April 15, 2005
Waycross, Georgia - Angler Carl Sawyer of Screven (Wayne County)
had more than just a great day of fishing on the Altamaha River on
June 22, 2006 – he managed to catch a new state record! Sawyer reeled
in an 83 lbs. 0 oz., 54-inch flathead catfish, according to the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
(WRD). The most recent state record for a flathead catfish was a 67
lbs. 8 oz. fish caught on the Altamaha River in 2000.
“As Carl Sawyer can tell you, it’s nice when you catch the ‘big one’
that you actually have the evidence to back it up,” says WRD
Fisheries Management Chief Chuck Coomer. “We hope that the
recognition of this new state record will inspire experienced and
novice anglers to get out and fish at any one of Georgia’s numerous
lakes and rivers. You might not catch a new state record, but odds
are you will still have a great day of fishing and enjoying the
tremendous natural resources of this State.”
Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), also known as appaloosa cats,
are one of several types of catfish found in Georgia. The list also
includes channel catfish, blue catfish, white catfish and yellow and
brown bullheads. Flathead catfish, as one might expect, have a head
that appears “flattened,” they are a yellowish color mottled with
brown and green and their lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw.
They have an unforked tail and very small eyes and as with other
catfish species, they also can be identified by their lack of scales
and the “cat-like” barbels on their mouths that look like cat
whiskers. They can reach weights up to 100 lbs., although less than
30 lbs. is typical for Georgia. They like deep, murky pools with some
current and rocky, rubble-bottom areas with holes. The best bet for
catching a flathead is by using live bait, such as minnows, chubs,
crayfish or sunfish. Check out the other
Georgia Fishing Records
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