Michael John Drake of St. Albans, WV broke his state’s record for the heaviest blue catfish
with this nearly 70-pound catch, officials announced. (courtesy of West Virginia DNR)
Ohio River Blue Cat Establishes New WV Record
Source: West Virginia Department of Natural Resources
Anglers keep reeling in monsters while fishing Mountain State waters.
On December 21, 2023, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced that the state’s record for the largest blue catfish by weight has been broken for the fourth consecutive year.
Michael John Drake of St. Albans, West Virginia caught and released the 69.45-pound giant on December 8 while fishing with cut-shad bait on the R.C. Byrd Pool of the Ohio River near Gallipolis. The previous record, established by a 67.22-pound blue, was held by Steven Price of Lancaster, Ohio who caught the fish on May 22, 2022 while fishing in the Kanawha River between Buffalo and Pleasant Point.
“You chase these things all the time, and they don’t just grow to that size overnight,” Drake told West Virginia Outdoors. “So, I did my best to take care of it and get somebody here [to weigh it] so we could quickly get it back in the water.”
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice congratulated Drake on his catch, calling the fish an “absolute legend.”
“What a fish, what a fish,” Justice said. “Makes me leery about going in the water to tell you the truth, but great job.”
Anglers who believe they have caught a potential record-breaking fish should report their catch to the WVDNR for verification. Fish that do not qualify as a state record may still qualify for a trophy citation. For more information, visit wvdnr.gov/fishing/state-records.
