How big can blue catfish get in your opinion?

[jerseycat9]

I think I read in a in-fisherman that there was a 250# specimen that was shipped to the Smithsonian back in the 1800's for scientific study that was found in a fish market along the Mississippi and that it was the larger of 2 fish in excess of 200# being sold by a single fish monger.

[Joshuaace]

I think the one Radish caught was probably in the 150# range, it probably was not the largest living blue. 200 is probably a stretch though. With all the commercial fishing that has been done on the big rivers there still isn't any real documented evidence in the last hundred years of those 200# behemoths. Kind of like Bigfoot, if they were really out there, their carcasses would turn up somewhere.

How many fishermen out there have the equipment to haul a 200+ lb fish off the bottom? 1/1000? 1/10,000? yes there are lots of fishermen out there, but even a good number of us don't use gear heavy enough to lift out a 200+ lb fish from his hole, and most likely would think we had a snag and break it off anyway.......

I have seen this line of reasoning a couple different times in this thread, and I disagree. A fish has aproximately the same bouyancy as water. Therefore, it would not take anything even remotely close to 200# test to lift the fish to the surface once it was done fighting. A lot of guys here are fishing with 50lb and up gear and that would be plenty to bring the fish up imo. Trying to lift the fish out of the water by the line aint gonna work though.

Think about it, I believe the IGFA mandates that all world records be caught on line not exceeding 130lb test. Here is a link to some 1000# + Blue Marlin taken on 80# test.

Photos of Atlantic Blue Marlin (including World Records) - page 1

Anyone here really think a 200 lb Blue cat is going to outfight a 1000lb Blue Marlin.

The Flatty in my avatar was caught on 10# test, no bs.

[Joshuaace]

As a side note, on pg 2 of the link in the previous post is a 572lb Blue Marlin taken on 4lb test...........WOW.

[keepitsimple]

There was a 143lb blue caught out of Buggs Island lake last night, pending world record. I'll post pics and info as I get it on the Va thread.

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[mavmannate]

250 lbs in the correct conditions. ? I have no clue. lol. I'm sure its possible if everything goes in that fishs' favor.

[mavmannate]

if we (humans) wen't here effing everything up I would say HUGE!!!!!!!

true dat

[wasbackwoodsman]

Right forage, low predation 200+ lbs is attainable. They were here in the 1800's and into the first decade of the 20th century. 150+/-lber just caught in Kentucky. Rare yes but not impossible.

[Stranglehold]

Potential world record blue caught at 143lbs. News story was from today 6-21-11.

Potential Virginia Record Blue Catfish Weighs In At 143 Pounds

[woodydrake]

I have no problem being conseeded every once in awile but if they can catch a 143 pounder in a dam lake I can beat that in one of the best fisheries in the world right in my back yard. The Mississippi river baby. The largest river in North America they half to be here.

[tightline_69]

Many animals can get as big as their environment and diet allow.

The actual size of most mammals – including humans – is mostly set from birth. Our growth rate is influenced by the environment, but our skeleton stops growing once we reach adulthood. But it’s true about kangaroos — they indeed never stop growing. The skeletons of kangaroos and the larger wallabies continue to grow – slowly – throughout their lives.
There are many other kinds of animals with the capacity for unlimited growth. For example, invertebrates, such as corals, never stop growing. This pattern is called “indeterminate” growth – adult size depends largely on environmental conditions.
Most fish, amphibians, lizards, and snakes are indeterminate growers. In theory, they can get as big as their environment and diet allow. So why don’t we see huge creatures in nature? It’s mainly because the longer an animal lives, the more likely it is to come in contact with predators, diseases, and natural disasters that end its life before it gets very big. And, for many species, there may be structural constraints – where a single set of organs can only support a body of finite size.