Posted on 11/26/2006 9:02:59 AM PST by FLOutdoorsman
An English school caretaker nearly drowned as he set a record for hooking the largest catfish in Europe, a 226 pound monster christened "Jaws" in Spain.
It took two friends to keep Carl Smith of Owestry from being dragged into the River Ebro in Spain after fighting the giant fish for 35 minutes, The Times of London reports.
"The force of the tug practically sent me crashing to the ground," Smith said. "It's mouth, with rows of sharp teeth, made it look like a man-eating shark."
European wels catfish are reputed to eat anything that can fit into their huge mouths.
The catfish was released after being weighed, measured and photographed with Smith holding his tail.
Common in Spain, Italy and Greece, the catfish generally weigh between 80 and 100 pounds.
The previous European record was 224 lbs.
Remember Kuno, the dog-eating catfish of a few years ago.
http://www.kxan.com/global/story.asp?s=1376609&ClientType=Printable
Give a man a fish (like this) and he can eat for a month...
Wow! That is bigger than the one caught here in MO, last year by a long shot!
Pinging freeper freetrapper, sure wish I knew what happened to him.
I remember that article. They guy saved the cat from certain death there.
Uh... Why is the guy on the left wearing fatiques? Or is the European fish smarter too?
Here's a nice catfish caught in a South Pacific region a couple of years ago.
Sorry to those on dial-up....
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Released it?! I would have fried that baby and fed the neighborhood.
Thai men hook 646-lb. catfish, may be world’s largest:
June 30, 2005
Thai fishermen caught a 293-kilogram (646-pound) catfish that may have been the world’s largest freshwater fish, wildlife conservation groups said....
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/more/06/30/fish.ap/index.html
I don't thik the fish are smarter. With fishing, it all depends on the whim of the fish.
Try'n 'noodle' that!
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Seems to be retaining alot of water.
I know it's popular in Oklahoma and other areas, but down here I would not have it as my main pick. Gators and Alligator Snappers. Who knows though, I spearfish and do other things stupid[aka fun].
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