The largest fish ever caught which is verified and listed by the IGFA is a 2,664lb (1208kg) great white shark. Its also larger than the 101-pound (45.8-kilogram) blue catfish caught by a team of two people in 1997. Imagine trying to use all of your strength and weight to pull that fish up! They are large and strong catfish that put up quite a fight when caught on the line. A lifelong fisherman in Mississippi has smashed a state record after catching a "monster" catfish weighing in at 131lbs (59.4 kilograms). Christopher Halley caught a 104-pound blue catfish in the Mississippi River near Natchez on a trotline. . Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River basin systems, and have been introduced elsewhere the U.S. Images showing the record catfish are courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, A Pennsylvania hunter has upset some of his neighbors by hanging a deer from a tree outside his home and butchering the carcass in front (), Authorities in Hawaii have called off the search for a 60-year-old woman a day after she went missing while snorkeling in an area where a (), Its not uncommon to spot deer on Californias Monterey Peninsula, but it is quite rare to see the animals strolling along the beach and (). The fish weighed an astonishing 131 pounds! Eugene Cronley reeled the "monster catfish" in after a 40-minute tussle and was amazed by its size. Was the Mississippi River really home to a massive 736-pound catfish? . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is the biggest carp ever caught in the United States with hook and line. 5) Bighead Carp Bighead carp are filter-feeders, but at 100lbs, they are one of the biggest fish in the Mississippi River. Catfish, especially blue catfish, can grow to enormous sizes. Experts say the fish, a Mekong giant catfish, was around 170 years old and never seen in this part of the world. The largest fish ever caught which is verified and listed by the IGFA is a 2,664lb (1208kg) great white shark. These fish can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh nearly 100 pounds! They have minimal predators since they are fast and large! This is because they are heavily sought after for food. Fifteen- to 30-pounders are common, and 50- to 70-pounders probably are caught somewhere along the river's length every day during summer. They adapt well to the Chesapeake Bay as they can travel from freshwater to brackish water with ease. The largest White Bass caught in the state of Mississippi was in 1979. Eugene Cronley of Brandon and the record setting 131-pound (59.4-kilogram) blue catfish he caught, 7 April, 2022. Eugene Cronley spent a minimum of thirty minutes tugging on his line until he was able to pull the massive fish out of the 90-foot fishing hole. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. They are similar to other catfish species, but they have a unique blue or grey tone. However, not every catch is what you'll expect. Although catfish are known for their whiskers, the Mekong giant has no whiskers. The fish is the largest blue catfish ever weighed on a certified scale in South Carolina. The Mekong giant catfish is regarded, not only as the largest species of catfish but also as one of the fish species with the fastest growth rates in the world. Blue catfish are hunted for sport and food. A simple glance at it reveals that it is extremely photoshopped. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said the fish is the new State Trophy Record Blue Catfish. RELATED: Catch of giant muskie breaks 25-year-old record, Cronley described the catch as truly a fish of a lifetime., Eugene Cronley (right) admires his record catch. Can you imagine the strength you would need to pull one out of the water? The gargantuan fish was 55 inches long, with a girth of 42 inches. The image that accompanied the article actually shows an average-sized flathead catfish (which grow to about five feet in length), not a Mekong Giant Catfish. However, they have also been introduced in several rivers and reservoirs. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, caught the blue catfish on 7 April in the Mississippi River near Natchez. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, caught the blue catfish on 7 April in the Mississippi River near Natchez. They are often bred in captivity and then released into the ocean. Invasive or not, the most common fish found in the Mississippi river are the common carp, smallmouth bass, white bass, largemouth bass, catfish, American eels, walleye, and sturgeon. In the Mississippi River Delta, other non-aquatic animals live by the river bank. The state's population of this species is extremely low. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. During his April 7 fishing excursion on the Mississippi River near Natchez, Mississippi, Cronley reeled in a 131-pound blue catfish that looked like something from prehistoric times. Mississippi River, Alton Illinois, 124 Lbs, Tim Pruitt On May 21st, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a 124-pound record breaking the previous 121.5 lb record caught in Texas. largest catfish caught in the Mississippi, The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, largest species of fish in the Mississippi. However, it is not eligible for state record certification. They hunt vulnerable prey in deep waters. The Mississippi state record is 95 pounds and was caught in the Mississippi River near Natchez. He said he used a rod and reel with skipjack herring as bait and that it took him 40 minutes to catch the fish. The lower portion of a human torso was digitally added to a photograph of a flathead to create the illusion of a much larger catfish: National Geographic notes that Mekong Giant Catfish can weigh up to 650 pounds. Because of its sheer size, Cronley had to take the fish to Vans Deer Processing and Sporting Goods in Rankin County, Mississippi, which had a certified scale large enough to weigh the fish. Answer (1 of 5): Paddlefish aren't even close to the largest though they do get nice sized and beat out catfish for size. ( WJTV) A fisherman in Mississippi set a new record for the largest blue catfish ever caught in the state. Monster Mississippi Catfish Sets Record - Videos from The Weather Channel Monster Mississippi Catfish Sets Record May 7, 2022 A Mississippi angler caught a record-setting blue catfish. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. They are the largest fish species in North America. NATCHEZ, Miss. Most blue catfish consume whatever is in their environment. It's home to various underwater creatures, including some of the largest catches in the country. caught by Dakota Hinson in 2009, and is larger than the trophy record blue catfish of 101. The species is considered a tasty delicacy in many parts of the world they are hunted by humans and several birds. It took over an hour for the Thai fishermen to reel in the heavy catfish. Fishers travel to Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Rio Grande river basins each year in hopes of catching multiple gigantic blue catfish. Both of those fish were also caught in the Mississippi River near Natchez. Cronley said his fish was 56.6 inches (1.4 meters) long with a girth of 41 inches (1.04 meters). I was wore out.. caught by Dakota Hinson in 2009, and is larger than the trophy record blue catfish of 101 lbs. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said Eugene Cronley of Brandon caught the 131-pound (59.4-kilogram) fish April 7 in the Mississippi River near Natchez. Blue catfish are also mainly carnivores and opportunists. Following an exhausting battle that continued for about 40 minutes, Pruitt landed not only the largest catfish ever landed in Illinois, but the biggest blue cat ever caught in the world, a monstrous 124-pound lunker. In addition to the five-pound, 12-ounce sauger, 48-pound buffalo, 57-pound huge sturgeon, and 52-pound paddlefish that were caught in 1977, this . The large silvery fish was 5.6 pounds and Mulvihill caught it in the Grenada Reservoir Spillway while in the Rod and Reel division. It gets its name from its natural habitat, the Mekong River. What is the biggest catfish ever caught in the United States? . Where Does The Colorado River Start and End? This article takes a detailed and factual look into the rumor. The department said Cronleys fish broke the previous rod-and-reel record of a 95-pound (43.1-kilogram) fish caught in 2009. Table of Contentsshow 1. For example, younger and smaller blue catfish will only hunt plankton and other small organisms. The record was set in April of 2012.30 Apr 2022 What is the largest fish found in US inland waters? However, after a year, they become herbivores and feed on plants. However, they are not endangered even though females produce only once each year. Lets find out. In 1673, Marquette accompanied Louis Joliet on an extensive exploration of the Mississippi. Cronley was so close to beating the record for the largest blue catfish ever caught in the world! Needless to . Mekong giant catfishes are one of the largest freshwater fish species known to man. The Mississippi River is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of blue catfish. Discover the Largest Blue Catfish Ever Caught, Discover the Largest Flathead Catfish Ever Caught, Discover the Largest Blue Catfish Ever Caught in Florida, Blue Catfish vs Channel Catfish: 5 Key Differences, Watch Fisherman Wrestle 400lb Jungle Fish in Heroic Catch, Great White Leaps from the Water to Catch This Bird in Wild Video, Discover the Largest Blue Catfish Ever Caught in the Mississippi River. Blue catfish are huge fish commonly found in competitions. Ive been catfishing all my life and I never dreamed of something like this, Cronley told the Clarion Ledger. The state caters to its fishes and proudly states that the upper Mississippi is home to more species than are found in any of Wisconsins inland lakes.. In a statement obtained by Zenger News, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks . Another strike against this rumor is in the image itself. The record was set in April of 2012. Thank you for reading! The Mississippi Department of Wildlife certified the catch as a new state record blue catfish. Cronley was a little more than 10lbs shy of the world-record catch for a blue catfish, which was set in 2011 when a 143-pound (64.9-kilogram) behemoth was reeled in from a Virginia lake, according to the International Game Fish Association. Eugene Cronley with record catfish "The fish shattered the previous rod-and-reel record of 95 lbs. While most fish in the world are not top predators, blue catfish have a lot of advantages. Although most simply enjoy telling their version of the story, many claim to have actually seen it, yet some never believed it to be true. The largest catfish ever reeled in was the massive Mekong giant catfish, which was caught near a remote village in Thailand back in 2005. This is probably because females produce up to 3000-4000 eggs per pound of their body! "Both lakes, connected by a diversion canal held the national record for 21 years on blue cat with a 109-pounder. The white sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in North America. The largest fish ever caught which is verified and listed by the IGFA is a 2,664lb (1208kg) great white shark. The catfish weighed in at 736 lbs. caught by the team of Freddie Parker and Brad Smith in 1997, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks boasted Monday on Facebook. I have been a professional content writer for 6 years now, with a large focus on nature, gardening, food, and animals. While you can find blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay, they are an invasive species. The Biggest Fish Ever Caught No. What's the biggest fish ever caught in the Mississippi River? In the state of Mississippi, the largest White Bass ever caught was by William Mulvihill in Greenwood, Mississippi. Imagine trying to use all of your strength and weight to pull that fish up! I graduated from college with an A.A, but I am still pursuing a Bachelors of Marketing degree. Can you imagine the strength you would need to pull one out of the water? A photograph shows a 736-pound catfish caught in the Mississippi River. That catfish was caught at Virginias Kerr Lake in 2011. A Mississippi angler has shattered the state record for blue catfish after a 40-minute fight with what he described as a fish of a lifetime.. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, caught the blue catfish on 7 April in the Mississippi River near Natchez. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Mississippi is home to 119 species of fish. This material may not be reproduced without permission. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP . 131-pound Talk about a fish tale: A Mississippi man reeled in a massive blue catfish that set a state record. Youd probably believe a rumor if you saw images and had heard bedtime stories of them all your life. RiverBenders article detailed that the catfish weighed in at 736 pounds. Some of Mississippis fishes are recognized for their unusual large sizes. Blue catfish are huge fish commonly found in competitions. A lifelong fisherman in Mississippi has smashed a state record after catching a "monster" catfish weighing in at 131lbs (59.4 kilograms). They are a species in the shark catfish family. The fish shattered the previous rod-and-reel record of 95 lbs. It was caught by Australian angler Alfred Dean in April 1959 off the coast of Ceduna, in South Australia. Cronleys fish broke the previous rod-and-reel record of a 95-pound (43.1-kilogram) fish caught in 2009. Carey Branham and his fishing pal Greg Branham, both of Farmington, caught a 101 pound blue catfish.This was the biggest catfish Carey has ever caught. On average, they weigh from 25 to 150 pounds (40-50 kg) and are 24- 65 inches in length. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, blue catfish usually grow up to two feet or less. On April 7th, 2022, an excited fisherman caught the largest blue catfish in the Mississippi River. Liopleurodon were fast swimmers that lived entirely under water, but they had no gills. The current world-record blue catfish recognized by the International Game Fish Association is a 143-pounder caught in June 2011 on Kerr Lake, Virginia. A Mississippi angler has netted the biggest blue catfish in the state's history, smashing previous records. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/04/record-shattering-blue-catfish-caught-mississippi-river, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Eugene Cronley broke a state record when he caught the fish of a lifetime after a 40-minute tussle. They prefer to stay in large rivers with deep channels. Please check your email for a confirmation. Red Mudger of Meadowbrook first told the story of the day he discovered the biggest catfish ever known to man back in 1902. When compared to images of other large fishes that are actually on the record, this catfish pales greatly. . This species is known to live up to 60 years but is considered endangered. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and. Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, caught the 131-pound fish on. Goonch. They are similar to other catfish species, but they have a unique blue or grey tone. The fish he caught was 56.6 inches long. Have some feedback for us? However, this isn't even the largest blue catfish caught in the entirety of the Mississippi! Experts believe that this monster Mekong giant catfish is not only the largest catfish ever caught in the world, but the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. Many fishing experts believe that this behemoth Mekong River catfish was not only the largest catfish that had ever been caught but was also the largest freshwater fish recorded. The Mississippi River is between 5.6 and 40 million years old. What is the largest catfish ever caught out of the Mississippi River? I just sat there like I was hung up., It is truly a fish of a lifetime, he said, adding, He is a monster.. It established a new unrestricted-tackle state record for the species. Blue catfish get their nam from their soft silvery-blue skins. Santee River The 171,000 acres of water in that section is home to some of the largest catfish in the United States. So why did this rumor blow up, you might wonder. According to the Guardian, the title of the largest catfish caught in the Mississippi belongs to a 131-pound blue catfish caught this very year. Angling Opportunities: On Pool 26, Pohlman's Slough, just above Grafton where the Illinois River flows into the Mississippi, is a good fishing spot, as are other backwaters in the area. The Mudger family comes from a long line of expert fisherman. Gulf sturg. Eugene Cronley reeled the monster catfish in after a 40-minute tussle and was amazed by its size. NATCHEZ, Miss. Contents1 What kind of catfish are in the Mississippi River?2 Where are blue catfish [] In 1944, an alligator gar weighing a whopping 157 pounds was caught and is one of five Mississippi River state records for Illinois. They are born carnivores and feed on zooplankton as babies. The largest one caught in Mississippi was in the Mississippi River and was 77.7 pounds, caught by Matt Bingham. On this day, Christopher Halley caught the largest blue catfish in the state, reeling in a fish weighing a whopping 104 pounds. For the sake of comparison, the all-tackle world record for blue catfish stands at 143 pounds. In 2016, RiverBender.com published an article containing images of a 736-pound catfish rumored to have been caught by fishermen in the Mississippi River. Primarily a "big river" fish species, the Blue Catfish is found almost exclusively in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.Adults are among our largest freshwater fishes; fish weighing almost 100 pounds have been taken from the lower reaches of the Missouri River. 8: 1,298-Pound Sixgill Shark. Most nations classify a common carp weighing 15 to 25 pounds as an average-sized fish. The largest species of catfish is known as the Mekong giant catfish and is only found in Asia. Giant Mississippi River Catfish Shatters Previous Record Catch. They affect the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay by consuming blue crab, striped bass, and Atlantic sturgeon. It was caught by Australian angler Alfred Dean in April 1959 off the coast of Ceduna, in South Australia. Where are the [] The Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area is located between pools 25 and 26. Urban legendry is rife with tales of monstrously large catfish glimpsed lurking at the base of dams or pulled out of murky waters by anglers, and on 1 April 2016 RiverBender.com played on those legends by publishing a photograph documenting fishermanKato "Mudcat" Mudger's having hauled a 736-pound catfish out of the Mississippi river: Rumors of a monster catfish living in the Mississippi River have been told for generations by natives up and down the mighty waterway that divides the Western U.S. from the East. The largest one caught in Mississippi was in the Mississippi River and was 77.7 pounds, caught by Matt Bingham. That honor goes to Eugene Cronley who caught a 131-pound blue catfish in the Mississippi River on April 7th, 2022. Their large size makes them difficult targets, and their quick speeds help them feast on smaller fish and prey. We had to untie the boat and float down the river, Cronley told the Clarion Ledger. Find out where the blue catfish ranks. According to the Guardian, the title of the largest catfish caught in the Mississippi belongs to a 131-pound blue catfish caught this very year. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Blue catfish have barbels which help them sense and find food. That's a lot of southern fried catfish for dinner! They are not picky eaters. These animals are minks, bobcats, armadillos, and geese. Both fishes were caught in the Mississippi River, so if youre on the lookout for a large catfish of your own, you now know where to get started. The Mississippi River is home to one of the largest species of freshwater fish in the state, blue catfish. And since they weigh an average of 100 pounds, each female catfish lays an average of 300,000 eggs per year. (WJTV) - A Brandon man set a new state record in Mississippi for catching the largest blue catfish. The Mississippi is one of the largest rivers in the United States. Was the Mississippi River Really Home to a Massive 736-Pound Catfish? How big are the catfish in the Mississippi River? If you want to continue being blown away by these behemoths, consider that the average blue catfish only weighs about 82 pounds. However, this photograph and story were just. In rare cases, they can exceed 5ft and 100lbs. Not only are they overfished, but the construction of dams often blocks migration routes to their breeding spots. In addition, male blue catfishes sometimes spawn multiple times in a year. The largest one caught in Mississippi was in the Mississippi River and was 77.7 pounds, caught by Matt Bingham. Experts say the fish, a Mekong giant catfish, was around 170 years old and never seen in this part of the world. He had never seen anything as large! Blue catfish are the largest North American catfish species. In fact, the 95-pound state record blue cat was caught in the Mississippi River, and in Louisiana it has produced three blue cats in excess of 100 pounds including the state record of 114 pounds. What is the largest blue catfish ever caught? I couldnt move him. Keep reading to learn about the largest American eel ever caught in the Mississippi River. A lifelong fisherman in Mississippi has smashed a state record after catching a u201cmonsteru201d catfish weighing in at 131lbs (59.4 kilograms). Our last piece of evidence can be found on Snopes.com, a well-regarded reference site for sorting out myths and rumors. . The Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, hooked the massive catfish while using skipjack herring as bait on April 7 near Natchez on the Mississippi River. The largest Mekong giant catfish ever recorded weighed 646 pounds. It was caught by Australian angler Alfred Dean in April 1959 off the coast of Ceduna, in South Australia. They can weigh up to 440 pounds by their 6th year alone. These large fish can also consume water insects and clams. So even though a 736-pound Mekong Giant Catfish might not be completely outside the realm of possibility, these fish mainly live in theMekong River system of Southeast Asia and thus are highly unlikely to be caught by fishermen trawling the waters of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is also massive, meaning that in each section, there are different animals, fish, and plants. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, caught the blue catfish on 7 April in the Mississippi River near Natchez. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. According to the department officials, his catch broke the record which was previously held by a 101-pound catfish caught in 1997 by two people. The river has a long history and a lot of diversity, which brings in invasive species. The fish, caught on 30-pound monofilament line, weighed 131 pounds and replaces a 95-pound blue catfish as the state record. Have some feedback for us? WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Watch Fisherman Wrestle 400lb Jungle Fish in. He had never seen anything as large! This is one of the major loopholes in the claim as the only catfish known to be nearly that size is the Mekong giant catfish. The catfish weighed in at 736 lbs. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. What is the biggest fish ever caught not a shark? Catfish, especially blue catfish, can grow to enormous sizes. Not only is this the largest blue catfish caught in the Mississippi River, but it is also the largest in the state. The Mississippi river is known for some of the largest blue catfish in the United States. This record has since been broken on the Mississippi River. What's the biggest catfish ever caught in the Mississippi river? The Biggest Catfish Ever Caught In The State Of Mississippi (131 lbs) A Mississippi man named Eugene Cronley just reeled in a 131-pound blue catfish shattering the previous state record that stood for 25 years by nearly 36 pounds. Blue catfish are considered pests in several regions. They are diverse and travel from river to lake! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Consequently, they are reported to be just a few hundred catfish left in the Mekong River. The answer is simple: Thousands of tales and myths tell stories of monstrous large catfishes lurking in the depths of the Mississippi. However, this photograph and story were just humorous fabrications posted on 1 April 2016, otherwise known as April Fool's Day. Liopleurodon were fast swimmers that lived entirely under water, but they had no gills. Fishing on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois Tim Pruitt landed the massive 124-pound cat after a battle lasting nearly 40 minutes a 58 inch long, 44-inch girth blue surfaced. The Mississippi River is home to at least 188 known fish species. To quote from the article published in the Guardian, Eugene Cronley smashed a state record after catching a monster catfish weighing in at 131 lbs (59.4 kilograms). Score: 5/5 (74 votes) (WSIL) -- The Missouri Department of Conservation is highlighting a large fish recently caught on the Mississippi River. If you do not live near the four areas mentioned above, you might still have a chance of catching a blue catfish. About the American Eel Let's dive in! A lot of the fish in these waters are actually invasive. The 74-pound common carp Curtis Wade caught in 1963 at Pelahatchie Lake holds the Mississippi Rod and Reel record. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. The largest catfish ever caught, according to The Guiness Book of World Records, was a Mekong giant catfish that weighed 646 pounds. Eugene Cronley, from the city of Brandon in the state of Mississippi, caught the 131-lb whopper in the Mississippi River on April 7th. 1995 - 2022 by Snopes Media Group Inc. All-Tackle Record: 75 kilograms (165 pounds, 5 ounces), Ramganga River, India The goonch is a mysterious catfish species that inhabit the rocky, swift-moving rivers of central Asia's Ganges, Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins with some of the largest specimens taken in India, where they commonly exceed 45 kilograms (100 pounds). WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. On the Missouri River, on July 20, 2010, a yet-to-be-certified new world record blue catfish was caught by Greg Bernal of Florissant, Missouri. In addition to weighing nearly 650 pounds, this Mekong giant catfish was 9 feet (2.7 meters) long. What Lives At The Bottom of The Mississippi River? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. How big are the catfish in the Mississippi River? We could hardly get him in the boat, Cronley told the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. A lifelong fisherman in Mississippi has smashed a state record after catching a "monster" catfish weighing in at 131lbs (59.4 kilograms). In his journal of their historic venture, Marquette told of hefty catfish colliding with their canoes. The record was set in April of 2012. Adult blue catfish living in the Mississippi River will eat mussels and other smaller catfish. Over. According to Cronley, the struggle with the fish began five minutes after his bait entered the water. Id pull on him and take in a foot of line and hed pull and take 10 ft. One of the best anglers fishing for the Mississippi's giant cats is James Patterson of Mississippi River Guide Service who can be reached at (901) 383-8674, www.bigcatfishing.com. Next up on the list would be Flathead and Blue Catfish which both get to somewhere in around 120 pounds but even they are still small compared to the true monsters. These species include northern pike, bluegill, and rainbow trout. Cronleys catch was officially recorded by The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Actually, nearly 8 million geese and ducks swim to and from the Mississippi River before leaving for Latin America. However, with age and size, their diets change slightly. The fish weighed an astonishing 131 pounds! Thank you for reading! Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Snopes rates the rumor of the 736-pound catfish as false. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Cronley believes it weighed at least 138 pounds, but when icing the fish, it lost weight. A lifelong fisherman in Mississippi has smashed a state record after catching a monster catfish weighing in at 131lbs (59.4 kilograms). Blue Catfish: Claiming the third spot is the blue catfish which weighs an average of 100 pounds. Contents1 [] On April 7th, 2022, an excited fisherman caught the largest blue catfish in the Mississippi River. On May 29, 1995, John D. Harmon of Dermott caught a 116-pound, 8-ounce blue cat on a trotline in the Mississippi River south of Yellow Bend near Dermott. When I am not writing, you can find me in front of my TV with a blanket, snacks, and my fur babies. It is a major global river and serves a lot of purposes for North America. They are known to survive in brackish water, which explains their presence in inland waterways of coastal regions. The tug-of-war dragged the boat containing Pruitt, his wife and a friend for three miles downriver. The fishermans boots look almost like a cartoon. Up Next: Sea Monsters! Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi River, along with other North American rivers and lakes. Bullhead vs Catfish: What Are the Differences? However, this catfish is only found in a few parts of Asia, so there is no chance of them being found in the Mississippi. However, the actual title goes to Richard Nicholas Anderson, who caught a monstrous 143-pound blue catfish in Kerr Lake, Virginia, in 2011. If you are curious about discovering the largest blue catfish ever caught in the Mississippi River, read on! French missionary Jacques Marquette was perhaps the first to describe the gigantic catfish inhabiting the mighty Mississippi. These fish can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh nearly 100 pounds! Luckily, efforts have been put into preserving this wonderful species. Here are the 5 largest species of fish in the Mississippi. Although it is illegal to capture, kill, or trade Mekong giant catfish in many parts of Asia, people still do. In at least 20 other states, rivers and lakes are stocked with these fish. For instance, in the Upper Mississippi River, there are only about 119 species, not 188 that live in the waters. Not only is this the largest blue catfish caught in the Mississippi River, but it is also the largest in the state. The record was set in April of 2012. 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