Depending on how big it was, you were probably exhausted! Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Nichols caught his record-breaker on March 9, 2012. Piraiba are so large that monkeys, cats, dogs, birds, and other catfish have been found in their stomachs. Andrew Buck and Daniel Rice are part of the fishing group too. The largest flathead catfish ever caught in the world was 123 pounds! But Jeremy Bethune and Summer Stevens of Flat Rock, Alabama, love fishing so much, they decided to put up with the cold weather and throw a few jigs into the water maybe one of Guntersville's big bass would strike. In addition to the large Goonch, Vgner has caught several other large freshwater fish, including and 286.6 pound (130 kilogram) Arapaima and an 242.5 pound (110 kilogram) Wels catfish. Stretching from the Nickajack Dam all the way to the Guntersville Dam, this manmade impoundment has some of the best fishing in the Cotton State, and receives national recognition, too. The Mekong giant catfish is rare and endangered and the one caught in 2005 was the largest ever caught since Thailand began keeping records in 1981. over 3,000 species of catfish around the world, catfish can range in size from 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) to hundreds of pounds, people have questioned the legitimacy of Paulies catch, presented to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism in 2016 for further examination, Fernandes has over 100 IGFA world fishing records, Goonch catfish have reportedly been known to eat corpses, Piraiba is the largest of the catfish species found in the Amazon. Depending on the body of water, a lake may contain some big specimens as well as plenty of smaller ones, and the subspecies can be varied. Don't forget to subscrib. Simmons was fishing with his father, Jimmy, and guide Chris Edwards. Not quite. Depending on the species, catfish can range in size from 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) to hundreds of pounds, like the behemoths on this list. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. His goal was a 100-pounder. There must have been hundreds of people who heard about it and stopped to see that fish, he said. By Anthony Campbell; Oct 15, 2014 Oct 15, 2014; 0; Facebook; Flathead catfish are a sport fish that anglers love to catch for their size as well as their tasty meat. By Greg McCain Long known as one of the premier bass-fishing destinations, Lake Guntersville, a sprawling Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir in northwest Alabama, absolutely exudes fish-catching potential, covering 69,000 acres as the largest impoundment in the state. The Alabama River is quite the meandering river with many twists and turns, but Conner certainly found a lucky spot in the summer of 86. Just a few weeks ago, I told a good friend that I was beginning to think it wasnt going to happen.. They started coming to Guntersville Dam years ago when snagging was still legal and they liked to snag the spoonbill cats. Youd expect a big cat like that to be caught at dawn or dusk or even night. If youre looking to target a real big fish, try fishing for the blue catfish. According to Practical Fishkeeping, there are now over 3,000 species of catfish around the world. He thinks it might have pushed the state record if he could have gotten it to a set of accurate scales a little quicker. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. There are five main types of catfish found in Alabama; blue, flathead, channel, white, and bullhead catfish. Grandpa Larry yanked the pole out of the holder and handed it to Nick. Big crappie caught on Guntersville lake. Thank you for reading! Fishing regulations at . GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) - A fishing trip with his grandpa turned into a big catch for 10-year-old . Flathead catfish. The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, WHNT News 19 Sales Team Broadcast and Digital, 10 effective rodent repellent solutions to keep mice, Water filter faucets and pitchers for healthy hydration, Give your kitchen a makeover on a budget with these, Animal therapy group teams up with brewery for fundraiser, Holocaust survivors, descendants team on social media, What to watch for in the Dominion vs. Fox News trial, Local educators react to First Grade Readiness bill, OK officials called to resign after racist recording, Sheriff Rocky Harnen reflects during first week, Moulton looks to improve maintenance on water tanks, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Alabama has some impressive state record fish, including the all-tackle state and world-record landlocked striped bass, 69 pounds 9 ounces, caught by James Bramlett, of Dora ,from Bankhead Reservoir in February 2013. 4. Larry Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch Flathead Catfish on one of the causeways over Lake Guntersville. But the sun came out and the bite quit. The largest flathead catfish ever caught in Alabama was 80 pounds! Researchers determined that the record flathead catfish was at least 22 years old, grew very rapidly, and was most likely a male. We caught some really good largemouth bass: 7+ pounder, 6+ pounder, 5+ pounder, multiple 4+ pounders, and too m. WHNT News 19 viewer Larry Stephens sent in photos of his wife April fishing on the lake. access for current print subscribers. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The Holt Reservoir is just northeast of Tuscaloosa and Northport. Mike Watts caught it below Guntersville Dam. Class A Channel Catfish 41 lbs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Guntersville Reservoir, Jeremy S. White, Alexander CityJack Grant, Altoona, Richard Johnson, Bay Minette Largemouth Bass, Catfish. If you are targeting flatheads, you will want to stay closer to the inland area of the brackish tidal system since flatheads tend to stay away from water that is too salty. We held him down in the water for about five minutes and he swam away strong, said Richards. You have permission to edit this article. Wed love to see it. The guys, along with friends Andrew Buck and Daniel Rice, have caught several big catfish in recent years. While Paulies record was verified by the the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and has been standing for over 20 years, many people have questioned the legitimacy of Paulies catch. Nick grabbed another lighter pole and cast for crappie on the banks of Lake Guntersville. The Alabama River starts where the Tallapoosa and Coosa Rivers come together then passes through Selma which is about 50 miles west of Montgomery. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. I hope you enjoyed the video please leave a like if you did! Not quite big enough to break the state record, Richards said. Application form must be notarized. The guys still wont budge. It took Nick a 20-minute battle to get the fish up to the dock. or anything. Stephens estimated the fish was around 70 pounds. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. In 2005, a behemoth Mekong giant catfish, weighing in at a scale-tipping 646 pounds (293 kilograms) was caught in a remote village in Thailand near the Mekong River. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. . There are still some monsters out there! Richards added. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 7 Freshwater drum have been caught near here. Blue catfish are typically in the 20-40 pound range with a trophy size being considered anything over 50 pounds. Contests & Promotions, Chilly, breezy, scattered snow showers possible, State fire marshal calls up C. Oregon firefighter task force to help battle large fire in downtown John Day. I realized the size of fish that were below the dam and I started bait fishing and Ive been coming ever since, he said. Lake Guntersville fishing is great for bass, crappie, catfish and more in the Cotton State. However, other than the official record listing on the International Game Fish Association's website, there wasn't enough information to feature the story of the record Wels catfish. The lake is roughly 75 miles long and comes in at nearly 70,000 acres, making it the largest lake in the state. Now you have several tips to start (or continue) your effort to catch the next largest flathead catfish in Alabama! Smaller fish will just swim by, but the catfish will go for it.. Weighing must be witnessed by two people. Their most recent catch was the night of Friday, March 17 St. Patricks Day. But last Friday, a 10-year-old kid reeled in one of the biggest fish in the lake. You dont catch as many in the fall, but the average weight is bigger, he said. They decided to release it so some other lucky angler would have a chance at catching it. When I am not writing I love going to my kids' soccer games, watching movies, taking on DIY projects and running with our giant Labradoodle "Tango". Daily News Updates See ya'll next time!SUBSCRIBE!https://www.youtube.com/richardgenethefishingmachinePrevious Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=949Vm5zaljsContact The Machine:Richardgenethefishingmachine@gmail.comMail The Machine:Richard HelmsPO Box 342Geraldine AL 35974Thank You For Watching! Nick had reeled in a 70-pound flathead catfish so big that it made Larry look in the record books. What is biting on Guntersville Lake? more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. A 4-pound 12-ounce bluegill caught in Ketona Lake in April 1950 by T.S. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The caudal fin (tail) fin is squarish compared to the forked tail of blue catfish and channel cats. Catfish are found in lakes and rivers all over the U.S. Freshwater drum. racist or sexually-oriented language. But last Friday, a 10-year-old kid reeled in one of the biggest fish in the lake. 168 reviews Closed Now. He said they took Friday nights catch to a nearby gas station to weigh him because the batteries were dead on their scale. Jugs are very effective there and perfectly legal. Paulies flathead catfish was frozen for many years before it was presented to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism in 2016 for further examination. Many anglers will target them near the Guntersville Dam, but you can catch them throughout the lake as well. This giant South American catfish was also over 6.5 feet (2 meters) long. Twenty minutes after the battle began, Nick reeled the monster fish toward the dock. The record for the largest Goonch ever caught belongs to Jakub Vgner, the host of National Geographic's Fish Warrior. Vgner's Goonch was 165 pounds 5 ounces (75 kilograms) and over 5 feet (1.57 meters) long. Ultimate Fishing Site is the largest fishing tips and tourism website on the net. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. His luck changed last week when he brought in a big blue catfish that went well over 100 pounds. Nick is feeling good, and we assume the catfish is, too, after quite an adventure. Although Ferrari's catch is impressive, unfortunately he was just shy of the world record for a Wels catfish catch, which weighed 297 pounds 9 ounces (134.97 kilograms). We had our hands on the pole as the fish pulled us around like it was nothing!. Masullo de Aguiar's Piraiba was caught in 2009 and weighed 341 pounds 11 ounces (155 kilograms). Anderson wanted to keep his blue catfish alive so that it could be put in a tank at a local Bass Pro Shops retail store. Flathead catfish are heavy-bodied that have a tail that tapers off. Larry Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch Flathead Catfish on one of the causeways over Lake Guntersville. The record for the largest flathead catfish belongs to Ken Paulie, who landed his big flathead over 20 years ago. Richards said its all about catch and release. Several anglers have caught catfish in Guntersville Lake in excess of 80 pounds. This large blue catfish weighed in at 143 pounds (64.86 kilograms) and was 4.75 feet (1.45 meters) long. Lake Monsters: The 10 Biggest Trophy Fish Ever Caught in Alabama, Blue Catfish vs Channel Catfish: 5 Main Differences, The 10 Best Fish to Catch in Alabama this Summer, Catfish Quiz - Only The Top 1% Can Ace our Animal Quizzes, Discover The Largest Flathead Catfish Ever Caught in Louisiana, Blue Catfish vs Channel Catfish: 5 Key Differences, It Takes Two Men to Pull This River Monster Free, Discover The Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in Louisiana, Discover The Largest Blue Catfish Ever Caught in Missouri, Discover The Largest Flathead Catfish Ever Caught in Alabama. Keep it Clean. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Fishing spots and baits to use at Guntersville Lake? His flathead measured 61 inches long which is 5 feet 1 inch. Larry took the pole while Nick jumped into the water, hugged the fish and, with some help, lifted it onto the dock. (now protected, Like Comments |. Visit our catfish page to learn more. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. They bit well for an hour and a half and I caught several that weighed in the 20s.. A flathead catfish is easier to differentiate from other catfish due to its (yes, you guessed it) flat head. From the Tennessee River in the north to the Alabama and Coosa Rivers near Montgomery, there is some fine catfishing in the state of Alabama. They can get huge . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. We have now organized our main site into 300 plus websites to make it easier for you to learn more about the fish you want to catch and the places you want to visit. Be Proactive. He and his friends have caught several monsters over the past few years. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. The worlds largest redtail catfish was captured in 2010 by Gilberto Fernandes in Brazils Amazon River. This lake is known for good numbers as well as quality fish. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. According to the Alabama Department of . Don't Threaten. Instead, we did best on blade baits on creek ledges and jerkbaits over shallow grass. With Amazon Basics products, you can give your kitchen a makeover on a budget. Mike Watts had been on a quest for years to catch a giant catfish. The Tombigbee and the Alabama River come together to form the Mobile River which in turn flows down to Mobile Bay. The timing of the catch was kind of funny. Channel, blue and flathead catfish are common lake residents, as are their smaller bullhead cousins. Andrew Osmer caught this 89-pound catfish in Lake Guntersville on March 17, 2017. that is degrading to another person. Ferrari's Wels catfish weighed 280 pounds (127 kilograms) and was 8.75 feet (2.67 meters) long. Mekong giant catfish is rare and endangered. He and his friends have caught several "monsters" over the past few years. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. He was by himself in the boat and fought the fish an hour and a half drifting down the river as he battled it. 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. Thats just what I think, he said. Procedures For the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish, Shelley Meadows/Mentone . It created quite a traffic jam as I turned around to see as many as nine cars parked with people with their phones out making pictures and videos.. Nearly all of these catfish are listed as the world record for their species in the International Game Fish Associations (IGFA) World Records Database. The Goonch was caught in the River Ramganga in India. (Photo: Ryan Richards), Richards did reveal the kind of bait they use. Not just where people fish but where they swim as well!. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. According to the CDC, adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day. RE: catfishing guntersville The first 5 or 6 miles below Guntersville Dam on Wheeler Lake has some great catfishing. It got cloudy again at 1:00 and thats when the big one hit. One weighed 127 pounds and another was between 130 and 135 pounds. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? In 2015, an Italian fisherman named Dino Ferrari was featured in international news for capturing a monster Wels catfish in the Po Delta. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in . Lake Guntersville does have good numbers of catfish available too. It took over an hour for the Thai fishermen to reel in the heavy catfish. Nicks heart jumped when the big pole bent. Catfishing on Guntersville Lake today folks. Zach Hester 10/28/2022. Theyre not sure of the exact weight because it broke 2 sets of scales trying to weigh it. Available throughout Guntersville Lake, there are two primary areas that hold catfish. Have you caught a big fish lately? Their skin is nearly scaleless and they have barbed spines on their pectoral and dorsal fins. With the help of his grandpa, Larry Stephens, they were able to get it up on the dock where they took a picture with the flathead next to Nickthey were about the same size! There really isnt any more details about Fernandes catch, but he did use a fiberglass Sportex rod to land the redtail catfish. Thanks! Depending on how big it was, you were probably exhausted! They wont give away their fishing hole, though. Therefore, the largest catfish ever caught in Alabama was a blue catfish that weighed 120 pounds 4 ounces and was caught on the Holt Reservoir by John Paul Nichols, of Northport, AL. Threats of harming another Youll always remember that moment, finally pulling it in the boat. We check for new photo additions every day and approve them. However, the water tends to get saltier the closer you get to the Gulf. 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When it comes to catfish the largest North American species is the blue catfish. Crappie, however, is the top sport fish catch on the lake for most anglers. Mike Watts caught it below Guntersville Dam. Please leave a like if you enjoyed the video and don't forget to subscribe for more content! The Elk River flows into Wheeler Lake from the north. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Just a month before he made his record redtail catfish catch, Fernandes caught another redtail that was 113 pounds 8 ounces (51.5 kilograms). Please click the Submit Your Photo button below to add it straight to this gallery. The record for the largest Goonch ever caught belongs to Jakub Vgner, the host of National Geographic's "Fish Warrior." Vgner's Goonch was 165 pounds 5 ounces (75 kilograms) and over 5 feet (1.57 meters) long. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. Have you caught a big fish lately? Paulies record was set back on May 19, 1998. KTVZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News Type your phone number with no spaces (example:2565555555). Also read: Pair lands giant catfish on Lake Guntersville, Alabama. Alabama's largest lake contains 69,100 acres and stretches 75 miles from Nickajack Dam to Guntersville Dam. However, they didnt have it officially weighed. With Amazon Basics products, you can give your kitchen a makeover on a budget. Now is the time to mouse-proof where you live. He said he didnt want to kill the fish and had no where to immediately get it weighed, so he let it go. Application must be submitted on official application form . Larry found that the Alabama state record for a flathead is 80 pounds. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught? Kid catches 70 pound catfish in Lake Guntersville. While there are more blue catfish and channel cats, flatheads are also common catfish in the state. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. Paulie was using a light tackle while he was crappie fishing and the flathead was a lucky catch. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught? Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. A Big Blue Cat, Gone Viral Around 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 28, Mike Mitchell of Russellville, Alabama, posted a few photos of a massive blue catfish to his Facebook page. Fishing Rigs Days 1 \u0026 2 were a little slow as we figured things out, but days 3 \u0026 4 were pretty awesome!Please subscribe to GirlGoneFishing for more fishing videos! Nevertheless, anglers across Alabama frequently land trophy blues and . This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. One set said 106 before it broke, Mike said. Overall, catfish are some of the most abundant species of fish in the world. Fishing Techniques According to a news report, Fernandes has over 100 IGFA world fishing records. Mikes daddy was catfishing before I was born and he grew up fishing the Coosa. He catches some good ones in the spring - April through June - but always felt if he ever got a true monster it would be in the fall. In captivity, redtail catfish eat assorted worms, frozen foods, sinking catfish pellets, and dry foods. Big catfish caught at dam. accounts, the history behind an article. Entertainment The people from the nearby villagers didn't let the fish go to waste and ended up eating it. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. State fishing records are kept for the blue, flathead, channel, and white with the blue catfish being the largest catfish species in the state. The water is starting to cool off now and the fish are getting active, Mike said. The area between its eyes is wide and flat and highlights the wide mouth of the flathead catfish. Officials from Thailand's Inland Fishery Department wanted to use the female Mekong giant catfish for a breeding program, but she ended up dying. One got in the boat with me and the 2 of us couldnt get the fish in the boat. Many anglers will target them near the Guntersville Dam, but you can catch them throughout the lake as well. Large ones caught in Alabama usually fall in the 30-50 pound range. Barkley Reservoir Micka Burkhart September 24, 2022 Class A Brown Bullhead Catfish 3 lbs., 15 oz. Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. Henry Merritt, Deer Park Largemouth bass in the 7 to 8 pound range are caught every year and bass up to and above 10 pounds are possible. This lake has good fishing for channel catfish and blue catfish. Freshwater Fishing Id caught some that went 65, but Id never broke 70 pounds, said the self-employed contractor from Munford near Anniston. monkeys, cats, dogs, birds, and other catfish have been found in their stomachs. It took Ferrari 40 minutes to catch the Wels catfish and he decided to release the fish back into the water so he could be caught again in the future. Best Catfish in Guntersville, Alabama: Find 1,046 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Catfish and search by price, location, and more. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. Be Truthful. Fish over 40 and 50 pounds are possible. Some locals were watching me fight the fish and they came over to help, Mike said. We use live bluegill to catch some big catfish and some other types of fish as well. Blue catfish were intentionally introduced into rivers in Virginia in the 1970s, but have now become an invasive species that grows and breeds rapidly. If you're looking to target a real big fish, try fishing for the blue catfish.