Thirty years ago, Heinz Machacek found data from fishing record books to be incomplete, so he decided to start his own. The result is a website and searchable database called “The World Records Freshwater Fishing.” It includes records of giant bizarre fish caught in far away places.
“The information exchange between scientists, commercial fishermen, and sport fishermen is poor,” he says. “Therefore, we engaged in updating a database concerning the maximum size of freshwater fish.”
According to Machacek, to compile more diverse records, they rely on an international network of anglers and scientists who contribute data on the weight, length, and age of freshwater fish, along with photographs. By taking submissions and publishing data from other record books too, World Records Freshwater Fishing has compiled information on 507 different species of freshwater fish, each weighing at least 5 kg, from all over the world.
The following catches are a few highlights from Machacek’s extensive database. They reflect not only rod-and-reel captures, but fish taken by other methods, which include nets, harpoons, hand lines, spear, and bows. Here are 11 photos of some of the largest fish ever caught in freshwater.
Largest Freshwater Fish: Catfish
1. Mekong Giant Catfish
- Record Weight: 645 lbs, 15 oz
- Scientific Name: Pangasianodon gigas
- Catch Location: Mekong River system, Thailand
- Catch Method: Other methods record
- Facts: After a year of feeding on zooplankton, Mekong cats become herbivores. They are a threatened species.
- Range: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos
2. Salween Rita Catfish
- Record Weight: 308.85 pounds
- Scientific Name: Rita sacerdotum
- Catch Location: Thailand
- Catch Method: Other methods record
- Facts: The Salween Rita is a rare species of catfish. Deeply gray in coloration, the Salween is scaleless with a broad body and head. It grows to prodigious sizes.
- Range: Thailand
3. Irrawaddy Mystus
- Record Weight: 176.5 pounds
- Scientific Name: Hemibagrus microphthalmus
- Catch Location: Myanmar, India, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar
- Catch Method: Other methods record
- Facts: According to fishbase.org, the Irrawaddy is generally caught amid tree roots and deep rocky structure during high water months. It feeds on shrimp and crabs.
- Range: The Mainipur drainage in India; Irrawaddy, and Sittang drainages in Myanmar; and the Salween River in Thailand.
4. Jau
- Record Weight: 198.42 pounds
- Scientific Name: Zungaro zungaro
- Catch Location: Orinoco River system, Amazon River system
- Catch Method: Other methods
- Facts: A highly sought-after Amazon catfish, the Jau is generally caught in deep holes and fast current. They are renowned as being excellent fighters.
- Range: Amazon Basin
Largest Freshwater Fish: Rays
5. Giant Freshwater Stingray
- Record Weight: 1,322.77 pounds
- Scientific Name: Urogymnus polyepis
- Catch Location: Unknown
- Catch Method: Rod and reel
- Facts: Biologists believe that the freshwater stingray may be the largest freshwater fish on earth. It’s diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
- Range: Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Laos
6. Discus Ray
- Record Weight: 250 pounds
- Scientific Name: Paratrygon aiereba
- Catch Location: Rio Apure, Venezuela
- Catch Method: Other methods
- Facts: The Discus Ray can reach diameters of more than 5 feet. It lives primarily in deep water, but moves into the shallows at night to feed.
- Range: South America
Largest Freshwater Fish: Carp
7. Giant Siamese Carp
- Record Weight: 440 pounds
- Scientific Name: Catlocarpio simensis
- Catch Location: Mae Klong River, Thailand
- Catch Method: Other methods record
- Facts: The Giant Siamese Carp is considered to be the ultimate of monster carp species. It is an extremely hard-fighting fish.
- Range: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Southern Vietnam
Read Next: The 6 Best Western Trout Rivers to Fish During the Salmonfly Hatch
8. Common Carp
- Record Weight: 112.14 pounds
- Scientific Name: Cyprinus carpio
- Catch Location: Euro-Aqua Lake, Hungary
- Catch Method: Rod and reel
- Facts: Native to Europe and Asia, the original Common Carp dates back 2,000 years. According to Wikipedia, Common Carp have been introduced to most continents and 59 countries.
- Range: U.S., Europe, Canada, Russia, and Ukraine
Largest Freshwater Fish: Other Fish
9. Humpback Mahseer
- Record Weight: 205.03 pounds
- Scientific Name: Hypselobarbus mussullah
- Catch Location: India
- Catch Method: Other methods
- Facts: The critically endangered Mahseer is nicknamed “The Tiger of Kaveri” due to its fighting ability. It is believed to have divine protection. There are at least seven Mahseer species in Indian rivers.
- Range: India
10. Murray Cod
- Record Weight: 250.45 pounds
- Scientific Name: Maccullochella peelli
- Catch Location: Barwon River, Australia
- Catch Method: Other methods
- Facts: The Murray Cod is Australia’s largest freshwater predatory fish . It inhabits the Murray-Darling basin in southeastern Australia. It is considered to be an apex predator.
- Range: Southeastern Australia
Read Next: 10 of the Nastiest and Hardest Fish to Catch on the Planet
11. Taiman
- Record Weight: 231.8 pounds
- Scientific Name: Hucho taiman
- Catch Location: Kotuy River, Russia
- Catch Method: Other methods
- Facts: The Siberian giant trout is a member of the salmon family and highly sought by recreational anglers.
- Range: Russia and Mongolia