Kansas Just Certified a New Record Blue Catfish, and It’s a Giant

This spring Daniel Mayer of Company, Missouri, caught a 121.1-pound blue catfish whereas fishing the Kansas aspect of the Missouri River. Though the information hit social media in Might, the Kansas Division of Wildlife and Parks just announced Friday that it had formally accepted the file.

Mayer’s blue catfish taped out at 59.75 inches lengthy and was caught utilizing widespread carp as bait. His new state-record catch simply outstripped the Kansas file that had stood since 2012, a 102.8-pound blue catfish caught by Robert Stanley of Olathe.

Mayer usually fishes blue catfish tournaments, and competes in 10 to fifteen per yr. Whereas pre-fishing for an upcoming match, he spent greater than 10 hours on the river. He reportedly struggled early within the day on Might 15 earlier than discovering a groove. Round 9:30 p.m., he hooked what would change into his first-ever blue catfish over 100 kilos.

“I’ve caught some large fish through the years, however this was my first ‘century’ fish,” Mayer advised KDWP. “Once I lastly received it within the boat … I knew it was over 100 kilos, however I had no concept simply how large it actually was.”

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Mayer, who was fishing by himself, had a job wrestling the 121-pound fish into his boat. Finally fisheries biologist on the Kansas Division of Wildlife and Parks helped Mayer weigh his fish on a licensed scale and verified Mayer’s catch. In Might, Mayer posted a photograph to Fb that confirmed a digital scale show that learn 121.10 kilos, however KDPW advised OL this spring that it will be a minimum of a month earlier than they’d publicly confirm the catch.

Whereas Mayer just missed out on a $20,000 prize supplied by Catch the Fever — a rod firm that gives payouts for state-record fish caught on its tools — he’s nonetheless thrilled to have made Kansas fishing historical past.

“As a trophy blue catfish angler, you dream of moments like this,” Mayer mentioned. “It nonetheless feels surreal.”