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Monster Catfish Could Rewrite South Carolina Records
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Record-breaking fish are making headlines across the South. From a rare Georgia robust redhorse that may be more than 30 years old to giant blue and flathead catfish setting or threatening state records in Texas and South Carolina, anglers and biologists are documenting some of the region’s most remarkable catches:
31-inch Robust Redhorse Marks New Georgia Record. Georgia Department of Natural Resources staff caught and released the largest robust redhorse ever documented during spawning surveys at Augusta Shoals on the Savannah River. The fish measured 31 inches and weighed 20.8 pounds. Biologists estimate it could be more than 30 years old. The rare, protected species was released after examination. Read More
Angler Lands 75-Pound Blue Catfish, Sets New Lake Length Record. On June 6, Michael Padgett, 28, landed a giant blue catfish while fishing Belton Lake in Central Texas with his wife and friends. The fish struck a cut gizzard shad bait and was hauled in using 85-pound braided line. Without a scale on board, Padgett kept the fish alive and later recorded a weight of 75.02 pounds on a non-certified scale. Rather than pursue a weight record, he chose Texas’ catch-and-release program and had the fish measured instead. The blue catfish measured 50 inches long with a 33-inch girth, surpassing Belton Lake’s previous catch-and-release length record of 47.5 inches. State approval is pending. Read More
Monster Catfish Could Rewrite South Carolina Records. Joe Driggers of Florence, South Carolina, landed a giant 113.7-pound flathead catfish from the Great Pee Dee River while fishing with his brothers, Sam and Judd. Using cut bream on a Santee rig in 30 feet of water, Joe hooked the fish near a deep hole and log jam. After a tough fight, the brothers hauled the massive catfish aboard by hand. Certified biologists later recorded the fish at 113.7 pounds, 59 inches long, with a 43-inch girth. The catch is expected to replace South Carolina’s current 84-pound, 9.6-ounce state record flathead. Read More
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