So that thing hatched in what....1933?
Catfish only live about 25 years, this fish being handled out of water the way it was will probably not survive after being released. This fish probably was near the end of his life cycle.
with a adequate food supply and relatively undisturbed waters & and sequestered breeding grounds bottom feeders such as catfish can grow to a ginormous size .
If you’re going kosher catfish ain’t it.