There is just something about big catfish. The world record bass sure gets all the glory, the big brown trout gets the shine, and the biggest alligator makes headlines. Nothing catches our eye quite like a nice-toothed monster musk, and few gamefishes can match the pound-for-pound craze of crappie catching. But people love giant cats. And who can blame them? It’s fun to catch – and even more fun to fight. And while you probably don’t want to fry a great catfish fillet, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more delicious fish than the little one.
But this story is not about kittens. Around giants—Specifically, the world’s largest catfish ever. Our friends at the International Game Fish Association have been kind enough to open their logbook, share photos, and capture the details of these 10 logs that contain every tackle and class. Some of these awards have lasted for decades – but that doesn’t mean they can’t be beat. With a bit of luck, some tough handling, and a hook covered in a big bait of spam (just keep reading), the next world record catfish might be yours.
1) All blue catfish world record
- the hunter: Richard Nicholas Anderson
- Ocean: blue catfish
- Weight: 143 pounds
- World Record Line Category: all interference
- Site: Kerr Lake, Bags Island, Virginia
- Date: June 18, 2011
- Lure or bait used: chicken
2) All world standard catfish processing
- the hunter: Ken Poli
- Ocean: Flathead catfish
- Weight: 123 pounds
- World Record Line Category: all interference
- Site: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas
- Date: May 19, 1998
- Lure or bait used: live minnow
3) Small world record blue catfish
- the hunter: Landon N. Evans
- Ocean: blue catfish
- Weight: 117 pounds 8 ounces
- World Record Line Category: junior
- Site: Lake Gaston, North Carolina
- Date: June 11, 2016
- Lure or bait used: Shad cut
4) 16 lb blue catfish
- the hunter: Charles Ashley Jr.
- Ocean: blue catfish
- Weight: 116 pounds 12 ounces
- World Record Line Category: 16 pounds
- Site: Mississippi River, Arkansas
- Date: August 3, 2001
- Lure or bait used: Spam emails
5) Eight pounds streak world-class blue catfish world record
- the hunter: Zachary R. Lovelady
- Ocean: blue catfish
- Weight: 109 pounds 12 ounces
- World Record Line Category: 8 pounds
- Site: Soddy Daisy, Tennessee
- Date: March 31, 2005
- Lure or bait used: cut the bait
6) The world record for a blue catfish of 12 lbs.
- the hunter: Roger Rohrbach
- Ocean: blue catfish
- Weight: 101 pounds
- World Record Line Category: 12 pounds
- Site: San Vicente Reservoir, California
- Date: March 12, 2000
- Lure or bait used: direct gloss
7) Flathead catfish with a standard head of 20 lbs
- the hunter: Stacy Small
- Ocean: Flathead catfish
- Weight: 84 pounds 6 ounces
- World Record Line Category: 20 pounds
- Site: San Jacinto River, Texas
- Date: May 27, 1987
- Lure or bait used: Shad
8) Blue Catfish that weighs 130 lbs
- the hunter: Eric Maurer
- Ocean: blue catfish
- Weight: 84 pounds
- World Record Line Category: 130 pounds
- Site: Lake Chickamauga, Tennessee
- Date: March 18, 2007
- Lure or bait used: salted fish
9) Flathead catfish with a standard head of 80 lbs
- the hunter: Edward Davis
- Ocean: Flathead catfish
- Weight: 69 pounds
- World Record Line Category: 80 pounds
- Site: Cape Fear River, North Carolina
- Date: 27 July 1994
- Lure or bait used: perch
10) World record eight-pound line class flathead catfish
- the hunter: Darren Seely
- Ocean: Flathead catfish
- Weight: 66 pounds
- World Record Line Category: 8 pounds
- Site: Lake Hartwell, Georgia
- Date: May 3, 2010
- Lure or bait used: Unknown