(Photo courtesy Georgia WRD)
October 20, 2017
By Game & Fish Online Staff
The new record blue catfish catch was the first fishing record of 2017 in Georgia.
There are a multitude of catfish baits available on store shelves that catch trophy whiskerfish.
Richard Barrett of Axson, Ga., preferred a more direct approach.
Richard Barrett's state-record blue catfish weighed 93 pounds. (Photo courtesy Georgia WRD) Click to enlarge photo .
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Using a live channel catfish caught earlier in the day as bait, Barrett hooked and boated a huge blue catfish that beat the previous Georgia state record by more than 12 pounds.
According to the Georgia DNR , Barrett's big catch on Oct. 14 on the Alamaha River was certified at an even 93 pounds. The old record (caught in 2010) weighed 80 pounds, 4 ounces.
Barrett told WRD staff he hooked the record fish on the edge of a big hole and wasn't sure he'd be able to get it in the boat.
Wildlife Resouerces Division fisheries biologist Tim Bonvechio aged the fish at 14 years old, according to a news release.
It was the first state record fish of 2017 in Georgia.
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Richard Barrett of Axson, Ga., caught this Georgia record blue catfish on Oct. 14, 2017. (Photo courtesy Georgia WRD)
