Angler sets PA state record with whopping 50-pound catfish

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WJAC) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced Tuesday a new state record flathead catfish.

The record catch was made by 54-year-old angler Jeff Bonawitz on the Susquehanna River in York County.

The catfish weighed 50 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 45.25 inches long, setting the unofficial new state record for the species, according to the release.

"We had already caught several 30-pounders to that point, so it had been a good day," said Bonawitz, who was fishing with his friend, Brian Bruce, of York. "We were running low on bait, so I decided to use the biggest bluegill we had left. I had a bite and let the fish toy with it for a few minutes. When I finally pulled, it just bent the rod straight down. I could tell it was big. It kept hanging down deep and when it finally came up to the top, we thought it might be a mermaid," joked Bonawitz. "I've fished the Susquehanna for years and I've never caught anything quite like it."

The fish was caught in 22 feet of water using a live blue gill as bait and took almost a half hour to reel in, the release says.

After catching the fish, Bonawitz kept it alive for a day until he could get it officially weighed and measured. He then released it back into the Susquehanna.

"It was such an amazing fish," said Bonawitz. "I thought the best thing to do was put it back so that maybe the next guy could catch it. I have a feeling this record may not last very long."

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