Tyler Harmon, an angler from Ravenswood, West Virginia, has set a new state record after catching a 72.75-pound blue catfish from the Ohio River. The catch occurred during an evening fishing excursion with his father and 4-year-old son.
Harmon had intended to catch smaller catfish for his son. He was fishing with four catfish rods from his 18-foot aluminum boat in a familiar section of the Ohio River near Ravenswood, where the water depth ranged from 25 to 30 feet. The area was known to have submerged trees and brush.
The Battle with the Record Fish
While fishing, a barge's wake dislodged the boat's anchor, causing the vessel to drift. Shortly after, one of Harmon's rods became active. Initially mistaken for being snagged, the line began moving upriver, indicating a substantial fish.
Harmon engaged in a roughly 20-minute struggle with the blue catfish. He worked to keep the 40-pound test line clear of underwater obstructions and the boat's anchor line as the fish maneuvered around the front of the boat. The fish, upon its first surfacing, prompted Harmon's son to mistake it for a shark.
Two people were needed to bring the fish into the boat, with the landing net's aluminum handle bending under the strain. Once the fish was on board, Harmon recognized the potential significance of the catch.
Certification and Payouts
Due to the late hour on a Friday, Harmon was unable to immediately contact state fisheries officials for certification. The family took measures to preserve the fish, including repeatedly dousing it with river water on the return to the ramp. A livestock tank with an aerator was also used to keep the fish alive overnight at a friend's bait shop.
The following morning, a West Virginia fisheries official arrived with a certified scale. The blue catfish measured 72.75 pounds, 48.15 inches in length, and 33.5 inches in girth. This surpassed the previous West Virginia state weight record of 71 pounds, caught by Michael Ramey from the same river area in May.
The catch may also be eligible for a $20,000 prize from Catch The Fever, the manufacturer of the rod Harmon used. The company offers cash awards for anglers who catch qualifying state-record fish with their equipment. Harmon stated that he plans to use any awarded money toward a down payment on a new house.
Release and Future Ambitions
After the official weighing and measuring, Harmon released the record-breaking blue catfish back into the Ohio River near where it was caught. He mentioned the possibility of having a replica mount created.
Harmon's new goal is to catch a flathead catfish that would set a new West Virginia state record, a mark that has remained for approximately 70 years.