 3. Best Premium Option: Penn Spinfisher VI 7500 (click to see) And, of course, there’s also a wide range of sizes when it comes to catfish. Of all the commonly known catfish species, the flathead surely takes the prize of Top Ugly. [1] It inhabits estuaries and occasionally freshwater bodies, in Japan. In North America, the largest captured was a blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) at 130 pounds. Native to the eastern coastlines of North, Central. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. Sharks are one of the biggest predators of saltwater catfish, especially the tiger and bull shark. When most people think of trophy-sized catfish, they usually think of flatheads. Mississippi Angler Smashes State Record With 131-Pound Blue Catfish. Keith “Catfish” Sutton’s latest book, Hardcore Catfishing, was released in April last year. Saltwater Fish. So it is no surprise that David Hayes' celebrated 5. Perhaps their most recognized traits are their catlike whiskers, or barbells, and their lack of visible scales. Most catfish species live in major river systems of the world, in both freshwater and saltwater, but some types of catfish prefer the still water of small lakes and. There are two Freshwater and two Saltwater bait. The morning bite typically occurs during the early hours of the day, just after sunrise, and is a great time to catch catfish. Catfish are found all over the inshore waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic Ocean. They multiply and can reach three feet or more in length – making them some of the biggest freshwater fish! The meat from hardhead catfish is high in protein. 8 feet long and weighed more than 265 pounds. 1. Fry the fish in a hot cast iron skillet or Dutch oven with oil and butter until crispy and golden brown, about 5-7 minutes per side. For big flatheads, use live bream fished on the bottom as well. They can taste something by simply touching it with their barbels. It belongs to the genius Brachyplayreatstoma ,. Alessandro Biancardi's catch was more than 9 feet long — roughly the size. The brightness of the color fades away as they grow. Like many marine fish, it is dark on top and light on bottom. 3. Setting up a tank to match its natural. The giant devil catfish, or goonch. The belly of the hardhead is silver to white. It sports three spines, one on the dorsal fin and one each on the pectoral fins. Juveniles have darker mottling. How big are catfish in the mississippi river?. 5. According to the records, this is the largest fish of any species ever taken in New Jersey. Bluefish pack a dangerous set of teeth. ©Fiona Ayerst/Shutterstock. Meanwhile, we commercially produced another 307 million pounds here at home. A cobia’s dorsal fin consists of 7 to 9 very sharp spines. It comes in two sizes: 6500 and 7000. That’s why. Works for big catfish whether trolling or dropping, as well as salmon, steelhead, walleye, or other species Big spool allows for a high line capacity, up to 250 yards of 20-pound test monoMay 9, 2023. The largest catfish ever caught is the Mekong catfish. Without further ado, the 17 biggest fish ever caught are: 17. Overall, this makes the 888 the best choice for freshwater applications, while the 808 is ideally suited for saltwater fishing. Cory catfish species vary in size, but none grow very large. A couple hours later, he landed his. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. But the monster of this group is the Mekong catfish of southeast Asia weighing in at over 600 pounds. Some fish species, like catfish, feed from the bottom, but also spend time at different levels. My youngest uncle, my moms youngest brother was in his late teens or early 20s. Use fresh bait. The largest fish of the now-extinct class Placodermi was the giant predatory Dunkleosteus. m. One interesting fact about saltwater catfish is that it is edible to eat and poisonous in some instances. 5. August 31, 2020 By Game & Fish Staff. 9) The 280-Pounder. Catfish anglers love both of these Zebco reels for two main reasons: first of all the slow speed retrieval combined with the high power drag system makes them perfect for fighting monster cats, and secondly the bait. The catfish’s main bone is in the upper part of its body, and the smaller bones are joined on both sides. 75That means ensuring tackle boxes are stocked with the best hooks for catfish. The good news about catfish, though, is that when they pick at your bait they’ll attract more attention to it. Cobia – 90 lbs. Plecostomus. * Because of current SCDNR slot limit regulations, the record listed will remain until fishery regulations change. 41 kg (11 pound, 15 ounce) smallmouth has seen its share of controversy over the years. Zebra danios are fast swimming, active danio fish that are amazing in. Green iridescence is particularly prominent in this species, covering the head as well as much of the body. 5-pound, former world-record blue cat. Angler Brad Gibson with a 7. It is translucent and eellike, and it grows to a length of about 2. 7 meter long and weighed 100 lb / 45 kg. 86 kilograms (143 pounds,. Remember to always equip bait (Press R to open the bait window) based on your location and desired catch. This was also a recent record set in 2020. The all-tackle world record Eurasian catfish was caught July 4, 1997 by angler Shoji Matsuura from Lake Biwa in Shiga, Japan. 5 pounds with larger fish caught in the. There are a couple of catfish on our list, starting with a trophy-sized flathead. Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes / s ɪ ˈ lj ʊər ɪ f ɔːr m iː z / or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. 0 lb) and 69 cm (27 in) in length. If a creature attacks a saltwater catfish, it will raise its spines and try to sting its attacker. 1/2” Mesh 1. These fish do not run in the same crowd as. If you want to go for big fish like catfish, then you need a bigger and heavier reel to support. The dorsal spine normally is held erect when the fish is. You can even try strips of saltwater. Although it is native to Mississippi river drainage, it has been introduced to several reservoirs, rivers, and lakes in other U. 9 lbs and measured 48 inches long. Channel catfish, black crappie, walleye and striped bass are all popular catches. 0. The state record belongs to Phil Infantolino, who caught the 1,046-pound behemoth in Hudson Canyon in 1986. Everyone has their own personal opinion, but the best eating tends to be 3-5lbs. Biancardi said he decided to go in shallow water in an attempt to land it. To contact him private message “chrisblue” on here, email to [email protected] inches for females. Alessandro Biancardi, with from the MADCAT ITALY team, shocked the whole catfish world with a massive 9-foot-long, 330-pound catfish caught in the Po River. The main predators of catfish are reptiles, large fish, mammals, and humans. Gafftops have extra-long dorsal fins that look. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about. Brown Bullhead: 7 pounds, 6 ounces, caught by Glenn Collacuro at Mahopac Lake in New York in 2009. The largest flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) was 123 pounds. In the latter cases, the species can be identified by the number of rays in the anal fin. 5 – 34. The catch must be photographed over a qualifying measuring device as well as in a photo. The Beluga Sturgeon is the source of Beluga Caviar, the most expensive kind of caviar and the most expensive food item in the world. gov. Anything close to that would be considered a trophy catch. terrelli, which grew almost 9 m (29. The gafftopsail catfish ( Bagre marinus) is one of the two most common species of saltwater catfish, the other being the hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis), found in the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea from as far south as Panama and as far north as Cape Cod. What is world record crappie? The black crappie would weigh an astonishing 5 lbs 7. 2 inches for females. Best Circle Hook: Team. For your own safety, head to shore right away. Diet: Omnivore. All-Tackle Record: 64. A reel with a retrieve ratio of 6:1 reels in line faster than a reel with a ratio of 5:1. 3. 5 inches (0. Cody Stricker / CC BY 4. Italian angler Alessandro Biancardi shocked the catfishing world this week with an absolutely massive Wels catfish he caught from Italy’s River Po. Moreover, a 10-20-pound test line will do for any type of structure. 4) Flathead Catfish: 72 pounds 14 ounces. The size range of catfish is large; from about five inches to almost six feet. The Freshwater Giants Are Dying. Catfish Top Spots. 8 kilo - 17. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. (Game & Fish Image) Bluefish are abundant and popular sportfish in many areas, particularly along the Northeast coast. The biggest steelhead trout caught in Oregon was a 35 pound 8 ounce trout caught on the Columbia River (probably a summer-runner). (There is an incredibly ugly looking saltwater variety of catfish, the name of which I have long since forgotten, but I know it exists because I once snagged one. His 21. In Florida there are three dominant species of armored catfish swimming in our waters, the Sailfin Catfish, the vermiculated Sailfin and the Hypostomus (Plecos). There are however numerous reports of even bigger Blue. Similarly, the Wels catfish, a popular European species, has been documented to live. Conventional tanks won’t suffice. amberjack, greater: amberjack: brian s. What is a saltwater catfish? Several species are considered saltwater catfish, but the two most common are the hardhead catfish and gafftop or sail catfish. It spends most of its time at sea or lakes before migrating to rivers and streams in. There are very few saltwater fish as famous as the Clownfish. “By spraying foam in the jugs, I solve that problem. Make sure you get all of the blood from the fillets when washing. Most of these farm-raised fish come from the South—primarily Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas—where the deep-fried delicacy’s true soulmate, the “hush. Catfish can live in a number of conditions, with species that live in saltwater, freshwater and brackish water. They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico. This fish can reach lengths of up to 5 feet and weights over 200 pounds, but many claim they can become much larger. 1 flounder-fishing rig along the Texas Coast is easy to assemble and fish. The hardest fighting fishing pound-for-pound are billfish, tuna, grouper, mahi mahi, and tarpon in saltwater, striped bass, steelhead, and salmon in intercoastal waters, and carp and northern pike in freshwater. The warmer the water, the faster a fish’s metabolism will be. , with up to 10 lbs. The Blue Catfish has a deeply forked tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to white on its sides and belly. On madtom and saltwater catfish, the skin covering these spines contains miniscule poison cells that burst when a spine stabs a careless angler. Mekong Catfish In 2005 a man caught a Mekong catfish of 9 feet, weighing 646 pounds , taking the world record for the biggest catfish in the world. 5 feet long! ©M. FLATHEAD AUSTRALIAN (Platycephalus fuscus) Greg Finney landed a giant flathead at Mallacoota in Victoria (Australia). The Saltwater Reel Big Fish program recognizes anglers for extraordinarily-sized catches of the 30 different saltwater species listed below. Some catfish prefer stagnant water and others call rivers and streams with fast-moving currents their homes, it all depends. SPECIES : WEIGHT: ANGLER: DATE : Almaco Jack: 38. The Pictus Catfish is a nocturnal fish, so don't expect much activity during the day. Spool up enough leader to allow a turn or two. When they go for the bait, they go all in, meaning that there is a good chance the entire line will be covered in the slime as well. 5 inches for the 6-foot extended length version. Picture. A really big catfish: In 2015, an Italian fisherman caught a 280-lb. The catfish’s mouth and throat are lined with bristle-like sharp points. 6 inches for males and 7. answers. 46 inches with a chunky 39-inch girth. The anal fin is the most prominent feature of a Blue Catfish and has a straight outer edge (sometimes referred to as a “barber’s razor”) with 30–36 fin rays. There really isn’t any more details about Fernandes’ catch, but he did use a fiberglass Sportex rod to land the redtail catfish. These can hurt people with painful puncture wounds. Best for Treble. Location: Fernandina Beach, FL. The meat of old catfish also tends to get old and mushy, providing a different and more gamey flavor when cooked. Biggest. Mix 1 cup ground yellow cornmeal, 1 cup cornflour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons of salt, half a teaspoon of cayenne, and ground black pepper in a bowl. By Chester Moore Jr. They fight hard, and the smaller ones, that fall within the slot, are great eating. 31 Harold W. Blue Catfish commonly reach 36 inches and 20 pounds. This is what not only allows you to pull in these large amounts of line quickly but gives you good power to “winch” in big cats. The state record flathead catfish weighed 84 pounds, 9. It is a large fish that can grow almost 6 feet long and have a top weight of 180 pounds. Its filter feeding relative, Titanichthys, may have rivaled it in size. The following list of state saltwater fishing records is according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. Price: $$$$$ Ball Bearings: 13 + 1 Reel Size: 4000 – 30000 Max Drag Weight: 24 – 62 lbs. Ralph Smith. 2. Joe Cermele SHARE. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna,. Best for Treble. 2 lb flathead, cought on Lake Conjola. pH: 5. Some eat algae and wood. Back in the day, Fernandina Beach was famous for its Goliath Grouper fishery. Channel cats have between 24 and 29 rays, while blue cats have 30 to 36. Freshwater- rarely exceeds 20lb line test unless going for lunker catfish, sturgeon or landlocked salmon. Range: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Dino e Dario. 2 pounds. What are large catfish called? Mekong Giant Catfish is the world’s largest species of catfish found in Mekong river basin in Southeast. What separates this enormous achievement from other world. Summary: An olive greenish, greyish to brown eel-tailed catfish often with pale yellowish mottling on the rear of the body, and a whitish underside. On February 15, 1976, angler Edward Walbel caught a 13-pound and 1-ounce largemouth bass at Stone Quarry Lake, the largest ever caught in Illinois. Catfish, gafftopsail: Bagre marinus: 8 lb 14 oz: Titusville: Sept. The biggest channel catfish was roughly the length of a goat. Best Rod and Reel Combo: Abu Garcia Commando Casting Combo. Reeling in large amounts of line and pulling in larger catfish requires a faster retrieve ratio. The lifespan of catfish can vary across various species. The rainbow trout weighs 26. S. 2, when Doty caught a 49-pound leucistic flathead from a small creek around 3 a. It’s the largest artificial reef in the area and home to a range of exciting fish species. Allemand: 5/96: Ladyfish : 2. The most important step is to get the fish weighed as soon as possible on a certified scale. It is alright for light fishing. Species: CATFISH, CHANNEL (Ictalurus punctatus) Species Separation 1994 Rank Weight Angler Where Caught Date Caught. Maximum lifespan for channel catfish is believed to be around 15 years. The saltwater hardhead catfish is a member of the Ictaluridae family, including the blue catfish and channel catfish. Catches must follow program rules and fishing regulations.