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Teenager Catches State-Record Flathead Catfish

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JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (CBSMiami) -- A 13-year-old boy has set a new state record for the biggest flathead catfish caught in Florida.

Charles Patchen, from Alabama, caught a 63.8-pound flathead catfish on the Chattahoochee River in Jackson County, west of Tallahassee, on May 15. He beat the previous certified state record by more than eight pounds.

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An FWC Biologist met with Patchen the day after the catch to get an official certified weight and measurements and to have the application notarized. The official measurements were 48.03 inches in total length, with a girth of 35.43 inches. (Courtesy: FWC)

Patchen had reluctantly agreed to go bream fishing with his mother and stepfather, Jeanette and Bryan Atwell. After landing his state-record flathead catfish, he was certainly glad he went!

When the bream suddenly stopped biting after a successful morning, Patchen's stepfather suggested there might be a larger fish lurking in the water scaring off the bream. So they switched their bait and Charles quickly got a hit.

"I grabbed the pole from him, gave it a couple tugs and the fish took off," said Atwell. "I handed the pole back to Charles and said, 'GET 'EM!'"

Patchen fought the catfish for nearly two hours while Atwell guided their boat with his trolling motor, following the fish in hopes of tiring it out. The monster flathead catfish eventually gave up the fight and Patchen reeled it in. After the fish flipped over, Atwell had to roll it into their boat because it was too large for their net.

"I was so tired after reeling it in that I fell back into the boat to rest," said Patchen, the newly awarded state-record holder for flathead catfish. "But I'm glad my mom made me go fishing that day because now I am the catfish master!"

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The official measurements were 48.03 inches in total length, with a girth of 35.43 inches. (Courtesy: FWC)

Atwell is well versed in Florida outdoor recreation and conservation, as his father Grady Atwell was a longtime Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission conservation officer. He was quick to point out that he is passing on the tradition, stating, "All I can say is carry a kid fishing."

FWC Biologist Katie Woodside met with the self-titled 'catfish master' and his family the next day to get an official certified weight and measurements and to have the application notarized. The official measurements were 48.03 inches in total length, with a girth of 35.43 inches.

"Charles' flathead catfish is a great catch to add to our state records — and caught on a 14-pound test line, by a 13-year-old at that! Just one more reason why Florida is the 'Fishing Capital of the World,'" said Tom Champeau, director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management.

The previous certified state record flathead catfish weighed 55.05 pounds and was caught on the Yellow River by James Auston Jr. in 2011.

 

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