This 198-pound wels catfish was shot at by police after allegedly attacking swimmers in Germany’s Lake Brombach. Local anglers then caught and dispatched the stunned fish before it was photographed with one of the officers. The headline on the photo, which was distributed in a news release, says, “Catfish Injures Bathers. Fish Had to Be Killed.”
Giant Catfish Sparks Police Shooting in Bavaria
By Keith “Catfish” Sutton
On June 20, at Lake Brombach in Bavaria’s scenic Franconian Lake District, a full-blown aquatic showdown occurred. A massive wels catfish—nearly 6.5 feet long and weighing close to 200 pounds—bit at least five swimmers near a floating platform during a busy weekend tied to a local music festival. As tension mounted, a local police officer fired three shots from his service pistol, wounding but not immediately killing the fish. Local anglers eventually hauled the stunned catfish ashore and finished the job.
The Bite Heard ‘Round Bavaria
Red Cross medics treated swimmers for non-life-threatening wounds, mainly abrasions and punctures. Authorities called the fish an “acute safety risk” given the crowds gathered for the Burning Beach Festival nearby. The area around the bathing platform was cleared, and officers attempted to drive the catfish off with gunfire.
According to reports from German news agency dpa and RTL television, the fish had been behaving aggressively and hanging close to the platform even before the attacks. Three shots were fired, none of them fatal, but they were enough to daze the animal and allow nearby fishermen to retrieve and euthanize it.
Kill or Let Live? Heated Reactions
The incident sparked immediate backlash from animal-rights groups and the public. PETA Germany filed criminal charges, accusing police of causing what they called an “extremely painful, slow and above all unnecessary and unlawful death” under Germany’s Animal Welfare Act.
On the other side of the debate, fishing experts and local police defended the action. Hans Padberg, an ichthyologist with the regional fishing association, told Nordbayern News that the catfish was likely guarding a nest. Wels catfish typically spawn in summer, and males aggressively protect their nesting sites. Padberg argued that lethal force was proportionate, given the difficulty of catching a nearly 200-pound fish in crowded conditions without closing the entire lakefront.
The Investigation Deepens
On July 8, prosecutors in Ansbach opened a criminal investigation into whether the shooting violated German animal protection laws. Spokesman Jonas Heinzlmeier confirmed that the probe would examine whether police acted with sufficient justification. The investigation is expected to take several weeks.
The Saga Continues
Just days after the first incident, a second swimmer—a 69-year-old man—was bitten by another large fish at the same lake. This time, police opted for a different approach. No shots were fired. The bathing zone was closed temporarily, and warnings were posted, but the fish was left alone.
Internet Fury and Cultural Ripples
The story went viral in Germany, prompting memes, editorials and plenty of finger-pointing. One police press photo showing officers posing with the dead catfish (see above) ignited controversy. Der Postillon, Germany’s answer to The Onion, dubbed the fish “Germany’s Harambe,” referencing the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla whose 2016 shooting sparked global outrage.
Some German columnists even suggested the catfish symbolized deeper cultural tensions, whether as a victim of climate change or as a metaphor for clumsy overreach by public officials. Meanwhile, the animal itself didn’t go to waste. A local restaurant, the Gasthof zum Goldenen Lamm in the town of Wettelsheim, served the fish battered and pan-fried for about $25 a plate. Diners traveled from across Bavaria just to try it.
The Lake Brombach story isn’t just about one aggressive catfish. It’s about how humans react when nature refuses to stay in its lane. Between spawning season, summer crowds and conflicting values, Bavaria’s waters have revealed a murky intersection of safety, wildlife law and public image. For anglers and outdoor lovers, it’s a reminder that sometimes, even a fish story can turn into a full-blown moral debate.
