The Catfish King caught in Longquan Lake
In recent days, the fishing community in Chengdu has been buzzing with excitement: On the afternoon of the 23rd, two farmers from Jianyang were spotted selling fish on the street in the Jianyang district. The fish was a catfish freshly caught from Longquan Lake, drawing quite a crowd.
Catfish are not a rare species, yet they drew a lot of attention due to their unusually large size: one weighed around 100 pounds, while the other was at least sixty to seventy pounds. The smaller one was temporarily kept in a water tank, while the hundred-pound giant was being sold in pieces right on the street, with many citizens eagerly purchasing it.
News of the large fish caught in Longquan Lake quickly spread, causing a sensation not only in Chengdu but also throughout the fishing community in Sichuan Province.
Netizen Tip-off
Someone Caught a 1.5-Meter-Long Giant Catfish
At around 2 PM on the 23rd, Tencent Dacheng.net netizen "Li Yi" happened upon the scene in Jianyang city center where someone was selling fish. The sellers didn't seem experienced; they were using a woodcutting knife to chop the fish, which had just been caught from Longquan Lake and was being sold fresh at fourteen yuan per pound.
"Li Yi" pushed through the crowd and saw a grayish-green catfish about 1.5 meters long lying flat on the ground. It had a flat head, a wide mouth, whiskers on its upper and lower jaws, and its body was covered in mucus. A man with a buzz cut was wielding a knife to carve up the fish meat.
"It's estimated to weigh over a hundred pounds, caught by two farmers taking advantage of the rising water levels in Longquan Lake." Not long after catching this big fish, they also caught another slightly smaller one, "which is still at least sixty to seventy pounds." Large fish are already rare, so catching two at once truly astonished the locals.
"The flesh comes in large chunks and feels smooth without any bones." The fish was being sold for fourteen yuan per pound and was quickly half-sold. "Li Yi" saw the slightly smaller fish in a water tank in front of a roadside shop; locals lifted the fish's head with both hands, and its mouth was still opening and closing slightly—it was still alive.
"How did they manage to catch such a big fish?" But the man with the buzz cut was too busy selling the fish to answer. Locals said that these two fishermen often fished around Longquan Lake and were considered skilled anglers. A few days ago, there was heavy rain upstream, and the big fish might have swum into the lake with the current.
Expert Explanation
Catching Big Fish Requires Luck
"Catfish weighing thirty to fifty pounds are still relatively common, but those around a hundred pounds are indeed extremely rare," exclaimed Qiu Tingjun, Vice Chairman of the Sichuan Fishing Association. Catching big fish requires luck, and many professional anglers have returned empty-handed in their quest for such giants.
Qiu Tingjun has been passionate about fishing since childhood and has been a professional angler for over a decade. In his memory, catching a catfish of such a massive size near Chengdu is very rare. Counting back, there was an instance years ago in Xichang’s Qinghai Lake where a similar large fish was caught.
"For freshwater fish to grow this big, it has much to do with water quality, reservoir size, and growth time," Qiu Tingjun disagreed with the local people of Jianyang. He believed that the big fish had always lived in Longquan Lake because the water here is good, reaching depths of dozens of meters. In rivers, the water level is too low, making it difficult for large fish to survive. "Being able to catch big fish from a deep lake is something that professional anglers can only hope for."
Anglers' Views
Big Fish Shouldn’t Be Killed
In Longquan Lake, various types of fish live, including catfish, crucian carp, "red-tail", and bass. Calculated by weight, this big catfish's age would be equivalent to a human's eighties or nineties. In the angling community, many admitted they don't entirely approve of killing the fish for sale, especially since it could be considered a 'centenarian' among fish.
In the angling community, there is an unwritten rule: if you catch a fish that is too small or too large, you should release it back into the wild. Qiu Tingjun said that within the community, there is a mutual understanding that at most, you take a photo as a keepsake. People mostly enjoy the process, using it as a way to relax, even if they end up not bringing home a single fish. "Fishing and releasing minimizes harm to the fish and increases survival rates after release."
However, according to Qiu Tingjun, professional "fishermen" do exist—they make a living by catching and selling wild fish, some even building houses with their earnings.
Qiu Tingjun emphasized that he always advocates enjoying fishing while paying attention to ecological balance and emphasizing "release". Otherwise, the spiritual significance of fishing would be lost.
Teach You a Trick:
This Time and Place, You Might Have a Chance to Catch Big Fish
Qiu Tingjun believes that fishing is a game between humans and fish, both expending energy. Water temperature and oxygen levels in the water determine the vitality of the fish.
Summer fishing should focus on "early morning and evening fishing, fishing in the shade, fishing in deep waters." Choose cloudy rainy days or after heavy rains when the temperature is below 30 degrees Celsius—this is when the fish's appetite is strongest.
When choosing a spot to fish, remember several keywords: deep water, flowing water, tree shade, and water inlet—these places often yield big fish.
Secondly, "preparing the nest" (baiting the area) is important. Scatter some feed to lay the groundwork and lure the big fish to bite.
Additionally, catching big fish requires specialized fishing gear, including hooks, lines, and rods.
Special Note:
Since the fishing rods commonly used by anglers are made of conductive materials, avoid fishing during thunderstorms. Also, be mindful of high-voltage power lines near ponds to prevent accidental electrocution. When going out fishing, bring plenty of water and food, and carry sun protection items to prevent sunburn.
This catfish measures 1.5 meters in length.
Online Discussions:
Netizen "Li Yi" posted photos of the large fish on Tencent Dacheng Community, garnering over 80,000 views and sparking heated discussions online.
Admiration Type:
Netizen "Tian Dao Chou Qin": Master! Only a true master could catch such a big fish!
Sigh Type:
Netizen "Zhi He Er Liang": What a pity, no one knows how many years it took to grow this big.
Darwin Type:
Netizen "Da Zhou San Shan Wu": These two fish spent their whole lives evading human pursuit, but in old age, they couldn't escape their tragic fate. Is this the natural law of survival?
Environmental Protection Type:
Netizen "RUN": Borrowing an advertising slogan: "No buying and selling, no killing."
"Calm" Type:
Netizen "Shang Shi Bu Qing": Don't be overly amazed! This fish is only average where we come from! Over there, the intestines of larger fish are thicker than pig intestines, cleaned and cooked in a large pot.
Reported by Huang Yun of Tianfu Morning Post (photos provided by netizen "Li Yi")
Link:
293-Kilogram Largest Catfish Ever Caught by Humans
In 2005, Thai fishermen captured a super-sized catfish in the Mekong River, weighing a staggering 293 kilograms. Scientists confirmed it as the largest freshwater fish ever discovered. Local animal conservationists and government officials tried to rescue the big catfish from the fishermen, but the fishermen rejected negotiations and instead shared the fish meat among themselves.
On June 10th, a retired Royal Navy officer successfully caught an approximately 114-kilogram Mekong catfish using sweet corn as bait. Fortunately, after being weighed and photographed, the big fish was safely released back into the river.
Giant Catfish:
Length: 1.5 meters Weight: About 100 pounds Skin color: Gray-green Fate: Slaughtered and sold
Smaller Catfish:
Length: Unknown Weight: At least sixty to seventy pounds Skin color: Unknown Fate: Still alive