Id caught some fish earlier that morning when it was cloudy, he said. Lake Guntersville State Park Pinecrest Dining Room. The guys still wont budge. Theyre not sure of the exact weight because it broke 2 sets of scales trying to weigh it. I do know one thing for certain its my personal best. Mekong giant catfish is rare and endangered. The Goonch was caught in the River Ramganga in India. Larry found that the Alabama state record for a flathead is 80 pounds. They got to Cooley Grocery with the fish about 4:00 and Mike became an instant celebrity. Within 24 hours, the photos had shared 2,100 times. With Amazon Basics products, you can give your kitchen a makeover on a budget. This monster of a fish was caught by Ken Paulie who reeled it in from the Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas. By Anthony Campbell; Oct 15, 2014 Oct 15, 2014; 0; Facebook; On the Alabama River, some of the best catfishing occurs on the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir, better known as Millers Ferry Lake, near Camden. Nick and his grandpa placed the big pole in the holder, and skipjack herring on the hook. Richards said commercial fishermen often ask where they can catch the big guys. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught? Facebook; Twitter; WhatsApp; SMS; Email; Print; Copy article link; Save; featured. 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). Lake Guntersville is the home of some of the best bass fishing in the world. Lake Guntersville is one of the best bass lakes in the country. 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. Ferrari's Wels catfish weighed 280 pounds (127 kilograms) and was 8.75 feet (2.67 meters) long. The caudal fin (tail) fin is squarish compared to the forked tail of blue catfish and channel cats. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. But last Friday, a 10-year-old kid reeled in one of the biggest fish in the lake. In fact, the Piraiba is the largest of the catfish species found in the Amazon. However, they are smaller than blue catfish. 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. Its an adventure that Nick will always cherish an adventure of a lifetime. Fishing for Flathead Catfish today folks! Its near the dam, thats all Ill say, said Richards. There must have been hundreds of people who heard about it and stopped to see that fish, he said. Now, its someone elses catfish to catch, Larry said. It sure was chilly on Lake Guntersville, Alabama, on Monday. Blue catfish are typically in the 20-40 pound range with a trophy size being considered anything over 50 pounds. His flathead measured 61 inches long which is 5 feet 1 inch. KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Application form must be notarized. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. I realized the size of fish that were below the dam and I started bait fishing and Ive been coming ever since, he said. He and his friends have caught several monsters over the past few years. Nicks heart jumped when the big pole bent. We caught some really good largemouth bass: 7+ pounder, 6+ pounder, 5+ pounder, multiple 4+ pounders, and too m. 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. 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. Free boat ramps and private marinas dot the lake's perimeter. The largest flathead catfish ever caught in the world was 123 pounds! 12 Blue catfish have been caught near here. Good food., Guntersville Hotels with Air Conditioning, Guntersville Hotels with Laundry Facilities, Hotels near Lake Guntersville State Park Cabins by RRM, Hotels near Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center, Hotels near Homer B. Wilson Jr Vintage Museum, Hotels near First Baptist Church Guntersville, American Restaurants for Families in Guntersville, American Restaurants for Large Groups in Guntersville, American Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Guntersville, Restaurants near Hampton Inn Guntersville, Restaurants near Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge, Restaurants near Wyndham Garden Lake-Guntersville, Restaurants near Lake Guntersville State Park, Restaurants near Lake Guntersville State Park Cabins by RRM, Restaurants near Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center, Restaurants near Town Creek Fishing Center. According to the CDC, adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day. In captivity, redtail catfish eat assorted worms, frozen foods, sinking catfish pellets, and dry foods. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Larry Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch Flathead Catfish on one of the causeways over Lake Guntersville. We use live bluegill to catch some big catfish and some other types of fish as well. They have protruding barbels that come off the face that looks like whiskers, which is how catfish get their name. or anything. According to the CDC, adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day. With Amazon Basics products, you can give your kitchen a makeover on a budget. Please click the Submit Your Photo button below to add it straight to this gallery. It is 75 miles (121 km) long, running from Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam. Not quite. Please leave a like if you enjoyed the video and don't forget to subscribe for more content! According to the Alabama Department of . Available throughout Guntersville Lake, there are two primary areas that hold catfish. 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. I knew there were some 100 pounders there.. One set said 106 before it broke, Mike said. Purchase Licenses This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Were just calling it 101.. However, despite his best efforts, his record blue catfish died. Lake Guntersville is the home of some of the best bass fishing in the world. Somelocal guys have made a hobby of catching the big monsters in Lake Guntersville. 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. Nevertheless, anglers across Alabama frequently land trophy blues and . The largest flathead catfish ever caught in Alabama was 80 pounds! Whiteville Lake Gary Dean Arthur October 25, 2014 Class A Bighead Carp 90 lbs. Their most recent catch was the night of Friday, March 17 St. Patricks Day. Guntersville Tourism . They catch shad and cut it up in big pieces. It took Anderson about 45 minutes to land the giant blue catfish, whose size surprised Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries chief Gary Martel. Large ones caught in Alabama usually fall in the 30-50 pound range. Bassett Creek, Wash. Co. But the 10-year-old from Langston, Alabama, loves one thing more: It was last Friday when Nick and his grandfather Larry Stephens headed to the dock at the South Sauty Creek Resort. This lake is known for good numbers as well as quality fish. They can get huge . State fishing records are kept for the blue, flathead, channel, and white with the blue catfish being the largest catfish species in the state. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Promotional Rates were found for your code. Larry quickly took some pictures of Nick and his catch and then placed the catfish back in the water. And they took hundreds of pictures. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. They decided to release it so some other lucky angler would have a chance at catching it. With numerous bridges around the lake, working funnel areas can also be productive. Instead, we did best on blade baits on creek ledges and jerkbaits over shallow grass. He said they took Friday nights catch to a nearby gas station to weigh him because the batteries were dead on their scale. Id caught some that went 65, but Id never broke 70 pounds, said the self-employed contractor from Munford near Anniston. Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. Henry Merritt, Deer Park Fish over 40 and 50 pounds are possible. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. 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. The record blue catfish was caught in 2011 in Kerr Lake, Virginia by a man named Richard Nicholas Anderson. In addition to weighing nearly 650 pounds, this Mekong giant catfish was 9 feet (2.7 meters) long. . With over 949 miles of shoreline, it is best known for excellent Largemouth Bass fishing, but also contains Black Crappie, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass, and several species of bream and catfish. The lake is roughly 75 miles long and comes in at nearly 70,000 acres, making it the largest lake in the state. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Be Nice. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? 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. Largemouth Bass, Catfish. Wed love to see it. Crappie, however, is the top sport fish catch on the lake for most anglers. Fishing Tackle The Holt Reservoir is just northeast of Tuscaloosa and Northport. 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. Overall, catfish are some of the most abundant species of fish in the world. They can get huge. accounts, the history behind an article. that is degrading to another person. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. For reference, a large labrador retriever weighs 70-80 pounds. According to a news report, Fernandes has over 100 IGFA world fishing records. This area also has plenty of channel catfish and blue catfish with the Delta including many tributaries, bayous, and creeks where catfish love to live. Hed come up and fished a week a little earlier, but it was still warm then. -Melissa :) . Guntersville Reservoir Jeffrey J. Rorex June 2, 2005 It got cloudy again at 1:00 and thats when the big one hit. Several anglers have caught catfish in Guntersville Lake in excess of 80 pounds. Now you have several tips to start (or continue) your effort to catch the next largest flathead catfish in Alabama! Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Larry took the pole while Nick jumped into the water, hugged the fish and, with some help, lifted it onto the dock. Daily Weather Forecast Catfishing on Guntersville Lake today folks. (now protected, According to Practical Fishkeeping, there are now over 3,000 species of catfish around the world. The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews; Try a single issue or save on a subscription; Issues delivered straight to your door or device They bit well for an hour and a half and I caught several that weighed in the 20s.. Don't forget to subscrib. Even though catfish thrive in our rivers and reservoirs, the probability of catching a record fish may equal that of winning a lottery. Fishing Rigs It was still an absolute ton of fun to land the fish and then watch it swim away, Said Stephens. 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! more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Please click the Submit Your Photo button below to add it straight to this gallery. While Masullo de Aguiar's Piraiba is the largest officially on record, in general, Piraiba can weigh over 450 pounds (204 kilograms). William D. Webb, B'ham Some of the best bass fishing on Lake Guntersville can be found in the creeks, such as North and South Sauty, Siebold Creek, Brown's Creek and Town Creek. Weve had bigger ones break our poles and our lines and we use 13-foot catfish rods and 130-pound braided line that they break like its nothing and almost pull us out of the boat, said Richards. Weighing must be witnessed by two people. Stephens was fishing on Sunday with a medium-weight spinning rod and reel with 12 lb test line when he caught a whopper around 3 p.m. A 4-pound 12-ounce bluegill caught in Ketona Lake in April 1950 by T.S. He thinks it might have pushed the state record if he could have gotten it to a set of accurate scales a little quicker. Andrew Osmer caught this 89-pound catfish in Lake Guntersville on March 17, 2017. Smaller fish will just swim by, but the catfish will go for it.. Free Piraiba are so large that monkeys, cats, dogs, birds, and other catfish have been found in their stomachs. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Not quite big enough to break the state record, Richards said. Simmons was fishing with his father, Jimmy, and guide Chris Edwards. 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. Flathead catfish are a sport fish that anglers love to catch for their size as well as their tasty meat. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. 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. They kept him alive in some water, weighed him, then released the 89-pounder at Chickasaw Landing on Hobbs Island Road. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Application must be submitted on official. Paulie was using a light tackle while he was crappie fishing and the flathead was a lucky catch. This large blue catfish weighed in at 143 pounds (64.86 kilograms) and was 4.75 feet (1.45 meters) long. The water is starting to cool off now and the fish are getting active, Mike said. (Photo: Ryan Richards), Richards did reveal the kind of bait they use. Guntersville. Mike Watts caught it below Guntersville Dam. Terry Knight. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. 4. Nichols caught his record-breaker on March 9, 2012. They have a mottled coloration of olive, brown, and light yellow. There are five main types of catfish found in Alabama; blue, flathead, channel, white, and bullhead catfish. Mike Watts caught it below Guntersville Dam. The products have a streamlined appearance that is excellent for any style. Catfish are found in lakes and rivers all over the U.S. The timing of the catch was kind of funny. The Elk River flows into Wheeler Lake from the north. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, But the sun came out and the bite quit. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. - One fisher caught a large catfish at Lake Guntersville. It is speculated that this has allowed the Goonch to grow so large and develop a taste for human flesh. Youve never seen like the people who stopped to see it.. Alternatively, you may use, Giving an Extra Circle for Tough Times, This place was a fun surprise. Thank you for reading! His mouth was so large you could have put a basketball in it, said Richards. The largest lake in the state, Lake Guntersville stretches 75 miles along the Tennessee River and covers 69,100 acres. They wont give away their fishing hole, though. Procedures For the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish, Shelley Meadows/Mentone Fernandes redtail catfish was 123 pounds 7 ounces (56 kilograms) and 4.62 feet (1.408 meters) long. 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. Just a month before he made his record redtail catfish catch, Fernandes caught another redtail that was 113 pounds 8 ounces (51.5 kilograms). Keep pesky rodents outside where they belong. Freshwater drum. 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. He and his friends have caught several "monsters" over the past few years. Saltwater Fishing. Of the bullhead there are five kinds of bullhead catfish in Alabama; brown, black, snail, spotted, and yellow, ranging in size from 7-15 inches. His flathead measured 61 inches long which is 5 feet 1 inch. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Redtail catfish are not picky eaters and in the wild tend to eat fish and crustaceans. The area between its eyes is wide and flat and highlights the wide mouth of the flathead catfish. Mikes daddy was catfishing before I was born and he grew up fishing the Coosa. He said she caught. Ive been coming up here to fish at Guntersville Dam since I was 12 years old and Im 59 now.. Weighing must be witnessed by two people. This California slab is the most recently caught record crappie on our list. However, they didnt have it officially weighed. I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Morris with a degree in Elementary Education and I am a former teacher. Ten-year-old Nick Parcus was fishing with his grandpa when he reeled in a giant flathead catfish. Nick is back in class, and the catfish is back in the lake. He gets a motel room in Guntersville and always stays a few day when he comes to fish. This lake has good fishing for channel catfish and blue catfish. 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. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Lake Guntersville does have good numbers of catfish available too. Goonch catfish have reportedly been known to eat corpses from funeral pyres on the Kali River, which runs between Nepal and India. Ferrari's sponsor did say that his catch may hold the world record for a fish caught with a Torpedo spinning rod made by an Italian manufacturer. 5. There are flathead catfish in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This record-breaker had a girth of 43 inches around; now that is a big catfish! Check out pictures of the guys with their big catches below. Flathead catfish are typically larger than the channel, white, and bullhead catfish. We'd love to hear eyewitness Youd expect a big cat like that to be caught at dawn or dusk or even night. He was by himself in the boat and fought the fish an hour and a half drifting down the river as he battled it. Masullo de Aguiar's Piraiba was caught in 2009 and weighed 341 pounds 11 ounces (155 kilograms). Within five hours of posting, the photos had over 750 likes, 950 shares, and 150 comments. Have you caught a big fish lately? 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No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Researchers determined that the record flathead catfish was at least 22 years old, grew very rapidly, and was most likely a male. . They can weigh more than 100 pounds with the heaviest recorded weight in the world being 143 pounds. Thanks! PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Andrew Osmer, Ryan Richards and Timmy Richey were fishing late that night when Osmer hooked a huge catfish. Alabama's largest lake contains 69,100 acres and stretches 75 miles from Nickajack Dam to Guntersville Dam. Youll always remember that moment, finally pulling it in the boat. Use the 'Report' link on Paulies flathead catfish weighed 123 pounds (55.79 kilograms) and was over 5 feet (1.55 meters) in length. It is a large lake and there are so many spots you can target largemouth bass here. One got in the boat with me and the 2 of us couldnt get the fish in the boat. WHNT News 19 viewer Larry Stephens sent in photos of his wife April fishing on the lake. Best Catfish in Guntersville, Alabama: Find 1,046 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Catfish and search by price, location, and more. His luck changed last week when he brought in a big blue catfish that went well over 100 pounds. Andrew Buck and Daniel Rice are part of the fishing group too. We caught some really good largemouth bass: 7+ pounder, 6+ pounder, 5+ pounder, multiple 4+ pounders, and too many 2-3 pounders to count! 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. Larry Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch Flathead Catfish on one of the causeways over Lake Guntersville. Jugs are very effective there and perfectly legal. Nick is feeling good, and we assume the catfish is, too, after quite an adventure. Be Truthful. Nick grabbed another lighter pole and cast for crappie on the banks of Lake Guntersville. access for current print subscribers. Keep it Clean. Hudson Simmons, a 10-year-old who weighs 62 pounds, landed a world-record-sized blue catfish that was nearly as big as him. The bait we used for this one was bigger than my hand, said Richards. Like Comments |. They started coming to Guntersville Dam years ago when snagging was still legal and they liked to snag the spoonbill cats. Im about to be 60 and I told them it was going to have to happen pretty quick if it was going to happen, he said. Have you caught a big fish lately? Best Fishing Trips Mike Watts had been on a quest for years to catch a giant catfish. It took Nick a 20-minute battle to get the fish up to the dock. This lake has good fishing for channel catfish and blue catfish. Also read: Pair lands giant catfish on Lake Guntersville, Alabama. LANGSTON, Alabama (WVTM) Nick Parcus loves playing the guitar. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. The lower end of the lake is generally the most populated area, with several bass and catfish species as well as bluegill, crappie, perch, sauger, sunfish, and drum. If you're looking to target a real big fish, try fishing for the blue catfish. Paulie's record was set back on May 19, 1998. The state record is 120 pounds caught near Tuscaloosa in 2012. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) - A fishing trip with his grandpa turned into a big catch for 10-year-old . Not just where people fish but where they swim as well!. He loves the feel of the strings and the sound of sweet chords. Entertainment His goal was a 100-pounder. Kid catches 70 pound catfish in Lake Guntersville. When it comes to catfish the largest North American species is the blue catfish. Blue catfish were intentionally introduced into rivers in Virginia in the 1970s, but have now become an invasive species that grows and breeds rapidly. Lake Guntersville does have good numbers of catfish available too.