The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced on Wednesday that it has certified a new state record channel catfish.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced on Wednesday that it has certified a new state record channel catfish.
According to PFBC, David Taylor Jr., 44, of Allegheny County, and his friend, Alex Atkinson, were fishing in the Tri-State Hawg Hunters fishing tournament on the Allegheny River when, around 8 p.m., the fish hooked onto Taylor’s line.
Upon retrieving the catfish with a landing net and removing the hook, the fish was placed into a large livewell on the boat. While Taylor and Atkinson continued fishing throughout the night, it wasn’t until Sunday morning during the tournament weigh-in that another angler suggested that Taylor’s huge catch might actually be a very large channel catfish.
On Oct. 4., with Waterways Conservation Officer Abigail Luteri present at a bait shop in Armstrong County, the channel catfish officially tipped the scales at 36 pounds, 2 ounces, officially exceeding the previous state record, which had been caught in the Lehigh Canal in 1991, by 9 ounces.
While only weight is considered for state record certification in Pennsylvania, Taylor’s fish also measured 42 inches long with a girth of 26 inches.
“Everything worked out in the end, and it feels incredible,” said Taylor. “I want to thank my friend, Alex, the bait shops and Officer Luteri for their help. Honestly, I’ve always dreamed of catching a state record, but I thought it would be a Flathead Catfish because we catch so many big ones out here in Pittsburgh. So, to catch a channel catfish that size? That just doesn’t happen.”
Following the weigh-in and fish inspection by WCO Luteri, Taylor requested to go to a nearby access point on the Allegheny River, where the large channel catfish was successfully released and was able to swim away in good health.
“It just goes to show, you never know what’s on the other side of that hook,” Taylor said. “It could be just another fish, or it could be life changing. My advice to other anglers is to pay attention to your tackle and have confidence in your gear. Always make sure your line is strong and hooks are sharp for a moment like this.”