The Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in South Carolina Was As Big As A Goat

South Carolina is surrounded by bodies of water that make it one of the best places to go fishing. Anglers seek out many different types of freshwater and saltwater fish in this state. Channel catfish are some of their favorite fish to catch because they’re large, feisty, and tasty. Discover the largest channel catfish ever caught in South Carolina and see why the state record is so important!

About Channel Catfish

According to the University of Florida Museum, channel catfish usually measure between 15 and 24 inches long, and they weigh between 3 and 5.2 pounds at that length. The species is native to large swaths of the eastern U.S., but it has been introduced into other waters as well. The species is widespread and lives in lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams in the country.

These catfish are known for their gray to olive bodies and pale undersides. They have a deeply forked tail, small eyes despite having the largest eyes of any catfish species, and eight barbels around their mouth. Four of the barbels are located on the chin, two are on either side of the mouth, and two more are on the fish’s snout.

For the most part, these fish eat other small fish, insect larvae, vegetation, and mollusks. So, the channel catfish is a sizeable fish and a desirable target for people fishing. The average size of the channel catfish is about 2 feet long, but the largest was much longer.

The fish have a few predators when they’re young and small. Sometimes, flathead catfish and some lamprey will eat them. However, these fish build hidden dens to make their offspring harder to find.

What Was the Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in South Carolina?

The largest channel catfish ever caught in South Carolina weighed 58 pounds and measured 47.25 inches long with a girth of about 30 inches. W.H. Whaley caught the massive specimen in 1964 while using a bucktail jig.

The record has stood for several decades. Not only is this the record for the largest channel catfish ever caught in the state, but it is also the world record for the largest channel catfish caught anywhere.

Where Was the Record-Setting Channel Catfish Caught?

W.H. Whaley caught the fish in Lake Moultrie, a large lake in southeastern South Carolina. This lake has an area of 94.38 square miles and an average depth of 18.7 feet. Needless to say, it’s one of the biggest around.

This lake is no stranger to record fish, either. Paula D. Haney caught a 113.8-pound blue catfish that measured 52 inches long in Lake Moultrie in 2017. That stands as the state record, but it was not even the heaviest blue catfish caught in the state.

Two other fishers caught a blue catfish that weighed 136 pounds 6 ounces that measured 56 inches long and 42 inches in girth. Unfortunately for the men, they caught the fish using a trotline instead of a rod and reel. Therefore, they were not allowed to claim the state record for the largest blue catfish.

Lake Moultrie is a legendary lake for catching fish, and people commonly travel to this lake along with the nearby Lake Marion for a chance to catch large fish. Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina, and it’s another great place to catch fish.

What Other Fish Are Commonly Caught in South Carolina?

People in South Carolina have a lot of different options for fishing. They can stay in the lakes and ponds or head west to the rivers. If they get bored of freshwater fish, then they can head to the coast and go fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. Take a look at some of the other fish that people in the state enjoy pursuing.

• Pumpkinseed
• Rainbow trout
• Bluefin tuna
• Striped bass
• Red snapper
• White crappie
• Black crappie
• Blue catfish
• Bluefish
• Smallmouth bass
• Largemouth bass
• Brown trout
• King mackerel
• Common Carp
• Chain pickerel
• Black sea bass

These are just a few of the fish available to catch in South Carolina. However, many other species are available to catch in the state’s waters.  

How Does the Largest Channel Catfish Compare to a Goat?

The original comparison for the largest channel catfish ever caught was a goat. Well, the channel catfish on record weighed 58 pounds and measured 47.25 inches long. The average adult goat has a body length of between 40 and 60 inches. The fish was within that range.

However, goats and channel catfish are not comparable in terms of weight. Most breeds weigh between 50 and 250 pounds as adults. Meanwhile, the fish only weighed 58 pounds. While that is quite heavy for that species, it’s certainly not the same weight as a goat.

All in all, the largest channel catfish ever caught in South Carolina was a hefty specimen. Not only was the fish the largest of its kind caught in the state, but it was also a world-record specimen. While people in other states have also caught some very large channel catfish specimens, none have matched up to this one. The future could see a new record-setting fish, though. After all, many other massive fish have been caught in Moultrie Lake in recent years.

Where is Lake Moultrie Located on a Map?

Lake Moultrie is a large artificial lake in South Carolina, constructed in the 1940s as part of a state utility project. Its purpose was to generate electricity for rural areas by creating a dam on the Santee River. This expansive lake spans over 60,000 acres.

Here is Lake Moultrie on a map:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Aleron Val/Shutterstock.com