Catfish, flathead (Pylodictis olivaris)
(Rafinesque, 1818); ICTALURIDAE FAMILY
Native to the large rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio basins from southern North Dakota, south into northern Mexico, and east as far as Lake Erie's southeast coast and the western most tip of the Florida panhandle. It occurs broadly over this entire areaand has now been widely introduced outside its native range.
The flathead catfish is very distinctive in appearance and not easily confused with any other species. It is one of the largest catfish in its family, second in size only to the blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus). It has a squarish,... Read More
Native to the large rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio basins from southern North Dakota, south into northern Mexico, and east as far as Lake Erie's southeast coast and the western most tip of the Florida panhandle. It occurs broadly over this entire areaand has now been widely introduced outside its native range.
The flathead catfish is very distinctive in appearance and not easily confused with any other species. It is one of the largest catfish in its family, second in size only to the blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus). It has a squarish,... Read More

All-Tackle World Records
Line Class
Weight
Location
Catch Date
Angler
All-Tackle
55.79 kg
(123
lb 0
oz)
All-Tackle Length World Records
Line Class
Length
Location
Catch Date
Angler
All-Tackle (Length)
cm
All-Tackle (Length)
cm
All-Tackle (Length)
cm
All-Tackle Length Fly World Records
Line Class
Length
Location
Catch Date
Angler
All-Tackle (Length)
cm
All-Tackle (Length)
cm
All-Tackle (Length)
cm
Line Class World Records (Conventional Tackle)
Line Class
Weight
Location
Catch Date
Angler
M-01 kg (2 lb)
14.96 kg
(33
lb 0
oz)
M-02 kg (4 lb)
30.39 kg
(67
lb 0
oz)
M-03 kg (6 lb)
24.49 kg
(54
lb 0
oz)
M-04 kg (8 lb)
29.94 kg
(66
lb 0
oz)
M-06 kg (12 lb)
41.39 kg
(91
lb 4
oz)
M-08 kg (16 lb)
55.79 kg
(123
lb 0
oz)
M-10 kg (20 lb)
38.27 kg
(84
lb 6
oz)
M-15 kg (30 lb)
36.85 kg
(81
lb 4
oz)
M-37 kg (80 lb)
31.29 kg
(69
lb 0
oz)
M-60 kg (130 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
W-01 kg (2 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
W-02 kg (4 lb)
2.52 kg
(5
lb 9
oz)
W-03 kg (6 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
W-04 kg (8 lb)
2.44 kg
(5
lb 6
oz)
W-06 kg (12 lb)
4.79 kg
(10
lb 9
oz)
W-08 kg (16 lb)
4.37 kg
(9
lb 10
oz)
W-10 kg (20 lb)
9.64 kg
(21
lb 4
oz)
W-15 kg (30 lb)
19.22 kg
(42
lb 6
oz)
W-24 kg (50 lb)
28.09 kg
(61
lb 15
oz)
W-37 kg (80 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
W-60 kg (130 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Tippet Class World Records (Fly Tackle)
Line Class
Weight
Location
Catch Date
Angler
Tippet M-01 kg (2 lb)
11.42 kg
(25
lb 3
oz)
Tippet M-02 kg (4 lb)
13.38 kg
(29
lb 8
oz)
Tippet M-02 kg (4 lb)
(tie)
13.38 kg
(29
lb 8
oz)
Tippet M-03 kg (6 lb)
14.06 kg
(31
lb 0
oz)
Tippet M-04 kg (8 lb)
13.55 kg
(29
lb 14
oz)
Tippet M-06 kg (12 lb)
17.00 kg
(37
lb 8
oz)
Tippet M-08 kg (16 lb)
14.06 kg
(31
lb 0
oz)
Tippet M-10 kg (20 lb)
15.83 kg
(34
lb 14
oz)
Tippet W-01 kg (2 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Tippet W-02 kg (4 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Tippet W-03 kg (6 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Tippet W-04 kg (8 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Tippet W-06 kg (12 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Tippet W-08 kg (16 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Tippet W-10 kg (20 lb)
0.00 kg
(0
lb 0
oz)
Junior & Smallfry World Records
Line Class
Weight
Location
Catch Date
Angler
F-Junior
18.77 kg
(41
lb 6
oz)
F-Smallfry
10.21 kg
(22
lb 8
oz)
M-Junior
23.98 kg
(52
lb 14
oz)
M-Smallfry
18.03 kg
(39
lb 12
oz)
Fishing World Records
Use the search form above to find fishing world records for freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and more. Search for the biggest fish in the International Game Fish Association's database of biggest fish for each species. All fish must be caught per IGFA rules.