Greg Bernal holds the new official Missouri state record for blue catfish (ictalurus fucatus). Bernal hooked the monster catfish with pole and line in the Missouri River near Columbia Bottom Conservation Area at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 20.
The fish, measuring 57 inches in length, 45 inches in girth and weighing 130 pounds, has been confirmed by Missouri Department of Conservation biologists as the new state record.
The monster blue catfish exceeded the previous state pole and line record by 27 lbs. The huge blue catfish may break the existing World Record by 4 pounds.
Application for world record status has been submitted to the International Game Fish Association and is currently awaiting confirmation.
The angler vows to continue fishing and perhaps catch an even bigger blue catfish one day.
source and photo: Missouri Department of Conservation