River Monsters: The 3 Largest Fish in the Red Rivers of the US

Rivers are essential to many ecosystems all around the world. In fact, there are approximately three million rivers in the world, as reported by the United States Geological Survey. Rivers offer significant advantages or services to the environment, all of which have an impact on our daily life.

They offer travel, irrigation, drinking water, and other amenities. Furthermore, they serve as a habitat for significant wildlife. Although many animals call the two Red Rivers in the United States home, today we’re going to be taking a look at the river monsters found in those areas!

Red River of the North

From its start in Breckenridge, MN, the Red River of the North travels 550 miles north to Lake Winnipeg in Canada. The majority of the divide separating North Dakota and Minnesota is formed by the Red River.

Take note that this river passes into Canada as well as two states. States and countries have different regulations regarding river activity. If you intend to visit, make sure to check these out beforehand.

Red River of the South

One of only two Red Rivers in the country, the Red River of the South is located in the Mississippi drainage basin. This is the second-longest river connected to the state of Texas. 

Its name derives from its color, which is due to the reality that the river transports a lot of red soil during times of flooding. The Red River also has a lot of salt. Among other names, the Spanish named the river Rio Rojo.

1. Alligator Gar

While the other two fish live in both Red Rivers, alligator gar live in the Red River of the South. Alligator gar can grow to be very large. These things aren’t the same size as bass and crappies, but fish that ought to be splashing around alongside prehistoric animals. Their distinctiveness goes beyond their appearance. 

Few other aquatic creatures inhabit waterways, reservoirs, and estuaries like alligator gar. The long, thin, tubular bodies; lengthy snouts; and diamond-shaped, interconnecting scales of these river monsters make them distinct from other freshwater species. 

It has a maximum length of eight feet and a maximum weight of 300 pounds. The upper jaw of an adult has two rows of big teeth on either side. In 2006, Sean Chatham went fishing in the spring and caught a fish that was larger than usual. 

On February 25, 2018, the angler from Lone Grove caught an alligator gar weighing 184 pounds in the Red River to the west of Lake Texoma. The fish’s length was seven feet, eight inches in length, and its circumference was 38 inches.

2. Channel Catfish

One may be surprised to see channel catfish on this list. The longest documented length ever recorded for channel catfish is 52 inches, with the average length being 22 inches. Throughout the breeding season, male channel catfish become dark and grow a large pad on the crown of their heads. 

This river monster is highly prized for both its culinary and recreational qualities. The central and southern states of the United States have the highest concentrations of channel catfish. The unique channel catfish have easily been identified at a distance thanks to its sharply forked tail and body markings. 

When the last of the glaciers melted and the previous ice age came to an end, channel catfish, which are endemic to the river, were swimming up and down this channel. The Red River used to flow south, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico; however, glacier impact changed the river’s path, leaving the channel catfish in its water.

There are frequently 20-pound channel catfish on this river, with larger ones available to lucky anglers.  

3. Sturgeon

One of the most threatened groups on the planet is sturgeons. These gentle creatures have existed since the time of the dinosaurs, but they are currently in danger of going extinct because of overfishing, a thriving black market for caviar, and habitat destruction. 

The enormous sturgeon fish eat by sucking food from the bottom of waterways, rivers, streams, and seas despite having toothless mouths. They are viewed as primitive fish since they have experienced so little major alteration over millions of years.

As a result of a natural spawning episode across the Red River Basin in the spring of 2022, lake sturgeon demonstrated encouraging signs of population recovery. The government claims that because of overfishing, that occurrence marks the first lake sturgeon hatching naturally in the region in over a century.

Habitat loss from dam construction and decreases in the condition of habitat are also to blame. The biggest catch on the lake, which measured 70 inches long and 26.5 inches wide, and weighed nearly 95 pounds, was captured in the Kettle River in Carlton County.

Final Thoughts

Although there are many “river monsters” throughout the world, the ones found in the U.S. Red Rivers leave us in awe. Nature is incredible and the size of these fish can make some stay out of the water completely. All the while, others will flock to the river with a fishing pole in hand. 

Summary of the 3 Largest Fish in the Red Rivers of the US

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Charlotte Bleijenberg/Shutterstock.com