Two fishermen recently set the world record for the longest catfish caught with a fishing rod after catching a 9.6-foot-long Wels catfish in southern Poland.
According to Wired 2 Fish, Krzysztof Pyra and Adrian Gontarz caught the record-setting Wels catfish during a recent fishing tournament held at Rybnik Reservoir in southern Poland. The outlet noted that the Rybnik Reservoir is known for producing massive catfish. Pyra and Gontarz are both fishermen affiliated with the Polish Angling Academy, according to Wired 2 Fish.
Wired 2 Fish reported that the massive Wels catfish caught by Pyra and Gontarz measured 292 centimeters (9.6 feet). Prior to the recent catch, the world record for a catfish caught by a fishing rod was 285 centimeters (9.35 feet). The previous world record was caught in 2023 on Italy’s River Po, according to Wired 2 Fish.
According to Wired 2 Fish, it took over an hour and a half for Pyra and Gontarz to haul in the massive 9.6-foot-long Wels catfish.
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Commenting on the recent catch, Pyra told TVP World, “When we finally saw it, we couldn’t believe our eyes — a huge, enormous fish, a real monster.”
Pyra also told reporters, “This catch proves just how exceptional the ecosystem in Rybnik is. We’ve always known the fish here can grow big, but this is beyond anything we imagined.”
According to Wired 2 Fish, the record-setting Wels catfish caught by Pyra and Gontarz was safely released after it was measured and photographed for documentation.
The Daily Caller reported that the International Game Fish Association’s world record for the heaviest Wels catfish catch is 297 pounds and nine ounces. The outlet noted that while it is not known how much the 9.6-foot-long Wels catfish weighs, the fish will now hold the world record for the longest Wels catfish.
A video of the “monster” Wels catfish and the two fishermen was shared on Monday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
A picture of the massive catfish was also shared on social media by Outdoor Life.
