# Illionis man lands 124-pound catfish **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334 "2005-05-24T21:32:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/1 "2005-05-24T21:32:02Z")
[Peoria Journal Star](http://www.pjstar.com/stories/052405/JEF_B6GIC2EH.068.shtml): > [@](#): > > Fishing on the Mississippi River near Alton, Pruitt landed a massive 124-pound blue catfish that is expected to be certified a world record by the International Game Fish Association. > > After nearly 40 minutes of battling the 58-inch behemoth - which measures 44 inches around - Pruitt said he grabbed its lower jaw and wrestled the catfish into his boat. > > “My adrenaline was really pumping, so it wasn’t that bad,” said Pruitt, who lives in the small southwestern Illinois town of Fosterburg. “Later on, when I was lifting him out of the livewell and into another tank I really felt the weight.” > > No doubt. At 124 pounds Pruitt’s fish surpasses the current 121-pound, 8-ounce world record blue cat caught in 2004 from Lake Texoma on the Texas-Oklahoma border. > > "I told my secretary, ‘These guys caught a fish bigger than you,’ " said biologist Rob Maher, one of several Illinois Department of Natural Resources employees who identified Pruitt’s fish. “It’s an absolutely unbelievable fish. I’ve seen a lot of big catfish before and this made all of them seem small.” > > That includes the former Illinois record blue catfish of 85 pounds. Like that big blue - caught by catfishing diehard Lindsay Sample Jr. in 2000 on the Mississippi River - Pruitt’s catch was no accident. > > Pruitt, 33, said he has targeted blue cats for the past 14 years. He fishes one or two evenings each week, using 40-pound test line, heavy-duty Penn reels and stout 8-foot rods. He prefers herring heads for bait. > > Catch-and-release is that important to Pruitt, who seriously considered letting his world record swim free after weighing the fish on a certified scale. Instead, he agreed to let [Cabela’s](http://www.cabelas.com/) display the fish at a new Kansas City store in a 55,000-gallon tank. > > On Monday, Cabela’s sent a truck to pick up the fish, which had been at Beasley’s Fish market in Grafton. > > “My main concern has been getting this fish to a safe spot or to release it back to the river,” Pruitt said. “But I agreed to donate the fish to Cabela’s because I thought it might be neat to give people a chance to see a fish that massive.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/2 "2005-05-24T21:47:04Z")
Any catfish weighing over 100# should automatically be referred to as a lionfish ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/3 "2005-05-24T21:51:48Z")
Damn! If I’d caught that sucker, I’d have been frying up hushpuppies and calling all my friends. “Bring beer. I got the fish!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/4 "2005-05-24T22:04:44Z")
Editorial comment provided by: [Cary Grant](http://www.carygrant.net/wavs/arsenic/arsenicholym.wav) ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/5 "2005-05-25T00:10:12Z")
Thats a… big fish. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/6 "2005-05-25T00:22:19Z")
If you have ever been “stung” by a catfish, you’ll know it…and sure wouldn’t like to have that one get mad at me in deep water! About that idea of skinny dipping in the ol’ Mississippi tonight…pass. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/7 "2005-05-25T00:33:09Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > About that idea of skinny dipping in the ol’ Mississippi tonight…pass. Perhaps the same people who insist ‘Elvis is Alive’ will start claiming [Jeff Buckley](Almost 8 years to the day) had returned to us in the form of a catfish. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/8 "2005-05-25T02:02:41Z")
Well, at least he caught it on a line. I’d hate to think what the story would have been if [he’d been noodling](http://www.cabelas.com/information/cabelas-field-guides/Catfish-Techniques/Noodling-for-Catfish-The-Ultimate-Thrill-in-Fishing.html). ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/9 "2005-05-25T02:29:29Z")
Can the age of a 124# catfish be determined? He must be the great-grand-daddy of 'em all! ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/10 "2005-05-25T02:37:20Z")
Well it looks like the “big fish” that got away has finally been captured once and for all. The biggest catfish I ever brought in weighed in at 39 lbs. and I was extremely proud of myself, that fish is number two behind the marlin I fought with for like 2 hours on my favorite catch list. The catfish in question for me was a channel catfish caught down in Florida, since they typically weigh like 4 pounds it was a pretty substantial giant among its own species. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/11 "2005-05-25T03:03:42Z")
As someone who has caught some catfish, I must say that if I ever hook up with one that’s almost 5 feet long and 48 inches around, I’ll probably cut it loose! How the fisherman ever hauled a 124 pounder into his boat is mind-boggling in itself. A catfish that big is not a fish; it’s a monster! ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/12 "2005-05-25T20:09:05Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > Well, at least he caught it on a line. > > I’d hate to think what the story would have been if [he’d been noodling](http://www.cabelas.com/information/cabelas-field-guides/Catfish-Techniques/Noodling-for-Catfish-The-Ultimate-Thrill-in-Fishing.html). When I was a kid and did something stupid, my grandmother would ask, “did you loose your noodle?” After reading this article, now I know what she met cause to “noodle” you would have to have lost your noodle. “Come on, Earl…just stick your hand in a hole at the bottom of that crick and see whatchya git!” ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/13 "2005-05-25T20:25:42Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > Well, at least he caught it on a line. > > I’d hate to think what the story would have been if [he’d been noodling](http://www.cabelas.com/information/cabelas-field-guides/Catfish-Techniques/Noodling-for-Catfish-The-Ultimate-Thrill-in-Fishing.html). I can’t be the only one who thought the guy was baiting catfish with his, umm, noodle… :dubious: please, I really can’t be the only one… ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/14 "2005-05-25T21:41:36Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > Can the age of a 124# catfish be determined? He must be the great-grand-daddy of 'em all! Yes, but you have to cut the head off and count the fish rings. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/15 "2005-05-25T21:43:30Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > If you have ever been “stung” by a catfish, you’ll know it…and sure wouldn’t like to have that one get mad at me in deep water! Please educate the ignorant: what does it mean to be ‘stung’ by a catfish? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/16 "2005-05-25T21:48:15Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > Please educate the ignorant: what does it mean to be ‘stung’ by a catfish? All the “stinging” I’ve ever got from fish has been from the barbs on the back of a bass or similar species. I’ve heard, however, that catfish have similar barbs on the sides of their head. Being less obvious, they’re apparently easier to get “stung” by. I’ve never had a problem with catfish, but then I’ve also been careful because I’ve always heard this. I’ve also heard that the barbs don’t stick out on the larger specimens (their fat/skin grows over them) and therefore they don’t sting. Does anyone know if this is true? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/17 "2005-05-25T21:52:25Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > All the “stinging” I’ve ever got from fish has been from the barbs on the back of a bass or similar species. I’ve heard, however, that catfish have similar barbs on the sides of their head. Being less obvious, they’re apparently easier to get “stung” by. I’ve never had a problem with catfish, but then I’ve also been careful because I’ve always heard this. > > I’ve also heard that the barbs don’t stick out on the larger specimens (their fat/skin grows over them) and therefore they don’t sting. Does anyone know if this is true? A little searching tells me that catfish are venomous, and it is a barb (not the whiskers, like a lot of people think) that “stings” you. No word yet on whether or not especially large specimens retain their barbs or ability to envenomate. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/18 "2005-05-25T23:12:46Z")
:eek: Damn. That fish weighs more than _I_ do. :eek: Here’s hoping he makes out better in his fishtank than that monster lobster a while ago… ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/19 "2005-05-26T00:16:13Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > Please educate the ignorant: what does it mean to be ‘stung’ by a catfish? We used to refer to it as being “finned” by a catfish. I can attest that it is painful as all get out and my experience was with a catfish weighing maybe two pounds. The barbs are stiffer than the rays in the regular fins; when the fish is given a chance to fling its head around and a portion of your body is in the wrong place, you get “finned.” And you will then spend a certain amount of time in wishing it had never happened. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334/20 "2005-05-26T19:23:03Z")
> [@lizardling](#): > > :eek: Damn. That fish weighs more than _I_ do. :eek: > > Here’s hoping he makes out better in his fishtank than that monster lobster a while ago… Wow…they should have called you in as a psychic expert. Poor catfish died on the way to his new condo-tank. Uh…if you wouldn’t mind **lizardling** , could you email me next week’s California lottery numbers? If I win, I’ll buy you something shiny! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illionis-man-lands-124-pound-catfish/305334.md?page=2)