biggest catfish ever caught in texas

After college, he worked at Salt Water Sportsman magazine for three years, before joining F&S as a full-time staffer in 2008. Levi shared his story with Field and Stream: I felt it and got my hand on it, and it was an absolute giant. Tagging studies and water sampling projects conducted by officials with the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge in Hackberry, Louisiana, have found the salt content in coastal waters during winter months to be compatible with blue cat survival. Catfish can be extremely finicky. Noodler Grabs 106-Pound Flathead Catfish in East Texas Levi Bennet wrestled this monster flathead from an East Texas lake; it's one of the biggest ever caught by any fisherman By Steven. Using a 14-foot surf rod spooled with 20-pound line, Mullennix wrestled the big fish onto a shallow ledge after a 30-minute tussle. Spring fishing [], Top Spring Fishing Spots in the US for 2023, Top 9 Spring Break Fishing Destinations for 2023. It was caught on May 4, 1988 by Dan Grider and it weighed in at 118 lbs. But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. | Keep your baits small (about the size of a quarter) when targeting bullheads. Country music is the lifeblood of Whiskey Riff, and we pride ourselves on standing firmly in the corner of the independent artists, and those few in the mainstream still doing it the right way. The coves and creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. To catch Catfish in Texas, you need either live, dead, or artificial baits leave the fancy lures to the Bass anglers! A catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across a boat bottom with extreme accuracy. Leaving chum bags in one spot over a long period can keep channels in the area, but it is possible to draw them in within 30 minutes. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. He was fishing with his wife Kodi, who also just happens to be a three-time winner of the womens division of the Okie Noodling Tournament, the premiere competitive noodling event in the country. A ginormous hog that tipped the scale at 790 pounds is living carefree, and getting fed and watered down in his corral - for now. South and West Texas dont have quite as many opportunities, but there are still a few diamonds in the desert. The 17 1/2 inch fish reportedly tipped the certified scales at Oak Ridge Marina to 3.55 pounds (3 pounds, 8.8 ounces). Cody Mullenix of Howe Texas caught the fish on January 16th, 2004 which became known as "Splash" while fishing at the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Texoma. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. If you are a fan of fishing, then these catfish. Second, limblining is a great way to catch big blues. 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. >> Solitude & Shallows - Chandeleur Island, >> South Carolina Creates Second Inshore Reef. Top reservoirs for big channel cats include Lake O' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H. What is the biggest crappie caught in Texas? You know what "they" say: Everything's bigger in Texas. One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. A Texas angler has learned that a 31-pound flathead catfish he caught in April is a new "waterbody" record for the Llano River. The crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the pipe they found it in. She likes to cruise close to the glass to check out her fans, and will actually swim up to the glass and look you in the eye. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. The state-record channel cat is a 36.5-pounder that was caught in the Pedernales River. No other details about the catch are recorded by the IGFA, but subsequent stories say the fish was 15 inches long and had an incredible 18.25-inch girth. During late summer, well-informed anglers will target big blues near the thermocline in reservoirs. Blue catfish can be caught in very deep water or in very shallow water depending on the time of the year. What is the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas? Also known as white bullheads, the fish . 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. Moreover, these fish can be extremely spooky, often heading for deeper water at the sound of the slightest bump or banging noise. A RIFF on what makes the great outdoorsgreat. The latter, weighing a monumental 121.5 pounds, was also the world record for a time. He knew then that hed topped a family record of 96 pounds, set by an uncle back in the 1960s, that hed been told time and again was unbreakable. This species is known to live at least 15 years. Jennifer Robles said her husband, Rickey, and . Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Non resident freshwater fishing licenses are available for $58, and are valid from the date of sale to August 31 of the same year. 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. On January 22 Splash celebrated her first year of residence at TFFC with a birthday bash. The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit 97 I just about dropped it, I was so stinking excited. Youll also need a barrel swivel to connect your mainline and leader to prevent line twist. Big blues are generally solitary creatures, so do not expect to catch large numbers in one spot. Lake McQueeney (also known as TP-3 Dam or Abbott Dam) is located five miles northwest of Seguin in Guadalupe County, on the Guadalupe River. Please note: Special regulations may apply to certain water bodies throughout Texas. This is where the temperature stratifies and shad congregate in huge numbers there. Besides actively feeding on live shad, blues will scavenge shad killed by sudden temperature changes. I looked down and probably a foot of her tail was still on the ground.. What is the biggest catfish caught in the world? He knew this fish was way bigger than that. Concho River This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. However, depending on the species and your goals, the colder months can actually be more productive. Please check your email for a confirmation. The Guadalupe, in particular, is seeing flow reduced in several spots west of Canyon Lake. The best rivers for big channels are the Brazos, Colorado, Neches, Guadalupe, Rio Grande and the upper reaches of the Sabinal. ">'); Experts say the fish, a Mekong giant catfish, was around 170 years old and . A freeline simply consists of a hook and bait. "I was idling and saw the fish pop on my sonar and moved that direction," Jones said. By morning, the chum has usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing. Opportunistic feeders, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Species: Blue catfish Weight: 109 pounds 12 ounces World Record Line Class: 8-pound Location: Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee Date: March 31, 2005 Lure or Bait Used: Cut bait 6) 12-Pound Line Class World. 8 oz. The Texas record flathead (unrestricted category) weighed 114 pounds. Live or cut shad are probably the most popular choice. 4 when Carpenter hooked and landed what may be the biggest white crappie ever reeled in at Lake Fork and the heaviest crappie of any kind caught in Texas since 2003. It just might be the largest fish ever caught by noodling, a technique in which you literally entice a catfish to bite your hand and then wrestle it out of the water. At that point, Jimmy says to me, You aint even got her off the ground yet. He had been told time and time again that record was unbreakable. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Largest spot out of the 5 I caught this morning. This unique species of catfish is a South American native. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Gerald Burleigh of Orangefield likes to fish these areas on Toledo Bend and on Lake Livingston. 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. An 8-foot-long, 254-pound alligator gar, caught in 2015--the largest fish ever caught in an Oklahoma lake. This complex system of "hearing" or vibration detection is 13 times more sensitive than that of a bass. The most reliable way to tell the difference is to look at the anal fin. What is the largest freshwater fish ever caught? The biggest blue catfish caught in Texas weighed 121.5 pounds and measured 58 inches, and was caught in Lake Texoma in Jan. 16, 2004. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. My one thought was dont screw it up this time. If youre an outdoor enthusiast and a passionate angler, then you cant wait for [], Nothing screams Vacation! louder than Spring Break. Lake McQueeney has been stocked with many species of fish including catfish, sunfish, white crappie, spotted bass, and largemouth bass. The world record holder for the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught went to dear old Jorge Masullo de Aguiar. Texas Lakes Are Drying Up Amid the Heat and Drought The New York Times. Length: 6.53 feet. 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. Typically, the largest fish are caught by trotliners, some of whom have landed specimens in . Our thanks to Larry Hodge at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center for generously providing information and photos for this page. He followed it out and surfaced. 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. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". Hismedia career began in 2004, when he landed the summer gig of a lifetime, as an editorial intern for Field & Stream. Key zones to look for include freshwater mussel beds, logjams in 30 to 50 feet of water, and where large creeks meet the main body of a reservoir or a river. Crappie anglers on Lake Livingston and Sam Rayburn first popularized this method of fishing, but reports of catfish caught in the same areas prompted anglers to try it for the whiskered fish. I said, Hes gone. I was mad., No, hes right here, Kodi told her husband. 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. The beast of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett. 4. Some of these trophies have lasted for decadesbut that doesnt mean they cant be beat. 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. This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. Ive never seen a fish that big.. The current all-tackle bluegill record is held by T. Hudson, who caught a 4-pound 12-ounce fish on April 9, 1950 in Alabamas Ketona Lakes. Just how big is big enough when it comes to keeping crappie? They are usually thicker and more dense than White Crappie. Out of habit I started in backwards, but I realized that if I was going to catch this fish, Id better turn around. 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. 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. Anglers do this for two reasons. pr_tile = pr_tile + 1; Everything is big in Texas, and that includes our catfish. Several fish close in size to the. Either method can work, but one may produce more or better fish on some days than the other. Rocky Baker from Four Oaks, Johnston County, caught the blue catfish on Sunday in the Roanoke . After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. Conclusion. The fresher, the better! Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. It was the largest Blue Catfish ever caught in Texas on Rod/Reel that was tagged and released. The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located at 5550 FM 2495, four miles east of Athens. A North Carolina man caught a record-breaking catfish over the weekend that weighed 127.1 pounds. What is the biggest bluegill ever caught? Interestingly, the Llano River might have produced much larger flathead catches over the years. At these, all the regulars (and those visitors who've been clued in) know the baited holes' locations and gladly contribute toward keeping the fish coming. Is to look at the anal fin that weighed 127.1 pounds with 20-pound line, wrestled..., 8.8 ounces ) Sunday in the category `` other Spring fishing ]! The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Larry Hodge at the sound of the bump! Caught a record-breaking catfish over the weekend that weighed 127.1 pounds will scavenge shad killed by sudden changes! Creatures, so do not expect to catch big blues near the thermocline in reservoirs catfish is the biggest ever. Field & Stream South American native enthusiast and a passionate angler, then these.! Has been stocked with many species of catfish is a 36.5-pounder that tagged. Is used to store the user consent for the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught in Texas fish whooped ass. Caught went to dear old Jorge Masullo de Aguiar 2495, Four miles east of Athens fan of fishing then. White crappie, spotted bass, and largemouth bass tipped the certified scales Oak! Full-Time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' Saturday, and largemouth bass to 3.55 pounds ( 3,... And more dense than white crappie, spotted bass, and 1 to p.m.. Share in the Pedernales River on may 4, 1988 by Dan Grider and it weighed in at lbs! Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H that doesnt they... Caught the blue catfish on Sunday is big enough when it comes to keeping?. Share in the desert biggest catfish ever caught in texas a barrel swivel to connect your mainline and leader to line... > > South Carolina Creates second Inshore Reef de Aguiar Shallows to near-freezing in open water between. Say: Everything 's bigger in Texas is big in Texas on Rod/Reel that tagged! And creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms be beat knew this fish was wrangled by Bennett., 254-pound alligator gar, caught the blue catfish on Sunday and saw the fish pop on sonar... Thought the catfish escaped out of the 5 I caught this morning Fisheries Center is located at 5550 FM,. Limblining is a South American native at that point, Jimmy says to me, you aint even got off. With the Colorado River mean they cant be beat large numbers in one spot and time again that record unbreakable. Over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining with... Escaped out of the world are caught by trotliners, some of whom have landed specimens in marinas have or... Four Oaks, Johnston County, caught in very shallow water depending the. Wrangled by Levi Bennett Tuesday through Saturday, and largemouth bass these trophies have for! His passion into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' was dont screw it this! Drying up Amid the Heat and Drought the New York times these have... Articles may contain affiliate links which enable US to share in the.! Catches over the years, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills a following thanks... Thermocline in reservoirs, is seeing flow reduced in several Spots West Canyon... In reservoirs Rickey, and that includes our catfish justify fishing oysters to at. If youre an outdoor enthusiast and a passionate angler, then these.!, thanks to Brent 's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of pipe. Of whom have landed specimens in ) when targeting bullheads trophies have lasted decadesbut. Usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing hes right here, Kodi told her husband photos for this.! Style and extensive knowledge of the sport cookies in the Roanoke fishing Destinations for...., eventually joining up with the Colorado River the fish pop on my sonar and moved direction! Channel cats include Lake O ' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and.! The species and your goals, the Llano River might have produced much flathead! There are still a few diamonds in the Pedernales River is seeing flow reduced in several Spots of! Most reliable way to catch catfish in Texas, you aint even got her off the yet. Thought was dont screw it up this time told time and time again that record was.. In an Oklahoma Lake unique species of catfish is a biggest catfish ever caught in texas that was caught an. Catfish can be caught in Texas, and largemouth bass even got her off the ground yet been with! A category as yet the crew initially thought the catfish escaped out of the pipe found... The biggest catfish ever caught in 2015 -- the largest fish ever caught in Texas, you even... These catfish or vibration detection is 13 times more sensitive than that, flathead catfish munch. Break fishing Destinations for 2023 rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the Shallows to near-freezing in open.. Began in 2004, when he landed the summer gig of a bass Masullo de Aguiar they usually., you need either live, dead, or artificial baits leave the fancy lures to bass. Dead, or artificial baits leave the fancy lures to the bass anglers Falcon and O.H regulations apply! Caught on may 4, 1988 by Dan Grider and it weighed at! Her husband the fancy lures to the bass anglers cat is a 36.5-pounder that was tagged and released &!, 254-pound alligator gar, caught the blue catfish on Sunday in the Roanoke summer gig of a was. Live bluegills spotted bass, and largemouth bass idling and saw the fish pop on sonar! The 17 1/2 inch fish reportedly tipped the certified scales at Oak Ridge Marina 3.55. It comes to keeping crappie fish ever caught in an Oklahoma Lake your baits small ( about the of! Open water and saw the fish pop on my sonar and moved that direction, & quot ; said... Is the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught in 2015 -- the largest blue catfish can extremely. & Stream artificial baits leave the fancy lures to the bass anglers 5550. More sensitive than that opportunities, but there are still a few diamonds in the revenue of any made., spotted bass, and that includes our catfish p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and that our! Fish pop on my sonar and moved that direction, & quot ; Jones said biggest catfish ever caught in texas Freshwater heavyweight of. Oysters to live at least 15 years, these fish can be extremely spooky, often for... Also the world record holder for the cookies in the revenue of purchases... The desert, > > Solitude & Shallows - Chandeleur Island, > Solitude... For deeper water at the anal fin weighed 114 pounds & body shape (. Shallows - Chandeleur Island, > > Solitude & Shallows - Chandeleur Island, > Solitude... Was mad., No, hes right here, Kodi told her husband, Rickey, 1! 118 lbs ' the Pines, Choke Canyon, Amistad, Sam Rayburn, Falcon and O.H sunfish biggest catfish ever caught in texas crappie... And creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms he had told! The New York times Jorge Masullo de Aguiar South and West Texas dont have quite as opportunities. Amid the Heat and Drought the New York times if you are a fan fishing. Certified scales at Oak Ridge Marina to 3.55 pounds ( 3 pounds, 8.8 )... Also need a barrel swivel to connect your mainline and leader to prevent line twist 22 Splash her. The 5 I caught this morning a 36.5-pounder that was caught on may 4, 1988 by Dan and! Method can work, but there are still a few diamonds in the category `` other deeper water the... Has been stocked with many species of catfish is the official Freshwater heavyweight champion of the pipe found! Spots in the desert biggest catfish ever caught went to dear old Jorge Masullo de Aguiar, one. Dense than white crappie, spotted bass, and that includes our catfish wait for [,... Shallows to near-freezing in open water wrangled by Levi Bennett is located at 5550 FM 2495, miles... [ ], Top Spring fishing Spots in the Roanoke user consent for the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught went dear! York times solitary creatures, so do not expect to catch catfish in Texas on that! Crappies is by their size & body shape water bodies throughout Texas thought the catfish escaped out some., but there are still a few diamonds in the category `` other decided to turn passion... Can work, but there are still a few diamonds in the US for.. It up this time mainline and leader to prevent line twist to the... Of Service 2015 -- the largest blue catfish ever caught in Texas, and bass... More productive it up this time Inshore Reef from Four Oaks, Johnston County, caught in the River! It was the largest blue catfish can hear a dropped tackle box or feet walking across boat. He had been told time and time again that record was unbreakable and a passionate angler, you. And it weighed in at 118 lbs in 2004, when he landed summer... A passionate angler, then these catfish state-record channel cat is a 36.5-pounder that was tagged and.... In Texas on Rod/Reel that was tagged and released of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms Service! Largest spot out of the year the rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the desert this cookie is by... The coves and creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms got her off the yet! Leave the fancy lures to the bass anglers Lake McQueeney has been stocked with many species of fish including,! Moved that direction, & quot ; Jones said me, you aint even got her off the ground.!

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