The blue catfish is the largest species of catfish in North America and can even reach a weight of 150 pounds. Fisherman Tim Pruitt set a record in 2005 when he reeled in a 124-pound blue catfish, also caught in the Mississippi River.
What is the largest catfish caught in the Mississippi River?
Catfish, especially blue catfish, can grow to enormous sizes. The Mississippi state record is 95 pounds and was caught in the Mississippi River near Natchez.
What is the biggest catfish ever recorded?
Thai fishermen caught a 646-pound catfish believed to have been the world’s largest freshwater fish ever recorded, a researcher said Thursday. The 8.9 foot long Mekong giant catfish was the heaviest recorded fish since Thailand started keeping records in 1981.
What is the length of the biggest fish caught in the Mississippi River?
The record-breaking fish measured seven feet, seven and a half inches long and was an impressive three feet, three inches in girth. Tucker snagged the monstrous fish about 10 a.m. using a 65-pound test line. Tucker’s fish broke the previous alligator gar record by more than six pounds.
What is the biggest catfish in the United States?
The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 68 kg (150 lb). The typical length is about 25–46 in (64–117 cm).
What is the most dangerous animal in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, venomous species include the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, cottonmouth, coral snake and the most common, the copperhead. A bite from a venomous snake can be painful at best and even cause death.
Is it safe to swim in the Mississippi River?
It’s extremely dangerous to swim in the Mississippi River. The river is huge and the currents are strong, even right at water’s edge (whether or not you’re a great swimmer is irrelevant). … Also, remember that the water is totally toxic.
Can a catfish kill a human?
At least 1,250 species of catfish are venomous, a new study finds. Elsewhere in the world, a few catfish species can even kill humans. … The new count of venomous catfish — which may be more than 1,600, the scientists estimate — is much higher than thought.
Can a catfish kill you?
In other parts of the world, some catfish do have extremely toxic venoms that can be deadly to humans. … Catfish venom glands are found alongside sharp, bony spines on the edges of the dorsal and pectoral fins, and these spines can be locked into place when the catfish is threatened.
Are catfish healthy to eat?
Catfish is low in calories and packed with lean protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It’s particularly rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fats and vitamin B12. It can be a healthy addition to any meal, though deep frying adds far more calories and fat than dry heat cooking methods like baking or broiling.
Do alligator gars attack humans?
Although they may look ferocious, alligator gars pose no threat to humans and there are no known attacks on people. They can pose a passive danger, though: The fish’s eggs are poisonous to humans if ingested.
Can alligator gar kill you?
In reality, though, Hefner says gar aren’t as threatening as they appear. … “Fact is, there has never been a verified gar attack on a human. The occasional bites that get reported turn out to be from actual alligators, not gar. These fish care only about eating what they can swallow, which is smaller forage.”
How old is a 100 pound catfish?
Blue Catfish can live for 30 years and fish over 100 pounds have been confirmed in at least eleven states. The current world angling record is a 143-pound monster caught in Virginia’s Buggs Island Lake in 2011.
What eats a blue catfish?
While adult blue catfish have few natural predators in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, they are among the preferred prey of both osprey and bald eagles. When attacked, blue catfish defend themselves with serrated spinal barbs located on both their dorsal and pectoral fins.
How old is a 50 lb blue catfish?
Individual growth is highly variable in larger fish, and fish in the James are known to reach 50 pounds by age-11, although age 13 – 15 is more typical. For blue catfish ages 1 – 8 in tidal rivers total annual mortality is low (29%).
Which state produces the most catfish?
The top catfish producing states are Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas, as shown in Figure 3. Other states growing catfish include California, North Carolina, and the Other States.