Giant catfish on Lake Constance: Danger or delicacy for bathers?

Giant catfish on Lake Constance: Danger or delicacy for bathers?

Lately in Lake Constance and the adjacent waters, large catfish has increasingly focused on. The incidents in Bavaria are particularly worrying for bathers, where five bathers were recently injured by a bite of a catfish. The captive Wels was about 205 cm long and was shot by the police. This could give the impression that catfish is a threat to people, but experts like the professional fisherman Franz Blum from Fußach report on a different reality.

Blum, which has caught an impressive giant wholesale of 2.72 meters in length, explains that large catfish in Lake Constance is increasingly more common and are compatible with bathers. "As a rule, catfish are inconspicuous and rarely attack people," emphasizes Blum. Catfish over two meters are not considered fundamentally dangerous, but are usually inconspicuous in the water.

catfish in Lake Constance: dangers and myths

The incidents in Bavaria seem to influence the acceptance of catfish in the domestic waters. Blum suspects that the injured catfish felt threatened, possibly because he guarded his nest. It adds that catfish that almost exclusively eats and eat smaller fish is often a low risk for people. Your teeth are fine and in mind, which makes it less dangerous.

Despite the increasing size, Blum is convinced that you don't have to worry about the safety of the bathers. "The big catfish are present, but usually do not represent any danger," he explains. Nevertheless, he points out that large catfish are not always advantageous for the ecosystem because they eat a lot and bring little use.

records and fishing statistics

to remarkable fishing statistics also refers to the Südkurier . The largest fish ever caught in Lake Constance is a catfish of 2.43 meters long, which can be seen today prepared in the fishing museum in Langenargen. This was also caught by Blum, who describes the struggle for this fish as a "real fight".

In the recent past, larger catfish have been caught, but they are not officially recognized. Blum uses special Reusen with large stitches to catch the giants, and then process them in its restaurant kitchen. Welse are known for being preferred at water depths of 10 to 60 cm, which makes it more accessible to hobby anglers.

The Wels population, which is also considered an invasive way, raises questions about its effects on local ecosystems. Representatives of the fishing research center in Langenargen look at the catfish both critically and positively, since it can influence inter -specific competitive competitive situation of local fish populations.

Overall, it should be noted that despite worrying incidents, the likelihood of a catfish attack on a person is still very low. The experts therefore advise you to stay calm and relaxed when bathing in the domestic waters, while the fishing experiences of the fishermen set the latest records.