James Mitchell is from a small town in Caryville, Florida with a population of between 218 and 232 residents. It’s
James Mitchell and his 64 plus lb. Blue catfish
located about halfway between Panama City and Dothan, Alabama.
When he decided to go fishing in the Choctawhatchee River this week he never expected to catch a state record Blue Catfish. The giant fish was 53 ½ inches long, almost 3 feet in circumference and weighed 64 pounds 8 ounces. State biologists who confirmed the catch indicated it as the biggest blue cat ever caught on hook and line in Florida.
He says that the river is “way down right now” which is both good and bad. It’s bad because it’s hard to get into and navigate the river, but fortunately he uses a small boat. The good part is the low water forces the catfish to seek refuge in the deeper holes.
An avid cat fisher Mitchell has several large cats to his credit. Just a week before the record Blue Catfish, he landed a couple of Channel Catfish over 40 pounds each.
The blue catfish is not indigenous to Florida waters. Their range is the Mississippi River and no one knows how or when they ended up in Florida. Blue catfish are often mistaken for channel cats.
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