The story in question actually originated from an article on River Bender website riverbender.com that came with the same title. What is the biggest catfish ever caught in the Mississippi River? The largest wels catfish weighed 675 pounds, and was 16 feet in length. On a historical note, in his 1950 book, Steamboating: Sixty-Five Years on Missouri’s Rivers, Captain Bill Heckman reported the largest fish ever caught in the Missouri River was a blue catfish. The story in question actually originated from an article on River Bender website riverbender.com that came with the same title. Alton resident catches 736-pound catfish in Mississippi River. Story: Alton resident catches 736-pound catfish in Mississippi River. by Brittany Kohler . An that the blue catfish record will keep getting broken. Stumbled across some pictures and got to thinking... What do you think the largest catfish in the Mississippi River is? The Piraiba catfish found in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America. On May 21st, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a 124 pound record breaking the previous 121.5 lb record caught in Texas. Ohio native Kyle Estep was fishing the river during late spring in 2004 when he hooked the giant. No, it is not a fact. Flathead Catfish. Blue Catfish (Over 105lbs) 124lbs 2005 Tim Pruitt, Mississippi River near St Louis 121lbs 2004 Cody Mullenix, Lake Texoma (Texas Side) 118lbs 1988 Dan Grider, Lake Texoma, Jug (Oklahoma Side) 117lbs 1964 Azel Goans, Osage River, Missouri, Trotline A 100lb fish is still a 100lb fish, no matter how it was caught. In fact, the 95-pound state record blue cat was caught in the Mississippi River, and in Louisiana it has produced three blue cats in excess of 100 pounds including the state record of 114 pounds. published April 1 2016 11:43 AM updated April 1 2016 3:16 PM Listen to the story. There is a record from the Missouri River of a 315 pound blue catfish that was caught "just after the Civil War." It weighed 315 pounds and was taken just below Portland in 1866. The state record for biggest flathead catfish ever caught in Mississippi was, ironically, caught by a Tennessee native. Goonch. Fishermen catch 646-pound catfish, believed to be world’s largest. Rick Hastings says he was anchored up and fishing when suddenly they went for a ride. Angler Tim Pruitt, of Alton, Illinois, holds the record catch of this species weighin in at 124-pounds. Stumbled across some pictures and got to thinking... What do you think the largest catfish in the Mississippi River is? Story: Alton resident catches 736-pound catfish in Mississippi River. Fishing on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illionois Tim Pruitt landed the massive 124-pound cat after a battle lasting nearly 40 minutes a 58 inch long, 44 inch girth blue surfaced. Matt Bingham caught a 77-pound monster flathead on the Mighty Mississippi while fishing near Tunica in 2012. In 2005, a behemoth Mekong giant catfish, weighing in at a scale-tipping 646 pounds (293 kilograms) was caught in a remote village in Thailand near the Mekong River. You'd have to clear out all the water to really get an idea of what's in there. This fish would have been a new world record blue catfish … In 2007 John Summers caught what many people believe to be the largest blue catfish ever caught on rod and reel. A photograph purportedly showing a 736-pound catch adds to the collection of urban legends about monstrously large catfish. Analysis: A story carrying a picture spreading on social media sites claims to show that an Alton resident caught a massive 736-pound catfish in Mississippi River. Just the Mississippi River, people have no idea how big the catfish are. National Geo, and others need to get there facts strait. Blue Catfish is the largest species of catfish found in North America, found in the Mississippi river. He dragged out of the Mississippi River near Alton after a half-hour battle, the fish measured 58 inches long and 44 inches around. On May 21st, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a 124 pound record breaking the previous 121.5 lb record caught in Texas. Was a 736-Pound Catfish Caught in the Mississippi River? Blue Catfish (Over 105lbs) 124lbs 2005 Tim Pruitt, Mississippi River near St Louis 121lbs 2004 Cody Mullenix, Lake Texoma (Texas Side) 118lbs 1988 Dan Grider, Lake Texoma, Jug (Oklahoma Side) 117lbs 1964 Azel Goans, Osage River, Missouri, Trotline Piraiba Catfish is the largest species of catfish found in Amazon river basin and a real giant Amazon river monster. The fish is the biggest flathead ever caught in the Magnolia State. Mississippi. Paddlefish aren’t even close to the largest though they do get nice sized and beat out catfish for size. No, it is not a fact. Blue Catfish. The Mississippi River is iconic in producing some of the largest flathead catfish ever caught. There is no place quite like the muddy waters of Mississippi when it comes to catfishing. Fishing on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illionois Tim Pruitt landed the massive 124-pound cat after a battle lasting nearly 40 minutes a 58 inch long, 44 inch girth blue surfaced.