FWC certifies new state record flathead catfish at 69.9 lbs.
Fisheries biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) certified a new state record flathead catfish, that weighed 69.9 pounds, measured 48.5 inches long, with a girth of 38.25 inches, caught by angler Lavon Nowling, of Santa Rosa County, FL. Mr. Nowling caught his flathead catfish in the Yellow River, using a rod and reel and live bait
“I’ve caught some good ones before this fish, but none of them were more than 54 pounds,” said Nowling. “I’ve been fishing since I was old enough to hold a pole and have been fishing on Yellow River as long as I can remember.”
Nowling brought his catch to the FWC’s Blackwater Hatchery near Holt, FL, where biologists weighed it on a certified scale.
“I’ve been deep sea fishing to creek fishing and I never expected to catch a state record fish,” said Nowling. “That day I was fishing for channel catfish and can’t believe I caught a huge flathead. I was in the right place at the right time.”
Flathead catfish are a nonnative fish found in many northwest Florida Panhandle river systems. Flatheads prefer long, slow flowing, moderately turbid rivers. Their solitary lifestyle makes them more difficult to catch than other catfish. Adult flathead catfish feed primarily on live fish, crawfish, freshwater clams and mussels.
The previous state record flathead catfish was caught July 3, 2019, on the same river, by Marvin Griffin, also from Santa Rosa County, FL. Griffin's fish weighed 69.3 pounds, was 47 inches long, and had a girth of 34.25 inches.
“A state record catch is a once in a lifetime achievement for an angler,” said Jon Fury, FWC’s Director for the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. “We are pleased to award this state record to Mr. Nowling.”
To properly certify a new freshwater Florida state record catch, an FWC employee must witness it being weighed on a certified scale, and a biologist must identify the species.
Click here to see the current state records: bigcatchflorida.com/state-record.aspx.
If an angler believes he or she has caught a record fish, he or she should contact the nearest FWC regional office (click here): myfwc.com/contact/fwc-office/regional-offices/.
For more information about the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, contact Laura Rambo by phone at 850-488-0520 or by email at Laura.Rambo@MyFWC.com.