Justin Connor from Milton, West Virginia caught a 51.49-inch, 66.3-pound
blue catfish on the Kanawha River in Putnam County, breaking the state’s
previous blue catfish length record. Photo courtesy of West Virginia DNR
Same Fish, New Record
Source: West Virginia Department of Natural Resources
West Virginia’s Spotty the Catfish establishes another record.
In the dark, swirling waters of West Virginia’s Kanawha River, a living legend lurks. He’s big. He’s tough. And by all accounts, he’s got a name—Spotty.
On May 9, 2025, Justin Conner of Milton, West Virginia, reeled in what would become the state’s new blue catfish length record, measuring 51.49 inches and weighing 66.3 pounds. But this was more than just a record-breaking catch. According to Conner, it was a reunion.
“I knew right away it was a state length-record blue cat,” Conner told Outdoor Life writer Bob McNally. “I also knew it was a catfish I’d caught previously that we call Spotty.”
Conner, a machinist by trade and a die-hard catfisherman, was fishing with his fiancé and guide partner Tabitha Linville that day. The couple had originally set out to scout fish for a client trip scheduled the following day. Armed with fresh-caught mooneye and 80-pound test line, they headed to a rocky flat in the Kanawha near Winfield Lock and Dam. After just 20 minutes, the line went tight.
“We had a lot of current that day, so we were back bouncing,” Conner said. “We drift down with the current to cut the speed in half, walking the bait behind the boat. That fish hit so hard it about jerked the dang rod out of my hands.”
At almost the same moment, Tabitha hooked another big cat. “Hers was about 32 pounds, and our lines got crossed at one point,” Justin recalled. “She said, ‘You need to net my fish.’ I told her, ‘I’m not sure I can net your fish because I’m pretty sure we’ve got another state record on the line here.’”
Once netted and brought aboard, the big blue was quickly identified by Justin as the same fish he caught in 2020—a fish with telltale markings: a big overbite, two red scars on its lips and a black spot on its side. “Its top fin hadn’t changed,” Conner added. “I’m confident it’s the same fish that Mike Drake caught in 2023, too.”
That 2023 catch by Michael John Drake from the Ohio River still holds the state record for weight at 69.45 pounds, though “Spotty” was just three pounds shy of that when caught again this spring. Conner’s own 2020 catch, which he released roughly 50 miles from where Spotty was caught this time, weighed 59 pounds. The fish appears to have gained length and weight steadily over the years.
“This really shows how important catch and release is in preserving these trophy catfish,” Conner told McNally. “Its weight varies depending on its diet and the time of year. The fish also moves around a lot according to seasons, food supply and water conditions.”
West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR) fish culturist Ryan Bosserman confirmed the new length record after meeting Conner at a nearby boat ramp. The agency’s Director Brett McMillion praised the catch, saying, “Record catches like this showcase not only the incredible fishing opportunities in West Virginia, but also the dedication and skill of our anglers. We’re proud to see our state’s waters producing trophy-class fish that create unforgettable moments and lifelong memories.”
If Conner’s theory holds water—and the consistent physical features strongly suggest it does—then this remarkable catfish has not only broken state records three separate times, but has also traveled extensively and survived multiple encounters with anglers over the course of five years or more.
Conner believes Spotty is around 20 years old, one of the original blue cats stocked by the WVDNR back in 2006. And he’s not mounting a replica just yet.
“I’m pretty sure this catch was also made to be broken,” he said.
Indeed, with West Virginia’s blue cats thriving in the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, record-breakers seem to surface with growing frequency. But for now, Spotty reigns again—living proof that catch and release can preserve not just the fish, but the legends that come with them.
The very next day, Conner took clients out on the same stretch of river. Their first fish? A 51-pound flathead.
“The Kanawha is loaded with blue, flathead and channel cats,” he said with a smile. “You never know what’s going to bite next.”
