Cats the Size of Calves

Photo: TPWD / Larry D. Hodge

You're looking at one of the largest freshwater fish ever caught on rod and reel in North America, a 121-1/2-pound blue catfish named Splash. This former world record, landed in Texas in 2004, exemplifies the skyrocketing popularity of these whiskered warriors. Century-mark blues, once as rare as 20-pound largemouths, have turned up with increasing frequency in recent decades, sparking an unprecedented interest in fishing for trophy specimens like Splash.