Big Fish: Record Catfish Caught In Georgia

ATLANTA, GA — A Georgia man has one whale of a fish story to tell, after blowing away the state record for the biggest blue catfish ever caught.

Richard Barrett, of the south Georgia town of Axson, landed a catfish that weighed in at an even 93 pounds on Oct. 14, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

That's nearly 13 pounds bigger than the previous record of 80 pounds, 4 ounces which was set in 2010.

Watch: Record Catfish Caught In Georgia

Barrett was fishing on the Altamaha River, using a live channel catfish he'd caught earlier in the day as bait. Barrett told the DNR's Wildlife Resources Division he was fishing on the edge of a deep hole and that, when the fish got to the surface, he thought there was no way he'd ever get it into his boat.

Tim Bonvechio, a fisheries biologist with the Department of Natural Resources estimated the fish's age to be 14 years. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app)

"It is always good news when I hear about someone catching a new state record fish in Georgia as it continues to show me how many great fishing opportunities are out there," said John Biagi, Chief of Fisheries for the Wildlife Resources Division, in a new release. "This is our first state record of 2017, and I hope it ignites a fire in all new and experienced anglers to get outdoors and go fish Georgia."

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) typically are bluish-gray above, fading to white on the sides and belly, and do not have spots. They have a deeply forked tail, an overhanging upper jaw and pale chin whiskers. In Georgia, they are native to the Coosa River basin and have been introduced in the Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Altamaha, Satilla, and Savannah River basins.

Anyone looking to go fishing in Georgia can find information on the best spots, depending on which fish they're after,on the Wildlife Resources Division's website. Adult anglers must have a current Georgia fishing license to fish in public waters. To find a list of retail license vendors, click here. You may also buy a license by phone at 1-800-366-2661.

More information on state record fish, including how to report if you think you've landed a record-breaking catch, can be found here.

Photo courtesy Georgia Department of Natural Resources