Ravenswood man hooks record blue catfish
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CHARLESTON - A Ravenswood man has caught a West Virginia record blue catfish.
Tyler Harmon caught the 48.15-inch, 72.75-pound blue catfish on Aug. 29 the Ohio River in Jackson County using cut bait on a 40-pound test, breaking the record for weight only. The length record of 51.49 inches caught by Justin Conner from the Kanawha River on May 9, 2025, still stands.
The new weight record was certified by Division of Natural Resources Fish Culturist Ryan Bosserman.
The Division of Natural Resources in the early 2000s began restoring blue catfish in the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, Paul Johansen, chief of wildlife resources, said.
"The fishery continues to grow, producing multiple state records over the last several years," Johansen said. "Not only did these efforts restore a native fish species, but they created opportunities for anglers to catch really big fish."
To learn more about state fish record categories, go to page 24 of the West Virginia Fishing Regulations Summary, available to download at WVdnr.gov/fishing-regulations. Information pertaining to the Trophy Fish Citation and Master Angler programs are on page 27.
All fishermen 15 and older must have a West Virginia fishing license, which can be purchased online at WVfish.com. Anglers are reminded that a trout stamp is required when fishing for trout.