The World's Largest Catfish Ever Caught: Record Giants and Legendary Catches

Source: Ukrainian Fishing • Monster Catfish, World Records, Trophy Fishing, Giant Freshwater Fish

The wels catfish (Silurus glanis) reigns supreme as one of the largest freshwater predators on Earth, surpassed in inland waters only by sturgeon species. What are the maximum verified limits of these underwater giants, and what record-breaking monsters have lucky anglers actually managed to land?

The official Guinness record wels catfish weighing 114 kg, caught in Italy (Photo: ukrainianfishing.com.ua).

The Official Guinness World Record

In the spring of 2011, the Guinness Book of World Records officially registered one of the most famous catches in modern angling history. Measuring an incredible 250 centimeters (8.2 ft) in length and tipping the scales at 114 kilograms (251 lbs), this colossal river beast was landed by Italian angler Roberto Godi. The intense battle to reel in the predator took nearly an hour and required the help of several adult men. At the time of its capture, it stood as the largest officially registered freshwater predator ever caught in Europe.

Explore more incredible fishing stories on our blog: check out the giant catfish caught in the Dnipro River or read our guide on 37 top fishing spots in Ukraine.

A massive 111 kg catfish landed in Spain's Ebro River (Photo: ukrainianfishing.com.ua).

Shortly before Godi’s record, another monster was landed in Spain’s famous Ebro River, weighing in at 111 kg—just 3 kilograms shy of the official world record. However, unlike Roberto Godi's catch, which was safely released back into the wild, the Spanish giant did not survive the experience.

Historical River Monsters (Unverified Accounts)

In historical times, Eurasian catfish could potentially reach lengths of 5 meters and weights exceeding 300 to 400 kilograms. Over a century ago, a catfish weighing 430 kg was reportedly caught in Uzbekistan, and in the first half of the 19th century, a 400 kg monster was documented. While these legendary 5-meter giants exist in historic archives, official scientific measurements were not conducted to verify them.

Other Notable Monster Catfish Catches

Modern catch-and-release practices have allowed anglers to preserve these prehistoric leviathans while recording incredible statistics. Below are some of the most notable verified and unverified monster catches:

110 kg catfish pulled from France's Rhône River in 1998 (Photo: ukrainianfishing.com.ua).

• France (Rhône River, 1998): A giant measuring over 2.5 meters and weighing 110 kg was successfully landed.
• France (Rhône River, 2009): An unverified giant reportedly weighed 120 kg with a length of 255 cm. Because official record keepers were not present, the weight remains uncertified.
• France (Rhône River, 2005): Anglers using live bait caught a 106 kg specimen measuring 241 cm.
• Kazakhstan (2004): A German tourist hooked a massive 130 kg catfish measuring 2.69 meters in length.
• Kazakhstan (Abo River, 2007): A female angler landed an extraordinary specimen measuring 274 cm in length.
• Syr Darya River: A giant weighing 110 kg and measuring 2.44 meters was officially documented.
• Germany (2008 & 2007): The German record stands at 96 kg (238 cm), while a Russian angler in Germany caught a 95 kg specimen (236 cm) a year prior.

Proud fishermen posing with a 106 kg wels catfish in France (Photo: ukrainianfishing.com.ua).

Also, check out our historic findings: Kievan Rus artifacts discovered near Lviv.

What's Your Personal Catch Record?

While many fishermen claim to have hooked creatures weighing over 150 kg, only those verified by certified scales make history. Have you ever encountered a trophy catfish, or what is the largest fish you have ever caught? Let us know in the comments below!