The Pictus Catfish is a nocturnal fish, so don't expect much activity during the day. The 300-plus pounder was caught in a commercial fisherman’s net. 6. Some of the biggest catfish ever caught. According to the records, this is the largest fish of any species ever taken in New Jersey. Sturgeon are the largest of the freshwater fish. Blue Catfish. The largest saltwater catfish is the Hardhead catfish. Males are slimmer and more colorful than females, and have more pointed dorsal and anal fins than females. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about. Cucherousset J, Boulêtreau S, Azémar F, Compin A, Guillaume M, et al. 5. 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. 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. 010, saltwater as adults (1. The warmer the water, the faster a fish’s metabolism will be. There are a couple of catfish on our list, starting with a trophy-sized flathead. Circle hooks are arguably the best hook for beginners to use and are common as saltwater fishing hooks as well. The largest and most well known species was D. “It’s the biggest catfish. The candiru, ( Vandellia cirrhosa ), is a scaleless, parasitic catfish of the family Trichomycteridae found in the Amazon River region. Prefilled with quality. Biancardi said he decided to go in shallow water in an attempt to land it. They live up to 13 years old. 0. Obviously, birds and humans are also common predators. It must have been a lucky catfish month because earlier that month, on July 5 th , the blue catfish record was broken by Joey Baird when he caught a 121 pound 9. Richard V. What is the biggest catfish in Georgia? Weighing in at 110 pounds, 6 ounces, the new record holder for the largest blue catfish ever caught in Georgia measures 58 inches long with a girth of 42 inches It’s the aquatic version of Georgia’s Hogzilla, the monster hog shot in 2005. In contrast, the largest saltwater catfish (all of which frequent estuaries and areas near river mouths in tropical regions) reaches about 6½ feet long and 110 pounds in the case of the gillbacker sea catfish (Sciades parkeri), which is encountered in and around the estuarine mouth of the Amazon River. Fisherman reels in massive catfish that could break a world record. One of the most popular saltwater catfish species is the hardhead catfish, which can be found along coastal waters from. Lifespan: 60 years. 0:00. As the sun rises, it gradually warms up the water, which stimulates catfish to leave their nocturnal resting spots and search for food, making it arguably the best time to catch blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel. Angler Brad Gibson with a 7. The young juveniles are entirely black. 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. Regional Names: Channel Cat, Hump-back Blue. The only true saltwater catfish species found in the aquarium hobby is the striped eel catfish also known as the coral catfish. The best catfish angling on the Coosa River is at Lay Lake and Lake Mitchell. Mekong Giant Catfish. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper evenly on both sides. Let’s take a look at the 10 biggest trophy fish ever caught in Texas (one is a massive world record too!). m. Now onto some of the biggest saltwater fish. But what’s crazy is that most anglers completely forget about the rigging and. ”. The Coral Catfish is seen in the wild scavenging in the sand, so the fish tank must have a sandy. “It was almost like pulling in a 30-inch striper,” Tomkunas. Some live much longer however. 45 lbs or 12 kg, just like the brown trout, and ranks as one of the biggest fish inhabiting the Great Lakes. Cobia, with an average length of three to four feet, have a torpedo-shaped body. Some of them obviously fall victim to predators long before this. These fish have grayish-brown bodies with red tails, long whiskers, and large mouths. The dorsal spine normally is held erect when the fish is. It’s best to use a medium-sized hook since it will most likely end up in. The Myth: Scuba divers working around big dams have seen enormous catfish hiding in rocky lairs beneath the surface. If you are wondering how big. Perhaps their most recognized traits are their catlike whiskers, or barbells, and their lack of visible scales. Stink bait is just one of the man-made lures used to catch catfish. – Caught in Jake’s Pond, Plymouth by James Crowley in 1980Meet The Wels Catfish. 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. Many anglers have a "big one" fixed firmly in mind. Having said that, whale sharks rarely grow more than 39 feet in length. Spanning 467,000 acres, it’s also Florida’s largest lake. 5 tonnes). Redfish are one of the most popular saltwater fish pursued in the entire Gulf Coast region. Find out where freshwater and saltwater catfish live, know the best bait for catching catfish depending on the species, and learn helpful fishing tips to help will help you reel them in. When most people think of trophy-sized catfish, they usually think of flatheads. What is the biggest whale catfish ever caught? The official all-tackle world record for a wels catfish is 297 pounds, 9 ounces caught March 11, 2010 by Attila Zsedely in Italy’s River Po. A sting can cause nausea and leave you feeling lightheaded. Ken Paulie with the world-record flathead caught in 1998. 2 pounds. Myth #10: They Can Get Big Enough to Eat Me. 4 ounces Why Buy The Shimano Stella SW? This is Shimano’s “Top Dog” – The best of the best spinning reel from the world’s best fishing reel manufacturer. (Game & Fish Image) Bluefish are abundant and popular sportfish in many areas, particularly along the Northeast coast. An Italian angler may have broken the world record for the largest catfish ever caught after reeling in a massive nine-foot catfish. 3. Nile Perch, Nile River – Africa. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual caught in northern Thailand in 2005 weighted an astounding 646 pounds , making it the largest exclusively freshwater fish ever recorded. Best for Bank Fishing: B’n’M. Fish are classified as either freshwater or saltwater based on their habitat, and this is the key difference between saltwater and freshwater fish. 28 Thai Brendan Hoang Mississippi River September 2022 *4. Put Two Fingers Below The Spines. But many species may yet be saved. They need a 1000+ gallon tank – ideally, an indoor pond! They come with stunning colors, long whiskers & rapid growth up to 4ft in length! They eat a ton of food – most conventional fish food will not suffice. Handling that many would be a hurdle. The diverse ecosystem of the Coosa River features mussels, crawfish, fish, birds, and snails, offering a rich feeding environment for fish of all species. Upper jaw is longer than, and overlaps the. Striped bass is one of the largest fish available to the nearshore angler. This large catfish is distinguished by its blueish back and side, lack of black spots and humped back near the dorsal fin. Weight: 12. And the use of larger baits helps you avoid catching runts. 5 lbs , which was not only a Texas. They are usually 3 to 4 feet long. Tennessee will have a new state fishing record after an absolute giant of a catfish was hauled from the Cumberland River over the weekend. What’s the biggest catfish ever caught in the United States? Cody Mullenix of Howe Texas caught the fish on January 16th,. Reef-safe: Yes. 75 pounds. 90: 14. The Best Cast Net Choices: 3/8” Mesh . Department of. Here are our top bait recommendations for catching big numbers of channels, flatheads and blues. 005 - 1. The angler was using a Jackson rod and an Abu Garcia 6500 GR spooled with 16-pound Varivas line. Temperature: 74-80°F. 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. pH: 7. Catfish: Freshwater: Everfall, Brightwood, Cutlass Keys, Great Cleave, Reekwater, Shattered Mountain:Saltwater catfish is poisonous due to the fact that it has very sharp spines on its back that secrete poison or venom. What are large catfish called? Mekong Giant Catfish is the world’s largest species of catfish found in Mekong river basin in Southeast. They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico. Channel catfish are not native to the Bay watershed. A close look reveals the sharp spines that support the dorsal, or back, fin and the pectoral fins on the fish's sides. There are a couple of catfish on our list, starting with a trophy-sized flathead. With the help of our friends at IGFA, we've compiled this list of Florida Fishing Records. Although they start very small when sold at the fish store, these catfish can grow up to a few feet long in the wild. ”. As the sun rises, it gradually warms up the water, which stimulates catfish to leave their nocturnal resting spots and search for food, making it arguably the best time to catch blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel. The catfish can discharge a shock of up to 450 volts to defend itself and capture prey. Barbels at corner of mouth (shorter than head and not flat) Similar Species: Gafftopsail catfish, B. They’ll catch catfish in creeks, rivers, ponds or reservoirs. Conventional tanks won’t suffice. Courtesy Jeff Pierce. It is translucent and eellike, and it grows to a length of about 2. The Hardhead. They are also the most sought-after species. Species: CATFISH, CHANNEL (Ictalurus punctatus) Species Separation 1994 Rank Weight Angler Where Caught Date Caught. Joshua Jones Sr. School size: 5+. Diet: Omnivore. com. Catfish can live in a number of conditions, with species that live in saltwater, freshwater and brackish water. Wels catfish can grow to over 250 pounds, with the IGFA All-Tackle World Record coming in at 297 pounds. Sailcats. Reeling in large amounts of line and pulling in larger catfish requires a faster retrieve ratio. When collapsed the rod length is 19-inches for the 5-foot and 22. Best Overall: Berkley PowerBait Catfish Bait Chunks. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. Redtail Catfish Care Guide & Species Profile. Brown Bullhead: 7 pounds, 6 ounces, caught by Glenn Collacuro at Mahopac Lake in New York in 2009. They tend to congregate in deeper pools near faster current, but never in small streams. Like channel catfish, the blue catfish pursues a varied diet, but it tends to eat fish earlier in life. Finding the feeding predator fish. orgBlue Catfish are brown/ gray to slate-blue, with a deeply forked tail. These enormous fish are the largest purely freshwater fish in the world (Sturgeon are larger, but they inhabit both fresh and saltwater). 5 ft) in length [24] and 4 t (4. Put your index over the top of the base of the spine and hold the fish tight enough so that it cannot shake its upper body. An Italian angler may have broken the world record for the largest catfish ever caught after reeling in a massive nine-foot catfish. But fish approaching or exceeding 100 pounds are caught. The author's biggest channel cat: 37 inches with a 23-inch girth. Record Blue Catfish. 2-ounce fish was pulled from the Nanticoke River at approximately 1:30 a. 3. Here are 10 of the biggest alligator gar ever caught. What is world record crappie? The black crappie would weigh an astonishing 5 lbs 7. This can be in the middle of a big shoal, in a deep-water bend of the river with large boulders or on the bank behind a tree in the water. 1. You can even try strips of saltwater. First and foremost, DO NOT FREEZE your fish. Identification: Deeply forked tail. 75 lbs. Females generally have larger pelvic fins than males. 5 meters long and weighs more than 21. We specialize in importing and breeding rare and exotic fish from around the world. The best way to treat a Saltwater Catfish sting is to first remove all of the spines from the affected area. The biggest steelhead trout caught in Oregon was a 35 pound 8 ounce trout caught on the Columbia River (probably a summer-runner). What Types Live In Freshwater? Most catfish live in freshwater. In this video I will show you how to fillet a catfish the easiest way possible. This next species is the largest catfish species in North America. The channel catfish is among the most common catfish types caught in Florida. Range: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. alone) and over 3,000 catfish species! One. “An 18-to-20-pound fish sometimes feel like it’s going to be a 50-pound fish,” Lord told Delaware’s WBOC-TV. What Are Saltwater Catfish? Are there saltwater catfish? There are a few species of catfish that live in saltwater. Adult Size: 2 inches. Piraiba regularly grow to 7 feet in length and. SPECIES : WEIGHT: ANGLER: DATE : Almaco Jack: 38. Trophy-sized flathead catfish can reach around 4. Best for Treble. The state record flathead catfish weighed 84 pounds, 9. Jones: Catfish, hardhead:. or fish that migrate between fresh and saltwater like the huge. Best for Treble. The Omaha resident has dialed in a few rivers and streams in Nebraska, where he’ll fish through the night in the hopes of hooking a giant. Hardhead catfish spawning peaks during June and July, and is most commonly done in shallow bays and estuaries. Some catfish prefer stagnant water and others call rivers and streams with fast-moving currents their homes, it all depends. This is probably the largest gafftopsail catfish I have ever caught or even seen. Male flathead catfish will become so aggressive when guarding their eggs that they will kill the female if she returns to the nest. Most rivers lakes and reservoirs and the United States have populations of at least one of these species of catfish. Use a three-way rig with a 20-pound-test main line and a 17-pound-test leader. 9) The 280-Pounder. 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. In North America, the largest captured was a blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) at 130 pounds. 62 ft (1. Eel Tail Catfish. 5-pound, former world-record blue cat. Katrina Reef: Sitting just a couple of miles from Biloxi, Katrina Reef is one of the most popular nearshore fishing spots in Mississippi. The typical length is about 25–46 in (64–117 cm). All three main species of catfish – channel cats, flatheads, and blue catfish – favor natural baits and fish attractants like Team Catfish Dead Red Blood Spray. It belongs to the genius Brachyplayreatstoma ,. This catfish is poisonous because of Its sharp barb or spines. Florida has a new state record for flathead catfish, with the report of a 70-pounder caught on the same river as the previous record. 2. The auchenipterid cats all exhibit a scaleless (or “naked”) body and three pairs. 02/15/2008. The following areas were selected by Florida's freshwater fisheries biologists as being the most likely to be highly productive during 2021 for channel, flathead, blue, and white catfish, and yellow and brown bullhead. They perform well suspended under bobbers or resting on the bottom behind a sinker. In captivity, the maximum length for a sucker fish is usually 18 inches. S. Place the fillets in the sink and wash them thoroughly with fresh water using your hose sprayer on your sink. “A big catfish can pull a jug down so deep that the sides of the jugs will collapse,” Adams explains. A couple hours later, he landed his. The chin has 2 barbels and there is a very long barbel on each side of its mouth. His fish is 30 pounds heavier than the next biggest catfish. Joe Cermele SHARE. Though not as popular or respected as their freshwater counterparts, there are two species of catfish commonly caught in coastal waters of Texas: the gafftop, Bagre marinus, and sea catfish, more commonly known as hardhead, Arius felis. 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. 1. 6 oz. The dorsal and pectoral fins have sharp, venomous serrated spines. 02 lbs: Lance David Walker. 0 lb) and 69 cm (27 in) in length. Bagarius yarrelli, also known as the giant devil catfish, is found in large, swift rivers in India. 85 meters) catfish from the shallow waters of the River Po in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The sportfishing world record for the largest channel catfish ever recorded is a specimen from South Carolina that weighed 58 pounds. Species. For breeding purposes, it is recommended to keep a small group of three males and two females. 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. Catfish have four barbels ("whiskers") that hang from the lower jaw, two from each corner of the mouth and two from the top of the head near the mouth. Zebra danios are fast swimming, active danio fish that are amazing in. terrelli, which grew almost 9 m (29. The biggest flathead caught in California was a 72 pound 14 ouncer caught by Billy Joe Potter on the Colorado River. 5 feet long! ©M. Raymond Houtmans Date of capture: July 9, 1988 Bait: live catfish Time of battle: one hour, 5. Field & Stream Online Editors. The catch must be photographed over a qualifying measuring device as well as in a photo. According to a news report, Fernandes has over 100 IGFA world fishing records. The blue catfish reaches anywhere from 30-60 inches, depending on age, while the channel catfish grows 12-24 inches on average. Gen 3 Warrior Cat Bumping Rod. Catfish are popular among North American. If you are stung by a catfish, you need to do several things: Get off the water. The channel catfish at the Kids' Farm at the Smithsonian's National Zoo are fed a floating pellet, though they also eat aquatic insects, algae and plants that occur naturally in the pond. If you are wondering how big. Cobia. Biggest. Redtail catfish are large bottom dwelling fish requiring an experienced aquarist. Striped Bass. Weighing in at 37 pounds, 14 ounces, the cat measured 46. The following list of state saltwater fishing records is according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. 1/2” Mesh 1. There are 37 catfish families, with species found in both freshwater and saltwater. Giant sunfish sets new record for world’s largest bony fish. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. Electric Eel, Amazon River – South America. 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. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. Channel catfish may exceed 40 pounds, although the typical size is less than five pounds. Hayes caught his record fish on July 9, 1955 while trolling a lure in Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee, USA. Average weight is 2 to 4 lbs. When removing the hook, look closely at the mouth. The hardhead catfish ( Ariopsis felis) is a species of sea catfish from the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and similar to the gafftopsail catfish ( Bagre marinus ). The three largest species of catfish are the Mekong giant catfish, the Wels catfish and the Piraiba. 1-888-392-8545. Catfish have numerous external taste buds, many of which are located on the barbels. The pigeon-hunting catfish were 3 to 6 feet long. Haney of Liberty. These impressive fish can exceed 80 pounds, making them majestic creatures. Numerous species from the families Ariidae and Plotosidae, and a few species from among the Aspredinidae and Bagridae, are found in salt water. Top Contenders. Bull sharks are common around the coast because they can live in freshwater, saltwater, and brackish habitats. The leader should be 20- to 30-pound-test and about 18 inches long. The morning bite typically occurs during the early hours of the day, just after sunrise, and is a great time to catch catfish. 5 to 12 centimeters in total length — that’s a little less than an inch to about 4. Wels catfish is the largest true freshwater fish and can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 300 pounds. In general, catfish can live about 15 to 20 years in the wild. The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. Here’s a look at 10 of the biggest whopper wels catfish ever caught on rod and reel. ©Fiona Ayerst/Shutterstock. Like many marine fish, it is dark on top and light on bottom. a big catfish can keep you down far longer than you can hold your breath. Size: 50 Retrieve: 5. Finding (and catching) the bait. Big catfish taste worse than smaller catfish because they have more toxins in their meat The meat of old catfish also tends to get old and mushy, providing a different and more gamey flavor when cooked. Best Overall: Berkley PowerBait Catfish Bait Chunks. 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. Maximum lifespan for channel catfish is believed to be around 15 years. S. 9) 80-Pound Line Class World Record Flathead Catfish. 020 - 1. 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. His 21. Tipping the scales at nearly 300 kilograms (661 pounds), the leviathan ray surpasses the previous record holder, a 293-kg (646-lb) Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) caught in Thailand in. The hardhead catfish, Ariopsis felis, has six whiskers, called barbels - one long pair and two shorter pairs. In contrast, the largest saltwater catfish (all of which frequent estuaries and areas near river mouths in tropical regions) reaches about 6½ feet long and 110 pounds in the case of the gillbacker sea catfish ( Sciades parkeri ), which is encountered in and around the estuarine mouth of the Amazon River. Key Takeaways. anglers will encounter, with 100-plus pounders being somewhat common. Appearance Body brownish to gray-green, with a white to yellowish belly Three prominent, sharp spines (one at beginning of dorsal fin and one on each pectoral fin) Spines do not. SHARE Frederic Santoul had been researching wels catfish for nearly a. Back in the day, Fernandina Beach was famous for its Goliath Grouper fishery. 5 cm (1 inch). The snake river in southwest idaho is home to both channel catfish and their larger cousins, flatheads ,. 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. Wels Catfish ( Silurus glanis) — Up to 15 Feet. For the most part, catfish are not picky eaters. The king mackerel can weigh between 11 and 30 pounds. amberjack, greater: amberjack: brian s. Saltwater catfish are known for having a larger amount of slime than their freshwater counterparts. Is a. . Sciaenops ocellatus. Salt and pepper to taste. A slip bobber on the hi-vis cable rig helps detect strikes, while also serving as a visual marker in muddy waters. andrewsThe Pictus Catfish is one of the most common aquarium catfish species. 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. Best Rod and Reel Combo: Abu Garcia Commando Casting Combo. 00: Aug 4, 2019: Gulf of Mexico: Tricia Conner : Angelfish, Blue 2. Tags: Catfish. They are silver with brown to olive green undertones and a yellow to white belly. In Asia, the Mekong River is known for its giant freshwater catfish – one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. ©Bignai/Shutterstock. Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre reservoir fed by the tailwaters of the Logan Martin Dam. This reel from Abu Garcia is one of the best baitcasting reels for catfish in terms of sheer power. Channel catfish are so plentiful here that Lake Okeechobee supports a commercial fishery for them. Use fresh bait. Our voluminous catfish library of content is one of the biggest, best and most visited on the Internet. Length: 7’ Construction: Graphite and fiberglass Power: Medium heavy Guides: One-piece stainless Reel. Hayes held the All-Tackle title for 41 years, despite swirling rumors denouncing his catch. 408 meters) long. Todd Baumeyer caught the 45-pound, 4-ounce Illinois state record channel catfish on February 7, 1987, at Baldwin Lake in Randolph and St. Many of the most significant sea fish records are over 1,000 pounds (1/2 of a ton,) but Alfred. He estimated the catch would need to increase tenfold. White Catfish. 3. The catfish’s main bone is in the upper part of its body, and the smaller bones are joined on both sides. For breeding purposes, it is recommended to keep a small group of three males and two females. Madcat / Alessandro Biancardi. For blue catfish, try using fresh-cut bait like mullet. The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 68 kg (150 lb). They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing is generally in 5-50 ft of water. 5 ft) in length [24] and 4 t (4. 46 inches with a chunky 39-inch girth. If needed, it’s recommended to take a few Tylenol or Advil. 7 feet long. 5 – 34. Everyone has their own personal opinion, but the best eating tends to be 3-5lbs. SEE IT. These massive creatures can weigh over 600 pounds and are critically endangered due to overfishing. 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. 9) The 280-Pounder. Saltwater catfish usually fall into one of three main types of catfish. This is not the only catfish family with an electric organ, but its electrical ability is particularly well-developed compared to the others. Cory Catfish Size. Bristle Nose Pleco. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual caught in northern Thailand in 2005 weighted an astounding 646 pounds , making it the largest exclusively freshwater fish ever recorded. 31 Harold W. This fish can reach lengths of up to 5 feet and weights over 200 pounds, but many claim they can become much larger. Adult sucker fish reach up to 12 inches long, and some species of sucker fish grow up to 24 inches. 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. marinus (has two chin barbels and spines with long filaments) Size: Up to 24 inches (12 pounds) The 5 Biggest Saltwater Trophy Fish Ever Caught in South Carolina. The South Carolina blue catfish record was caught from the waters of Lake Moultrie in 2017, a monster 113. The underparts have a pinkish suffusion, which is most evident in males. [26]Blue catfish are highly productive and create high numbers of offspring each reproductive cycle. Saltwater Catfish. The main predators of catfish are reptiles, large fish, mammals, and humans. gov. 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. 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. The 118-pound, 7-ounce blue catfish was caught by Mika. This is a recent record, set on July 12, 2020. pH: 5.