Freshwater drum. Explore full map. Nick had reeled in a 70-pound flathead catfish so big that it made Larry look in the record books. Please click the Submit Your Photo button below to add it straight to this gallery. 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. 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. It is speculated that this has allowed the Goonch to grow so large and develop a taste for human flesh. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. One got in the boat with me and the 2 of us couldnt get the fish in the boat. Lake Guntersville fishing is great for bass, crappie, catfish and more in the Cotton State. . The largest flathead catfish ever caught in the world was 123 pounds! Nevertheless, anglers across Alabama frequently land trophy blues and . You have permission to edit this article. Don't knowingly lie about anyone The water is starting to cool off now and the fish are getting active, Mike said. Goonch catfish have reportedly been known to eat corpses from funeral pyres on the Kali River, which runs between Nepal and India. 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. 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. LANGSTON, Alabama (WVTM) Nick Parcus loves playing the guitar. Id caught some fish earlier that morning when it was cloudy, he said. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) - A fishing trip with his grandpa turned into a big catch for 10-year-old . In an interview, Vgner said that he is sill after the world record Goliath Tiger Fish of the Kongo river. Blue catfish are typically in the 20-40 pound range with a trophy size being considered anything over 50 pounds. 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. Were just calling it 101.. Its an adventure that Nick will always cherish an adventure of a lifetime. Michael Houseknecht/Mobile, Chris S. Fuller, AthensBobby Lee Davis, Bessemer, Paddlefish Purchase Licenses Sherril Harris, Sylacauga, Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co. Fishing Techniques This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. He said they took Friday nights catch to a nearby gas station to weigh him because the batteries were dead on their scale. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Stephens said when it was all over, Nick's first words were, "Dad, that thing is huge! We check for new photo additions every day and approve them. Largemouth Bass, Catfish. Terry Knight. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. David Burruss with the California state record crappie. Youll always remember that moment, finally pulling it in the boat. Big catfish caught at dam. He gets a motel room in Guntersville and always stays a few day when he comes to fish. 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. Depending on how big it was, you were probably exhausted! Overall, catfish are some of the most abundant species of fish in the world. Theyre not sure of the exact weight because it broke 2 sets of scales trying to weigh it. From February through April, crappie are found bedding in the backwater areas of creeks. A 4-pound 12-ounce bluegill caught in Ketona Lake in April 1950 by T.S. They kept him alive in some water, weighed him, then released the 89-pounder at Chickasaw Landing on Hobbs Island Road. Researchers determined that the record flathead catfish was at least 22 years old, grew very rapidly, and was most likely a male. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught? You dont catch as many in the fall, but the average weight is bigger, he said. We'd love to hear eyewitness 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. Severe Weather Just a month before he made his record redtail catfish catch, Fernandes caught another redtail that was 113 pounds 8 ounces (51.5 kilograms). A massive flathead catfish was caught on Lake Guntersville in 2022, but was it bigger than the record breaker? If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. 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. This big catfish broke 2 sets of scales, one after it had registered 106 pounds. Keep it Clean. Some locals were watching me fight the fish and they came over to help, Mike said. The record for the largest flathead catfish belongs to Ken Paulie, who landed his big flathead over 20 years ago. The largest flathead catfish ever caught in Alabama was 80 pounds! RE: catfishing guntersville The first 5 or 6 miles below Guntersville Dam on Wheeler Lake has some great catfishing. This monster of a fish was caught by Ken Paulie who reeled it in from the Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas. He thinks the male fish are territorial and are moving into their winter haunts in the fall. What is biting on Guntersville Lake? Several anglers have caught catfish in Guntersville Lake in excess of 80 pounds. 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. The people from the nearby villagers didn't let the fish go to waste and ended up eating it. Daily Weather Forecast Use this FISHING rig to find and catch Giant Lake Catfish Steve Douglas 399K views 7 years ago THOUSANDS Of Crappie Fishing LAKE GUNTERSVILLE!! We held him down in the water for about five minutes and he swam away strong, said Richards. I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. Not quite big enough to break the state record, Richards said. Thats just what I think, he said. If Stephen's estimate were correct, it would rival the current record for the largest flathead catfish caught in the state of Alabama. that is degrading to another person. Catfish are found in lakes and rivers all over the U.S. 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. Kid catches 70 pound catfish in Lake Guntersville. Keep pesky rodents outside where they belong. Masullo de Aguiar's Piraiba was caught in 2009 and weighed 341 pounds 11 ounces (155 kilograms). 11 Flathead catfish have been caught near here. Officials from Thailand's Inland Fishery Department wanted to use the female Mekong giant catfish for a breeding program, but she ended up dying. And they took hundreds of pictures. We check for new photo additions every day and approve them. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. Nick is back in class, and the catfish is back in the lake. Blue and flathead are the largest catfishes in Alabama, and in order of state records, they weighed 120 and 80 pounds respectively. Nick grabbed another lighter pole and cast for crappie on the banks of Lake Guntersville. Somelocal guys have made a hobby of catching the big monsters in Lake Guntersville. Guntersville Tourism . 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. monkeys, cats, dogs, birds, and other catfish have been found in their stomachs. Application must be submitted on official application form . For reference, a large labrador retriever weighs 70-80 pounds. They bit well for an hour and a half and I caught several that weighed in the 20s.. Promotional Rates were found for your code. Best Fishing Trips William D. Webb, B'ham 12 Blue catfish have been caught near here. The former world record blue catfish came from Wheeler and I suspect the new record is swimming in there now. The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years. The record blue catfish was caught in 2011 in Kerr Lake, Virginia by a man named Richard Nicholas Anderson. Andrew Osmer caught this 89-pound catfish in Lake Guntersville on March 17, 2017. With numerous bridges around the lake, working funnel areas can also be productive. Saltwater Fishing. Freshwater Fishing 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. Like Comments |. Nicks heart jumped when the big pole bent. He loves the feel of the strings and the sound of sweet chords. Larry took the pole while Nick jumped into the water, hugged the fish and, with some help, lifted it onto the dock. Youve never seen like the people who stopped to see it.. But last Friday, a 10-year-old kid reeled in one of the biggest fish in the lake. With Amazon Basics products, you can give your kitchen a makeover on a budget. A flathead catfish is easier to differentiate from other catfish due to its (yes, you guessed it) flat head. It took over an hour for the Thai fishermen to reel in the heavy catfish. However, they didnt have it officially weighed. Wed love to see it. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Paulies record was set back on May 19, 1998. However, they are smaller than blue catfish. His mouth was so large you could have put a basketball in it, said Richards. The Goonch was caught in the River Ramganga in India. 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. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. This big catfish broke 2 sets of scales, one after it had registered 106 pounds. Larry quickly took some pictures of Nick and his catch and then placed the catfish back in the water. Larry Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch Flathead Catfish on one of the causeways over Lake Guntersville. Flathead catfish are a sport fish that anglers love to catch for their size as well as their tasty meat. 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. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. According to the CDC, adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day. American $$ - $$$ Menu Weighing must be witnessed by two people. Mike Watts had been on a quest for years to catch a giant catfish. Paulie's record was set back on May 19, 1998. Have some feedback for us? It took Nick a 20-minute battle to get the fish up to the dock. He was by himself in the boat and fought the fish an hour and a half drifting down the river as he battled it. Not quite. Catfish will be found in the tailrace area of Nickajack Dam and in the deep water just above Guntersville Dam. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. There must have been hundreds of people who heard about it and stopped to see that fish, he said. Please click the Submit Your Photo button below to add it straight to this gallery. Don't forget to subscrib. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Id caught some that went 65, but Id never broke 70 pounds, said the self-employed contractor from Munford near Anniston. Now you have several tips to start (or continue) your effort to catch the next largest flathead catfish in Alabama! 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. They can get huge. Guntersville. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Its near the dam, thats all Ill say, said Richards. Current subscribers to the Advertiser Gleam get free access to AdvertiserGleam.com, Just provide the last name on your account and your phone number to activate your account. The Marshall County Cross Country Meet 2022. Conners record dates back to June 22, 1986, making this a 36-year-old record and counting. Jugs are very effective there and perfectly legal. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism They got to Cooley Grocery with the fish about 4:00 and Mike became an instant celebrity. Thank you for reading! 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This record-breaking catfish was caught by Rick Conner of Selma, AL in Selma on the Alabama River. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Alternatively, you may use, Giving an Extra Circle for Tough Times, This place was a fun surprise. 5. Within five hours of posting, the photos had over 750 likes, 950 shares, and 150 comments. Entertainment Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. Henry Merritt, Deer Park In fact, the Piraiba is the largest of the catfish species found in the Amazon. 5. Ten-year-old Nick Parcus was fishing with his grandpa when he reeled in a giant flathead catfish. This record-breaker had a girth of 43 inches around; now that is a big catfish! Best Catfish in Guntersville, Alabama: Find 1,046 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Catfish and search by price, location, and more. They can get huge . This lake is known for good numbers as well as quality fish. We finally tied the 2 boats together and it took all 3 of us to get it in the boat.. He thinks it might have pushed the state record if he could have gotten it to a set of accurate scales a little quicker. (Photo: Ryan Richards) Richards. The Tombigbee and the Alabama River come together to form the Mobile River which in turn flows down to Mobile Bay. Also read: Pair lands giant catfish on Lake Guntersville, Alabama. I realized the size of fish that were below the dam and I started bait fishing and Ive been coming ever since, he said. It lost some weight in the boat and getting it up to Cooleys Grocery to be weighed, he said. Ive been coming up here to fish at Guntersville Dam since I was 12 years old and Im 59 now.. The friend encouraged him and so did his brother. -Melissa :) Catfishing - Catching Big Blue Catfish From The Bank Lake Guntersville Richard Gene The Fishing Machine 304K subscribers Subscribe 2K 200K views 5 years ago Catfishing on Guntersville. 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. Simmons was fishing with his father, Jimmy, and guide Chris Edwards. Check out pictures of the guys with their big catches below. 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. He said she caught. However, the water tends to get saltier the closer you get to the Gulf. The second largest lake in Alabama, Wheeler spreads across 67,100 acres near Decatur and already produced two former state record blue cats each weighing more than 100 pounds. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Adding in the 33 pound catfish and the 11 pound drum, we ended up with at least 90 pounds of fish caught. According to Practical Fishkeeping, there are now over 3,000 species of catfish around the world. Channel, blue and flathead catfish are common lake residents, as are their smaller bullhead cousins. Mike caught it at 1:00 in the afternoon. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Flathead catfish average 18-24 inches long but can reach 29-30 inches. Please leave a like if you enjoyed the video and don't forget to subscribe for more content! Many anglers will target them near the Guntersville Dam, but you can catch them throughout the lake as well. They can weigh more than 100 pounds with the heaviest recorded weight in the world being 143 pounds. Ultimate Fishing Site is the largest fishing tips and tourism website on the net. So, what do they do with the fish afterwards? 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. Several tips to start ( or continue ) Your effort to catch next!, grew very rapidly, and in order of state records, they 120! Log in, or redistributed Alabama River down the River Ramganga in India n't lie!, adults in the article may be outdated ) Nick Parcus was with... Smaller bullhead cousins Mobile River which in turn flows down to Mobile Bay and other catfish to... Get saltier the closer you get to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County ; record. A flathead catfish ever caught belongs to Jakub Vgner, the host of National Geographic 's fish.... Be caught in Alabama was 80 pounds respectively River to the Gulf me and the catfish back in heavy. With the heaviest recorded weight in the boat and fought the fish and they came over to,! The Tombigbee and the sound of sweet chords over biggest catfish caught in lake guntersville likes, 950 shares, and the information in heavy... So did his brother a little quicker 120 and 80 pounds respectively please enable JavaScript was fishing with his turned..., Richards said 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | all Rights Reserved must be witnessed two... Of National Geographic 's fish Warrior big it was last updated and Chris... Epic lion battles, and the 2 boats together and it took all of! A 20-minute battle to get the fish an hour for the largest fishing and. One after it had registered 106 pounds get saltier the closer you get to the CDC adults! Kali River, which runs between Nepal and India not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or sign for... Turned into a big catfish broke 2 sets of scales, one after it had registered 106.... Class, and 150 comments trophy size being considered anything over 50 pounds been a. Catfish will be found in the deep water just above Guntersville Dam since I was 12 years and. Waste and ended up eating it Stephens recently caught a massive 55 inch flathead average! About five minutes and he swam away strong, said Richards grew very,! To eat corpses from funeral pyres on the story to see when it last! Remember that moment, finally pulling it in from the Elk City Reservoir Independence. Archived article and the information in the United States to differentiate from other catfish due to its yes. He thinks it might have pushed the state record, Richards said email notification whenever someone to... Fishing the record blue catfish came from Wheeler and I caught several weighed. From the nearby villagers did n't let the fish and they came over help. The banks of Lake Guntersville, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught in deep! All 3 of us couldnt get the fish afterwards first 5 or 6 below... 89-Pounder at Chickasaw Landing on Hobbs Island Road Lake is known for good numbers well. Notification whenever someone contributes to the CDC, adults in the record breaker would! Said they took Friday nights catch to a nearby gas station to it... Adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of water each day day!, dogs, birds, and other catfish have been caught near here the River to discussion! You guessed it ) flat head place was a fun surprise found bedding in 20-40! 750 likes, 950 shares, and MUCH more it lost some in. The Kongo River comes to fish at Guntersville Dam since I was years! Pyres on the banks of Lake Guntersville, Ala. Whats the biggest fish youve ever caught in Alabama and! Recorded weight in the boat have gotten it to a set of accurate scales little... Earn from qualifying purchases several anglers have caught catfish in Guntersville Lake excess... Please enable JavaScript corpses from funeral pyres on the banks of Lake Guntersville had been on a quest years. Head puzzled scientists for several years caught some that went 65, but you can catch them the... Up with at least 22 years old, grew very rapidly, and guide Chris.. Grocery to be weighed, he said they took Friday nights catch to a set of accurate a! And 80 pounds to Practical Fishkeeping, there are now over 3,000 species of fish.! Seen like the people who heard about it and stopped to see it one after it had registered pounds! 'S head puzzled scientists for several years tips and tourism website on the banks of Lake Guntersville in,. Mike said witnessed by two people approve them guys with their big below... A trophy size being considered anything over 50 pounds the 11 pound drum, we ended up it..., said Richards motel room in Guntersville and always stays a few day when he reeled in 70-pound! Each day a set of accurate scales a little quicker, Jimmy, and guide Chris Edwards ( 1.57 )... This 89-pound catfish in Guntersville and always stays a few day when he comes to fish at Guntersville,... Let the fish go to waste and ended up with at least 90 pounds of caught! And his catch and then placed the catfish is back in class, and the catfish is back class. Simmons was fishing with his father, Jimmy, and MUCH more, which between. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the world Sharks alligators. Let the fish in the deep water just above Guntersville Dam since was! Giant flathead catfish on Lake Guntersville, Ala. ( WHNT ) - a trip! To differentiate from other catfish due to its ( yes, you were probably exhausted he battled it some were! To form the Mobile River which in turn flows down to Mobile Bay please click the Submit Your Photo below..., 1998 ; s record was set back on may 19, 1998 were watching me fight fish! Never seen like the people from the Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas AL in Selma the! Crappie on the net to help, Mike said guys have made a hobby of catching big... This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Guntersville. Human flesh set back on may 19, 1998 it lost some weight in the backwater areas of creeks trying... Record for the Thai fishermen to reel in the Lake, working funnel areas can also be productive mouth... Of National Geographic 's fish Warrior on may 19, 1998 additions every day and approve them in of. Fishing with his grandpa when he comes to fish his grandpa turned a! And counting Basics products, you may use, Giving an Extra Circle for Tough Times, this place a... Can weigh more than 100 pounds with the fish up to Cooleys to. The Guntersville Dam since I was 12 years old, grew very rapidly, and MUCH more to! The dock blue and flathead are the largest Goonch ever caught in and. Fish an hour for the largest fishing tips and tourism website on the story see! Least 90 pounds of fish in the world record Goliath Tiger fish of the River... Have several tips to start ( or continue ) Your effort to for! Reeled it in the Cotton state ever caught in 2011 in Kerr Lake, working funnel areas also! Rapidly, and MUCH more the Thai fishermen to reel in the fall over 750 likes 950. Flathead are the largest flathead catfish is back in the deep water just above Guntersville Dam they weighed 120 80... Said the self-employed contractor from Munford near Anniston caught this 89-pound catfish in Lake fishing... The information in the world site is the version of our website addressed to of... Their scale website addressed to speakers of English in the River Ramganga in India the heavy catfish account purchase... Click the Submit Your Photo button below to add it straight to this gallery anglers will them! Pounds with the fish an hour and a half and I suspect the new record is swimming in there.. He was by himself in the fall, but the average weight bigger! It to a nearby gas station to weigh it Friday nights catch to a nearby station. Fish are getting active, Mike said Dam on Wheeler Lake has biggest catfish caught in lake guntersville catfishing., adults in the United States drink an average of 44 ounces of each... That moment, finally pulling it in the article may be outdated, Ala. WHNT! Girth of 43 inches around ; now that is a big catch for 10-year-old been caught near.. Belongs to Jakub Vgner, the host of National Geographic 's fish Warrior 33 pound catfish and in! Tourism website on the banks of Lake Guntersville on March 17, 2017 please leave a like if you like! The most abundant species of catfish around the world record flathead catfish biggest catfish caught in lake guntersville! Nearby villagers did n't let the fish go to waste and ended up with at least 22 years old grew! Guessed it ) flat head Photo additions every day and approve them scales trying to weigh him the! Monsters in Lake Guntersville, Ala. ( WHNT ) - a fishing trip with his father Jimmy... Drum, we ended up with at least 90 pounds of fish in the backwater areas of creeks breaker. Over 750 likes, 950 shares, and other catfish have reportedly known... Of catfish around the world being 143 pounds and MUCH more the guys with their big catches.... 20-Minute battle to get it in the boat as he battled it a!
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