Record catfish on the Elbe: A fishing duel ends with a fight for survival

Record catfish on the Elbe: A fishing duel ends with a fight for survival

In an exciting fishing experience, 63-year-old Reiner Galler from Hohenwarthe caught a catfish that was 2.45 meters long and weighed around 100 kilograms, setting a new record for the Elbe. The passionate angler, who has been fishing for over 40 years, was out with his friend Matthias Münx on October 16th to possibly catch the last catfish before the upcoming winter. Together they went with their fishing boat to the trading port in Magdeburg, where they came across another fishing boat that had already occupied their favorite fishing spot.

The two anglers dropped anchor on the left bank. At first they tried to catch a zander or perch with a lighter rod, but the tense wait for the first catch was quickly interrupted by an unexpected bite. Reiner felt the fish pulling line and Matthias immediately suspected that it could be a catfish. In a hectic situation, the anglers had to haul in the anchor and follow the fish, knowing full well that they were relying on an awkward rod and line combination to land such a large fish.

The exciting drill

After an hour and a half of fighting, the fish could no longer muster the same strength. But the uncertainty as to whether the equipment was up to the challenge of the giant remained. Finally the monster fish appeared on the surface of the water, and Reiner could hardly believe what a huge animal he was facing. In order not to let the monster escape, the two anglers had to constantly change positions in the boat so that the catfish couldn't get tangled in the engine screw or the anchor line. The stress and joy were palpable when we finally managed to bring the catfish to shore.

The task of landing the catfish safely proved to be a challenge. Catching such a large catfish was extremely difficult with an 80 gram rod. In a bold move, Matthias decided to reach the fish from the shore. With the help of witnesses, Reiner loaded the catfish as it landed and Matthias got so close that he eventually pulled the fish out of the water with his bare hands. After this remarkable capture, the animal was measured and the new record was official. From the old men of the fishing group to other anglers in the area, everyone was impressed.

A new era for anglers in the Elbe

In addition, the record was confirmed by none other than the “Elbe fishing god” Thomas Tisch, known for his fishing videos. He happened to be nearby and was able to witness the unusual catch. I wouldn't be surprised if the reporting on Reiner's catfish soon makes waves in the fishing scene and creates more enthusiasm for fishing in the Elbe. Experts say that with catfish recently introduced from the Czech Republic, such record catches could become more common in the coming season. Further details about this extraordinary event can be found at www.blinker.de.