Photos Courtesy The Mecklenburg News-Progress
New World Record Blue Catfish, A Whopping 143 Lbs
The catfishing world has been abuzz since early this morning about a possible new world record blue catfish that was caught Saturday night June 18th 2011 at John H. Kerr-Buggs Island Lake near Clarksville Virginia.
I was sitting around resting and eating my Fathers Day breakfast, enjoying the day off when my email started buzzing every few minutes with breaking news of the new potential world record blue catfish.
The current world record blue was caught in the Missouri River in July of 2010. If this new 143 fish gets certified as a record catfish this fish will break the existing world record by an impressive thirteen pounds and will also be the new Virginia state record blue catfish.
Nick Anderson, a high school football coach from Greenville North Carolina was on a father and son fishing trip (yes this is Fathers Day weekend) fishing at Buggs Island. Anderson said that the fish was caught near the Goat Island area near Clarksville Virginia using an Ugly Stik fishing rod, a Shimano fishing reel and 30 lb test fishing line. It took an estimated forty five minutes for the anglers to wrestle this monster into their pontoon boat.
The bait the anglers were using has not been disclosed at this time.
Earlier this year in our March Catfishing Month In Review we reported an the new Virginia record blue catfish that was caught at Buggs Island Lake that weighed in at 109 lbs. It is also being reported that Nick Anderson’s father Rick caught a 95 lb blue catfish a few weeks ago at Buggs-Island Lake.
Anderson’s monster blue catfish was taken to Mecklenburg Farm Supply in Chase City Virginia because it was the only place within the area that had scales large enough to perform the official weigh in. The fish was certified at 143 lbs with a length of 57 inches long and a girth of 47 inches.
A fish (of any species) does not become a world record until the record is certified by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) but the fish appears to meet all of the necessary qualifications. Assuming the fish passes the certification process of the IGFA then it will become the new world.
Past World Record Catfish
Here is a brief recap of some of the past IGFA certified blues and links to photos and additional details on these fish.
- In July 2010 Greg Bernal of Florissant Missouri caught the current 130 Lb world record
- In May of 2005 Tim Pruitt caught the 124 Lb world record
- In January 2004 Cody Mullinex of Howe Texas caught a 121.5 Lb fish at Lake Texoma, which was the first monster to garner serious media attention.
The Recent Virginia Catfish Controversies
Virginia has recently been the site of a lot of controversy in the catfishing world as there have been discussions to make the blue catfish an invasive species in the tidal waters of the James Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. This area has become well known for producing excellent trophy class blue catfish. There has been a recent push by state agencies to eradicate the blue catfish from these waters by opening them to commercial fishing.
With any luck, the media exposure that this big catfish will create may help to eliminate the efforts from these state agencies.
Chad;
That is a very impressive fish. WOW! I’ll bet Mr. Anderson was really tuckered out after that 45 min battle.
It would be interesting to find out what type of bait they were using. That my friend, is the secret ingrediant.
Thank you for providing this article to all of us. It’s like we get in on the news before many other’s.
Stan
Hello, Is there a link on your web site for someone to read the answers to the questions and answers that people ask and your answers. Many thanks in advance…Steve
Howdy Chad,
Yeah, thatz a fair sized chug-head, but therz bigger in some ponds in Texas… Thanx, for the report..
Stay cool!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe they used Wheaties for bait !!!!!!!!!
WOW! Very impressive catch. What is the fate of this catfish?
thanks for passing along the info.
Hi. I’m Dallas with the Mecklenburg News-Progress. Thanks for giving us the photo credit on this.
To answer Russell’s question, I’m sorry to report that despite massive efforts, the fish did not survive. Unfortunately, few people are set up with tanks large enough to handle a 143 pound fish.
About four weeks ago, Nick’s father Rick (center in the first photo) caught a 95 pounder which was weighed and released back into the lake and seemed just fine.
For what it’s worth, earlier this spring a 109 pound blue cat was caught in Buggs Island Lake. We seem to be growing them pretty big these days.
If you’re looking for a great place to fish or hang out, Southside Virginia is probably as nice a place as you’ll find.
What a catch! Glad you got that interview. Way to go!
idk, about you but if i caught somthing that big, a simple picture would suffice, then i would roll that fish off my boat and keep my mouth shut. 1000′s of people are gonna be comming in know and flooding the river catching monsters
WOW…that is huge! Congrats on the big catch! Sure beats the one I caught years ago…lol
I am so proud of my nephews and brother. What a Father’s day weekend to remember. They go fishing every Father’s day at the say lake but never experienced anything like this. Way to go Nick!!!!
Heck with the worm and hook. He must have used a king snake and put him on a Wrecker hook!!!! CONGRATS!!!!
Congratulations!! I can only wonder what cat still lingers in the waters? I caught a 80lb on lake gaston in April with my neighbor B. Bryant. Again nice job fellows! Craig Akins n.y./n.c.
FISH ON !!! is a understatement for that Big Ole’ Blue Cat. Congrats to the Angler. Sad day for the fish, since it was last day. But we were very pleased to hear that normaly you use the catch and release.
C.P.R. Catch Photo Release
I am interested in knowing how old this fish is.
Really cannot be determined without them aging the fish.