--- title: "Kansas Just Certified a New Record Blue Catfish, and It’s a Giant" description: "The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks just announced it had certified a 121.1-pound blue catfish as the new state record." date: "2025-07-21" modified: "2025-07-21" authors: - name: "Natalie Krebs" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/natalie-krebs/" url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/kansas-certifies-state-record-blue-catfish/" categories: - "Catfish Fishing" - "Fishing" - "Freshwater" - "Record Fish" tags: - "News" --- # Kansas Just Certified a New Record Blue Catfish, and It’s a Giant ![Kansas blue catfish state record.]() *Daniel Mayer with his big blue catfish, now certified as a state record. Photo via KDWP* This spring Daniel Mayer of Agency, Missouri, caught a 121.1-pound blue catfish while fishing the Kansas side of the Missouri River. Although the news hit social media in May, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks [just announced Friday]() that it had officially accepted the record. Mayer's blue catfish taped out at 59.75 inches long and was caught using common carp as bait. His new state-record catch easily outstripped the Kansas record that had stood since 2012, a 102.8-pound blue catfish caught by Robert Stanley of Olathe. Mayer regularly fishes blue catfish tournaments, and competes in 10 to 15 per year. While pre-fishing for an upcoming tournament, he spent more than 10 hours on the river. He reportedly struggled early in the day on May 15 before finding a groove. Around 9:30 p.m., he hooked what would become his first-ever blue catfish over 100 pounds. “I’ve caught some big fish over the years, but this was my first ‘century’ fish,” Mayer told KDWP. “When I finally got it in the boat … I knew it was over 100 pounds, but I had no idea just how big it really was.” **Read Next:** [Hotdogs Are the Best Bait for Catching Summertime Channel Catfish]() Mayer, who was fishing by himself, had a job wrestling the 121-pound fish into his boat. Ultimately fisheries biologist at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks helped Mayer weigh his fish on a certified scale and verified Mayer's catch. In May, Mayer posted a photo to Facebook that showed a digital scale display that read 121.10 pounds, but KDPW told OL this spring that it would be at least a month before they would publicly verify the catch. While Mayer [just missed out on a $20,000 prize]() offered by Catch the Fever — a rod company that offers payouts for state-record fish caught on its equipment — he's still thrilled to have made Kansas fishing history. “As a trophy blue catfish angler, you dream of moments like this,” Mayer said. “It still feels surreal.” ## Author Natalie Krebs is the Executive Editor of *Outdoor Life*, where she tackles everything from reporting digital features to producing podcast episodes. Originally from Missouri, she currently lives in northwest Arkansas with her bird dog, Hatchet. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [LinkedIn]()