Posted on 11/13/2009 10:02:55 AM PST by Stoat
Nibble ... Sean and his massive catch
Sean Kinnear, 27, was amazed when he felt a fierce tug on his fishing line and pulled in the 9ft monster, which weighs a whopping 17 STONE.
He waged a 15-minute battle to land the beast, which hits the scales at an incredible 233lb 6oz — more than a stone heavier than boxer Haye.
It is the third largest catfish ever caught in the world.
Sean, from Hitchin, Herts, caught the fish during a trip with his cousin to the Ebro River in north east Spain.
Sean said: "As the fish surfaced we were all in shock as it was so big.
"It was really hard trying to reel it in as it was so heavy and the rod was bending.
"It came close to breaking me, but I managed to pull it in, although it took four of us to get it on to the shore."
Sean, who has been a keen angler since he was 12, was on a fishing holiday with his cousin near the town of Mequinenza.
The big catch came after a 12 hour day of fishing.
Sean added: "We had been fishing all day and it was just starting to get dark so I thought I'd have one last try.
"The fish bit very hard and I managed to land it within 15 minutes."
The mighty fish was loaded on to a sling and weighed before it was returned to the river.
Sean, who has a photo of his big catch on his wall, revealed: "I was totally over the moon and it's a fishing holiday I'll never forget.
"I might have to change species now to have more of a challenge and move on to sturgeon which can go up to 1000lb."
Wells Catfish are the largest freshwater fish in Europe and eat anything they come across, including swans. The largest ever caught weighed 246lb.
Always a good idea ... your state's DNR will be happy to help.
At the present moment, "Virginia.gov" is down, so I can't provide a link.
What no long lost Birth Certificate of Barry’s ???
Barry has been looking everywhere...
Barry will be SOOOOOOOOO disappointed...
Dont cry Barry...
If you follow the links in the articles on the goonch, the way the biologist finally caught the man-eating goonch was to put nets out when THERE WAS A FUNERAL PYRE as the fish had learned to come to the funeral pyre.
Dude, I looked at some of those charts, if that ain’t to convince you not to eat any fish from US fresh waters I don’t know what is, my goodness ...
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