Various species of catfish can be found on every continent, excluding Antarctica, making them a sought-after catch for anglers and professional fishers. Whether fishing in marine water, freshwater, or brackish water, you may see the small-eyed mustached fish nearby. Have you ever gone fishing with your dad, and gotten a huge tug on your line? Did you have an intense struggle to reel in a fighting catfish? Catfish are fighters, and its possible, even for amateur fishermen, to catch a huge one! So have you ever wondered….what is the biggest catfish ever caught? Let’s take a stab at answering that question. Who is the world record flathead catfish–the largest catfish ever caught and measured? Read on to find out.
The Catfish: Are Not All Created Equally
Catfish are some of the most incredible fish with the most variety. They are easily recognized by the barbels (whiskers) on their face, which helps them sense their environment. The most diverse collections of catfish are found in South America, Asia, and Africa, but various species are prevalent everywhere. Catfish can range from teeny tiny like the Pencil Catfish that reaches about a centimeter at maturity to one of the largest, the wels catfish, weighing up to 440 pounds at full maturation. They’re voracious eaters who will consume a diverse diet and grow to incredible sizes. Catfish are a popular one for anglers, but one must be cautious when hunting and handling Catfish. Did you know about half of the catfish species are venomous?! Half! Some can even prove fatal, while many will get away with only stings from boney and sharp spines. There are some exciting catfish out there, like the electric catfish of the Nile river. A large one of these guys could stun a human with up to 300-400 volts! Guides along the river will adamantly advise wearing shoes in the water. Catfish have evolved to do all sorts of things, even walk and talk! The striped Raphael catfish or “talking catfish” or the makes audible sounds using their spines, but a walking catfish? The walking catfish uses its pectoral fins as arms to move along on land through wet and dry places. This catfish can also breathe out of the water to aid in survival during droughts or the like. Although the walking catfish isn’t native to the U.S., it has become an invasive species, breeding quickly.
Catfish: An Ancient Fish
Catfish have been around for centuries. It is even believed that they were around back in the Cretaceous Period, with the dinosaurs. A giant catfish fossil was found in the Wadi Al-Hitan Desert southwest of Cairo, Egypt, back in 2017. The Catfish, named Qarmoutus hitanensis, is believed to have lived about 37 million years ago! Surprisingly, Paleontologists said that although the fossil is millions of years old, the Catfish has remained basically the same, anatomically. Qarmoutus hitanensis was measured at about 6.5 feet, comparing it to today’s Mekong and Wels Catfish.
The Catfish: Known for Resistance
Despite the size of the Catfish, they are known for being, let’s say, challenging. In 2015 an Italian fisherman named Dino hooked an 8 foot 9 inch Wels Catfish weighing 280 pounds in Italy’s Po River, a popular place for fishing for massive catches. Dino spent 40 minutes trying to reel in this giant Catfish, probably thinking that it could prove to be the biggest catfish ever caught! Eventually, he got the fish to shore, took a few photos then freed the Catfish to live out the rest of its days. Pro fishers say even an 11-pound catfish will make you break a sweat when bringing them to the surface.
The Catfish: World Record Catch Mekong Catfish
The world record for the biggest catfish ever caught was a flathead catfish called a Mekong catfish. These giant catfish live in the dusky waters of the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. 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. Although breaking the record for the largest catfish ever caught was quite a feat for the angler, the story is a bit sad. Mekong Catfish are critically endangered, threatened by habitat degradation and the building of dams along the Mekong River. In this case, the villagers intended to sell the fish to environmental groups. Unfortunately, the fish died before they were able. Instead, the villagers split up the fish for food, feeding their community for several weeks. Still, this Mekong catfish is not only the largest catfish ever caught, but the largest fish living exclusively in freshwater, and an experience that that village will never forget. Anderson caught his blue Catfish in Kerr Lake of Virginia in 2011 and currently holds the record. What was the largest flathead catfish ever caught? Ken Paulie caught the biggest Flathead Catfish back in 1998, and he still holds the world record, though some question its legitimacy. The Flathead was over 5 feet in length and weighed 123 pounds. What was the largest Lau-Lau (Piraiba)ever caught? The largest Piraiba, native to South America, was 6.5 feet long, weighing 341 pounds. Jorge Masullo de Aguiar caught this record-setting catfish in 2009.
