Big Blue Cat

[gasman]

This has been a discussion between several of us members this mornin. Kill this fish just to be in a record book or release?

Personally, I don't see the use in killing a fish that old. Record or not, a fish that size should have been released to fight another day.


The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Fisheries Bureau has certified a new state record blue catfish. Eugene Cronley, the lucky angler from Brandon, caught the 131 pound fish on April 7, 2022 from the Mississippi River near Natchez. Mr. Cronley said that it took him forty minutes to land the huge fish, "it is truly a fish of a lifetime."

The fish shattered the previous rod and reel record of 95 lbs. caught by Dakota Hinson in 2009 and is larger than the trophy record blue catfish of 101 lbs. caught by the team of Freddie Parker and Brad Smith in 1997. Interestingly, both of those fish were also caught from the Mississippi River near Natchez.

Mr. Cronely caught the fish with a rod and reel using skipjack herring as bait.

 

[Deer Assassin]

Great post

 

[bluball]

I personally dont care what they do as long as its legal,just my opinion though

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Kill it and get the record. Doesn't stop us from killing trophy bucks, why should fish be any different?

 

[gasman]

Kill it and get the record. Doesn't stop us from killing trophy bucks, why should fish be any different?

The average lifespan of a trophy buck is what? 3-5 yrs? This fish is probably 40-50 yrs old.

 

[ImThere]

Why not kill it? Is a fish that big not edible?

 

[PossumSlayer]

Beast

 

[gasman]

Why not kill it? Is a fish that big not edible?

It would be like chewing on a piece of leather. Fat and grissel

 

[WTM]

i wonder how that dude got shot in the face.

 

[HenryCohunter]

I don't find that to be true. I've caught and eaten tons of flat heads over 60lbs and while they do have a little more fat to trim off, the meat is the same to me as one that's 20 lbs. maybe it's just me though.

 

[7mm08]

i wonder how that dude got shot in the face.

Ha! Poaching blue cats from a private dock?

I wouldn't but that's his to make if it's legal

 

[Deer Assassin]

catfish are not an endangered species

 

[gasman]

I don't find that to be true. I've caught and eaten tons of flat heads over 60lbs and while they do have a little more fat to trim off, the meat is the same to me as one that's 20 lbs. maybe it's just me though.

That's not a flathead.

 

[gasman]

catfish are not an endangered species

No, but the bigger ones is the brood fish. Kill the big ones and they will be endangered.

 

[WTM]

No, but the bigger ones is the brood fish. Kill the big ones and they will be endangered.

kinda like bluegill. take the bigger ones and ill almost guarantee youll be asking yourself where all the fish have gone.

 

[WilcoKen]

I dont kill anything I do not intend to eat (except coyotes, ferel pigs and blackbirds when they eat my corn plots). Killing that big catfish seems like a waste to me--if they didnt cut it up in to steaks. Maybe they ate it. I hope so.

 

[ImThere]

It would be like chewing on a piece of leather. Fat and grissel

I was wondering. I've never caught one over 10 lbs.

 

[WTM]

seeing as how it come from the miss river probably chocked full of pcb's and mercury.

 

[Deer Assassin]

I was wondering. I've never caught one over 10 lbs.

i can tell you 5-17 lb flat heads taste great

 

[chris1976]

It would be like chewing on a piece of leather. Fat and grissel

We have caught and eaten many blues over 50 and a few over 70. Not much difference in the meat. Definitely not tough.