Two Catfish State Records Broken In North Carolina, 127 Pound Fish Caught!
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Not one, but TWO N.C. catfish state records were broken within a week of one another in July.
N.C. Wildlife officials certify Rocky Baker of Four Oaks broke the blue catfish record on July 10th and Taner Rudolph of Hubert broke the channel catfish record on July 17th.
Baker caught a 127-pound 1-ounce blue catfish on the Roanoke River with gizzard shad, according to wildlife officials.
Officials say the fish was 60 inches long and 40 1/4 inches in girth, and Baker used a Mad Cat rod and Penn Squall reel to catch it.
Rudolph reeled in aΒ 26-pound channel catfish on the Neuse River using fresh bait, breaking a record that was broken for the first time in 50 years last year, according to wildlife officials.
Officials say the fish was 38 5/8 inches long and 22 3/4 inches in girth and Rudolph used a Shakespeare rod and reel to catch it.
Rudolph and Baker weighed their fish on the same scales at an EZ Bait & Tackle in Goldsboro.
Officials say these are the first two freshwater fish state records certified in North Carolina this year (three anglers broke state catfish records in 2020).
Click here to learn more about how to qualify for a N.C. Freshwater Fish State Record.
