Catfish are standard amongst North American anglers, however they can be discovered all world wide, with two of the biggest species—the Wels and the Large Mekong—inhabiting waters in Europe and Southeast Asia. South America, and particularly Brazil, is residence to a number of distinctive species as effectively. There are greater than 30 worldwide catfish species on the earth report e book, as maintained by the Worldwide Gamefish Affiliation. Right here’s a take a look at 15 of the all-tackle world information from across the planet.
Wels Catfish – 297 kilos, 9 ounces
Attila Zsedely is the all-tackle world report holder for the species. He caught this huge Wels catfish from Italy’s River Po on March 12, 2010. The fish weighed 297 kilos, 9 ounces, and was 96.46 inches lengthy. The listed tools within the information embody a Spin Blade 3m rod and a Ryobi 6000 reel lined with Berkley Whiplash. Zsedely was trolling a Rapala lure.
Mekong Large Catfish – 260 kilos
Martin David Kent is the IGFA’s all-tackle world report holder for Mekong large catfish with a 260-pounder caught Nov. 29, 2010. Kent was fishing out of Gillams Fishing Resorts in Krabi, Thailand, and the catfish was 79 inches lengthy with a 46-inch girth. He was equipped for large fish, wielding a Free Spirit Cat Tamer with a Penn 760 Reside Liner reel spooled with 80-pound Berkley Whiplash line. He was bait fishing utilizing a paste ball.
Mekong large catfish are a part of the household of “shark catfishes,” that are migratory. They’re sometimes present in medium-to-large-sized rivers. Though they’re herbivores, they’re keen to take different meals in captivity. The Mekong large catfish is among the quickest rising fishes on the earth, mentioned to be able to reaching as much as 400 kilos inside six years. Not like different giant catfish within the Mekong system, these giants don’t have any tooth and minimal, if any, barbels. Worldwide commerce of the fish is banned, and it’s thought-about an overexploited useful resource
Kent’s fish, whereas huge, just isn’t the most important Mekong cat ever caught. In accordance with Nationwide Geographic, a nine-foot, 646-pound Mekong large catfish was caught in Thailand in 20015. That fish is listed within the Guinness Guide of World Data as the biggest freshwater fish ever recorded.
Redtail Catfish – 123 kilos, 7 ounces
Gilberto Fernandes holds the all-tackle world report for Redtail catfish, often known as pirarara. He additionally has 9 line-class information for the species. This 123-pound, 7-ounce brute was 55.43 inches lengthy with a 50-inch girth. He caught it April 3, 2010, within the Amazon River. He was backside fishing and utilizing a complete useless fish for bait. The gear was a Sportex fiberglass rod, a Pflueger Contender G15L reel, and 20-pound Vexter line.
The pirarara is discovered within the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It’s a colourful species with red-orange dorsal and caudal fins. It has three units of barbels, and the highest two are very lengthy. These fish are omnivorous, and so they eat fruits in addition to different fish and crabs. Their meat, whereas darkish, is alleged to be wonderful.
Sharptooth Catfish – 93 kilos
Hennie Moller is the all-tackle world report holder for the species. This 93-pound sharptooth was caught April 23, 2003, from the Orange River in Kakamas, South Africa. Moller’s catfish was 74.80 inches lengthy with a girth of 35 inches. He was utilizing a mudfish as bait, together with a {custom} rod and a Shakespeare reel spooled with 17-pound Stren line.
Sharptooth catfish are discovered all all through Africa, from the Nile River to the Orange and Umtanvuna methods. They’ve additionally been launched to Europe and Asia, together with the international locations of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. These omnivores are hearty, adaptable fish with an adjunct respiratory organ that lets them reside in poor or difficult situations.
In accordance with the IGFA, these fish may even transfer overland beneath damp situations by “crawling” with its pectoral spines. Something swimming, crawling, slithering, or flying that it will probably slot in its mouth is appropriate for a meal. Additionally it is an essential meals supply in lots of cultures world wide.
Gilded Catfish – 85 kilos, 8 ounces
Angler Gilberto Fernandes holds a number of all-tackle information. Over his profession, he’s notched 137 information, of which 54 stay present. A kind of all-tackle world information is for Gilded catfish. This 85-pound, 8-ounce specimen was caught on Nov. 15, 1986, within the Amazon River. The fish was 54.13 inches lengthy with a 31-inch girth. His gear included an ABU 484 surf rod with an ABU Ambassadeur 8000 C reel spooled with 20-pound Trilene. He was backside fishing with a complete, useless fish as bait.
This long-whiskered fish could be present in South America’s Amazon and Orinoco River basins, together with the main rivers of French Guiana.
Swai Catfish – 46 kilos, 15 ounces
Jakub Vagner is the all-tackle world report holder with a 46-pound, 15-ounce Swai catfish that he caught Might 9, 2009, whereas fishing in Thailand’s Bung Sam Lan Lake. Vagner’s fish measured 40.94 inches lengthy with a 28-inch girth. He was utilizing a Daiwa Saltiga rod paired with a Shimano Baitrunner reel. The road was hefty 80-pound PowerPro. He was backside fishing and utilizing rice husk flour as bait.
Swai catfish are native to Southeast Asia. They’re discovered within the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers, and the Mae Klong River basin. The look a bit like blue or channel catfish, however they’ve their fewer barbels across the mouth. They’re a well-liked aquaculture species, raised for meals and offered in markets beneath the title “swai.” Wild shares have usually declined for the reason that Eighties.
Eurasian Catfish – 37 kilos, 14 ounces
The all-tackle world report Eurasian catfish was caught July 4, 1997 by angler Shoji Matsuura from Lake Biwa in Shiga, Japan. Weighing in at 37 kilos, 14 ounces, the cat measured 46.46 inches with a chunky 39-inch girth. The angler was utilizing a Jackson rod and an Abu Garcia 6500 GR spooled with 16-pound Varivas line. He was casting a plug when the fish hit.
Eurasian catfish are endemic to Lake Biwa, Japan. The Eurasian catfish household Siluridae additionally consists of the Wels catfish species.
Firewood Catfish – 35 kilos, 4 ounces
Alberto Fernandes additionally holds the all-tackle world report for Firewood catfish. This one weighed 35 kilos, 4 ounces, and measured 50 inches lengthy with a 24-inch girth. Fernandes caught the catfish within the Amazon River. He was utilizing a Daiwa Firewolf rod and a Pflueger reel. The road was 11.7-pound Araty Superflex. He was backside fishing, utilizing a smaller catfish for bait.
Firewood catfish are one of many extra fascinating wanting catfish species, and they’re discovered within the Amazon and Orinoco River basins.
Gray Eel Catfish – 18 kilos, 11 ounces
Anongnart Sungwichien is the all-tackle world report holder for Gray eel catfish. She caught her 18-pound, 11-ounce fish on April 2, 2002, in Thailand’s Nakorn Nayok River. The fish was 45.67 inches lengthy with a 19-inch girth. She was utilizing a Shakespeare Ugly Stik rod paired with a Penn Spinfisher 5500SS reel. The road was 15-pound Sufix Toplon. She caught the cat whereas backside fishing with a reside prawn.
Grey eel catfish are broadly dispersed. They are often discovered within the Indo-West Pacific from the west and south coasts of India, and off Sri Lanka eastward alongside the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar. They’re additionally native tothe Indo-Australian Archipelago and the Philippines so far as Papua New Guinea. They’re dusky-brown with a black dorsal fin tip and so they sport eight lengthy barbels.
Granulated Catfish – 18 kilos
Arthur Weston holds the all-tackle world report for Granulated catfish with an 18-pound fish caught June 21, 2018, in Bolivia’s Madidi River. Weston’s cat was 31.89 inches lengthy with a 21-inch girth. He was backside fishing with a custom-built rod and a Shimano reel spooled with 80-pound Seaguar line.
Granulated catfish are nocturnal predators. They members of the “thorny catfish” household that’s present in South America’s Amazon and Paraná River basins in addition to coastal drainages in Guyana and Suriname. They’ve a pretty big, sail-like dorsal fin.
Flatwhiskered Catfish – 16 kilos, 15 ounces
One other Brazilian species, this all-tackle world report Flatwhiskered catfish weighed 16 kilos, 15 ounces and was caught by Ian-Arthur de Sulocki on Aug. 7, 2001, within the Xingu River. The fish was 38.19 inches lengthy with a 13-inch girth. Sulocki used a Plaway rod and an Abu Garcia 9000C reel with Plaway line. He was casting a useless bicuda, a pike-like fish additionally native to the world.
Flatwhiskered catfish have extremely lengthy barbels, typically capable of stretch batch to half the fish’s physique size. They’re discovered within the Amazon, Essequibo, Orinoco and Paraná River basins.
Black Catfish – 8 kilos, 14 ounces
Benchawan Thiansungnoen caught the all-tackle world report in Thailand’s Palm Tree Lagoon on Nov. 25, 2012. The fish weighed 8 kilos, 4 ounces, and it was 27 inches lengthy with a 17-inch girth. The angler was utilizing a Professional Kik rod with Shimano reel spooled with hefty 50-pound Fins line. She used a bread ball for bait.
Black catfish are discovered from Thailand to Indonesia. They like the center of enormous rivers with quick flowing water, consuming bugs, prawns and different fish close to a muddy backside. There’s a business marketplace for them, and they’re offered contemporary in native markets.
Amur Catfish – 8 kilos, 4 ounces
The Amur catfish is widespread in Japan, the place it’s also commercially raised. Fumiya Okuyama holds the all-tackle report with an 8-pound, 4-ounce fish caught Nov. 15, 2013, in Tokyo’s Tama River. The cat was 28.35 inches lengthy with a 15-inch-girth. Okuyama was utilizing a Shimano rod with a Daiwa reel. The road was 8-pound Sunline. He caught the fish on a plug.
Moreover Japan, Amur catfish are additionally present in waters of the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, China and Russia. The fish’s topside is darkish gray. The stomach is white. It has irregular white dots on the aspect. It has a single pair of lengthy maxillary barbels and a pair of mandibular barbels.
Yellow Catfish – 2 kilos, 8 ounces
Arthur Weston holds the all-tackle world report for Yellow catfish. He caught this 2-pound, 8-ounce fish on Jan. 4, 2022, within the Uruguay River in Argentina. The cat was 14.96 inches lengthy. Weston was utilizing a Goofish rod, Daiwa reel and 20-pound Berkley line. He was backside fishing with lower bait.
One other long-whiskered and comparatively small species, Yellow catfish are present in South America’s Paraná and São Francisco River basins. They’re usually raised for aquariums.
Mandi Catfish – 2 kilos, 4 ounces
It’s a fairly secure guess that Russell Jensen was anticipating greater recreation when he landed this all-tackle world report Mandi catfish. He was, in any case, utilizing 80-pound PowerPro line on a Shimano Calcutta Conquest reel matched with a Grandt HVY XLN70 rod. The two-pound, 4-ounce catfish was caught Feb. 10, 2009, within the Jatapu River, a tributary of the Amazon River. The fish was 14.50 inches lengthy. Jensen was utilizing a piranha as bait.
The Mandi catfish is discovered within the Amazon, Corantijn, Essequibo, Orinoco, and Paraná River basins, in addition to main rivers of the Guianas. Whereas small, these fish pack an enormous wallop. They secrete poisonous mucus and wounds brought on by their pectoral spines are mentioned to be extraordinarily painful.
